The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-04-07
GRAND OPERA SEASON
ELLIS OPERA COMPANY Will
CLOSE WITH IFS TWIN CITY
ENGAGEMENT
NINE. MELBA ALREADY HERE
Australian Warbler Came Ahead of
the Company to Rest In st. Paul
Manager Ellis IL Anticipating
Been the Others of the Transcon-
tfnentaI Tour.

Manager Charles A. Ellis of the Ellis
opera company. which is to give the Twin
Cities their first season of grand opera
since 1896, at the Metropolitan next week.
arrived In this city yesterday. followed
on later train by the prima donna.
Nine. Media. who sang at Omaha Wed
nesday night, and will rest In St. Paul
until Monday with her friend, Miss
Donaldson, Sof London, who is accom-
panying her on globe-trotting tour The
ladies' are at the Ryan, and attended
MOdjeska's performance of"Mary Stuart
at the Metropolitan opera house last
evening.
Manager Ellis reports that the season
which Will close next week has been
one of the most successful. both artfs-
tically and financially, In the history of
the organization which has Succeeded to
the prestige of the Damn osch company.
while adding to-its--luster and to the
galaxy OF stars comprised in. the old OF
The coming S~eeks of opera is to be OF
unusual interest, because of the fact that
1t Is the first time the peerless Melba has
ever appeared in opera in St Paul her
single visit here having been in concert
twa years ago. That those who heard
her then will find new interest in her
operate presentation is without doubt.
Coupled with her name are two others
of renown. Mile. Zelie de Lussan and
Nine. Gadsh. The Twin Cities have rare
ly honored singer with a greater mea-
han
wont to accord the lovely French woman
ten or eleven years ago when she came
with the Boston Ideals. Gadsk is known
locally only through her single engage
ment here with the Damrosch company
three years ago, but that was sufficient
to win for her warm place in the
hearts of lovers of music.
The men of the company are less ia
roiliar here. Ponnard, who will sing
Faust Monday night, has long been a
favorite at the Palais de Id Monnaie,
Brussels, where, by the way. Melba made
her professional debut in 1899. He has
also been popular idol during the sum-
mer seasons at Covent Garden, London.
This is his first American tour
Pandolfini. who will sing Kodolfo, in
La Boheme," Is a native of Milan. Italy,
and has been warmly received every
where he has appeared in this country.
Bensaude is another Italian, whose work
has met with cordial approval.
I'VE have appeared for the most part
in the larger cities OF the country" said
Mr.. Ellis last night, from New York and
Boston to San Francisco AMI the COM
pany has everywhere met not only with
the most pleasing demonstrations of pop
ular approval. but popular support that
was especially gratifying. Clear across
the continent, the path of the company
has been strewn with roses, as 1t WERE
and with that fact the artists which
compose 1t have been enabled TO survive
the work of the season with less of ia
tigue than is usually the case especially
OH a transcentinental tour. Nine Melba,
who is here tonight, is in excellent health
and spirits. and her voice is at its best.
The other members of the company share
in this felicitous condition.
I'VE were compelled to substitute
Faust for 'Traviata, which we had
intended to present for. the opening per-
Torrance Monday by the clamor of the
people of St Paul, who insisted that
Minneapolis was getting the best of the
programme. The change has entailed
rather more than the usual work on one
or two of the stars, but nothing would
do but that Faust should be presented
here, and Monday night seemed to be.
the only night on which we could pre-
sent 1t without absolutely breaking up
our entire calendar for the week Faust
and Carmen have both been enjoyed
here before. but L think in La Boheme'
we have a selection that will prove a
great favorite. 1t was tremendous Sue
cess in Chicago, and l think that it will
be better here than 1t was there as the
smaller playhouse Is the better adapted
to its characteristic music