The courier. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1894-1903, 1900-05-12
THE PASSING SHOW;
VILLA SI6ERT GATHER

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enthusiastic audience contributed much
to the general spectacular effect, and
Nine. Sembrich, Mile. Calve, Campan-
sri, and Edward de Reszke were greet
ed with ovations. The first perform
auce was THE Barber OF Seville" and
"Cavsleria Rusticana," and was notable
not only for such singers as Calve and
Sembri: III in their strongest roles, but in
the opportunity Of comparison between
two of the leading Italian operas OF
divergent schools.
1.-The Barber of Seville" has held its
own longer than any Of Rossinie operas
and, indeed, has outlived all the comps
tions of its day and style. Its vivacity
and galty, its naive artifice Of melody.
and its three excellent comedy roles
have prolonged it's popularity among
singers and with the public. Spirited
and gay "The Barber" certainly is,
ornate and decorative after the manner
of tho Italian school of half q century
ago, but snowy as it is, it is never truly
brilliant, and it's fioridity is without
richness. Entertaining as the opera is
to the general public, and interesting
as it is to students Of musical history,
it is composition that can never be
taken very seriously. Had operate
composition never advanced beyond the
frank artifice and blythe triviality OF
Rossini, opera going would scarcely
have become q serious avocation.
COMPARISONS are usually unfair hut
anyone who has heard both Nine. Mel
ba and Nine. Sembrich as "Rosina"
must reflect somewhat upon the many
things which distinguish an artist from
a singer. After the tiuesse and be-
witching comedy of Mime. Sembrich,
the endeavors of Nine. MeIbs. seem not
q little clumsy, and her comedy savors
Of the kittenish maid servant. Only an
artist 80 resourceful in pantomine as
Marcella Sembrich and 80 gifted in
delicacy of comic suggestion can make
the vapid "Rosina" at all attractive to
opera goers Of this generation.
When Wagner called his goddess wo-
men down out of Walhalla they relegat-
ed the fragile heroines Of the old italian
operas to oblivion Of antiquated dolls on
the shelves Of toy shop, and only a
true artist can endow them with any
vitality Whatsoever. Nine. Sembrich
is perhaps the prima donna with a
natural aptitude for comedy, and GER
tainly she is one of the most intellec.
tual of singers, and her wide culture
and thorough musicianship is manifest
in every part che sings. She sings with
superb beauty of style and perhaps her
exquisite vocalization is responsible for
her freshness Of voice at the end of
long and trying season. 10 speaking Of
her voice in itself, of it's richness and
uellowness and that haunting beauty
OF pure tone, believe it was Charles
Henry Meltzer who said, ut is a Sla.
vonic voice, with all the sentiment Of
the Slav in it." In the lesson scene
Nine. Sembrich sang a Strauss waltz
cong "Voce di Prima Vera" and for an
encore song of Chopin's 1.-The Maid
ems WISH" believe it was called.
Certainly Sig. Csmpanari shared the
hopors very evenly with Nine. Sem
brich. Only his inlmitable vivacity
and grace Kept the opera from dragging
at times. The esprit and picturesque
ness OF that admirable baritone give all