Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-01-24
AMUSEMENTs.

ENGLISH OPERATIVE of the most
pleasing renditions yet given by the Met
ropolitan English Grand Opera Company
in this city were recorded yesterday, when
the matinee bill was filled by Balfe's tune
full Bohemian Girl and the evening pro-
gram was Bizets fascinating Carmen"
The popularity of the latter opera with
the music-loving masses and classes was at
tested by the largest house of the operate
season and the most enthusiastic. There Is
that indescribable yet irresistible, subtlety
OF charm woven into the music of Car
men, which makes it altogether delightful,
especially to the American ear, where
warmth of coloring is most appreciated. The
name of Zelie de LuSSan at the head of the
presenting cast also had much TO do with
bringing out the large audience of last
evening. As the Spanish cigarette girl she
finds a character and score to which her
dramatic abilities and qualities of voice are
admirably suited. 1t must be said of de
Lussan, however, that she robs Carmen of
any of the finer qualities that might be ex-
pected to assert themselves on occasions
and presents her utterly barren of the
slightest streak of conscience. Hers may
be the ideal portrayal, but it certainly
seems a pity that after she has rendered
such beautiful and splendidly fiery music
and added SO much to the charm of the
performance one cannot think something
pleasant of the Inflated Carmen. Miss de
Lussan gave to her characterization the at
mosphere of Spain, redolent with pas
sion and display. Her Interpretation is con-
sistent throughout and not once does she
lose sight of the character she imperSOnates.
Her voice IS rich mezzo, fully capable Of
handling all the requirements. Altogether
her Carmen is unquestionably one Of the
best OF the operate stage. Baron Berthald
as Don Jose had opportunity to display
firm tenor voice, which he handled in clever
fashion. while his acting was far superior
to anything usually accomplished by or ex-
pected from tenor. William PaulPS ES-
camille was also good rendition, his bari
tone coming fully up to the specifications.
The toreador song brought out the usual
enthusiastic encore. The Michaela of
Grace Van Studdford was very we'll sung.
The character of the production as whole
was excellent. Armando Seppili was In
charge of the orchestra, and under him 1t
performed in generally good tempo and
technique. showing an Improvement over
its work earlier in the week.
The many popular airs Astounding in the
bohemian Girl were applauded to the
echo Yesterday afternoon by the enthusiast
tic little gathering at the matinee. Ada
Palmer Walker. prima donna new to
Washington. sang Airline having replaced
Grace Golden, who was Ill. She mas rather
pleasing soprano voice. which is best in
It's middle register. Her rendition of Il
Dreamt That l Dwell in Marble Halls
called forth several encores. AS Count
Count Arnheim Lemprere Pringle had a
part which he looked almost to perfection
and which he sang with a good deal of in
telligence and in excellent voice. His
Heart Bowed Down was encored three
times. Harry Davies as Thaddeus was not
in the best of voice. having recently suf-
fered from the grip He handled Then
You'll Remember Me- and When the Fair
Land of Poland" quite well, however F. j.
Boyle as Devilshoof showed not excep-
uonal bass voice and a comic opera idea
OF fun. Tonight the bill will be I'll Trova-
tore
THE PITTsBURG ORCHESTRA.-The
audience that attended the first perform
ance in this city of the Pittsburg Sym
phony Orchestra yesterday afternoon COM
p:etely filled the Columbia Theater. 1t was
composed of the wealth, the fashion and
the music lovers of the city. 1t was at
tracted by the fact that Mr.. Victor Her
bert, composer and director of recognized
ability was to bring here an organization
of about seventy musicians who had de-
voted their whole time for six years to the
perfection of ensemble playing. There was
an additional attraction in the person of
Mime. Schumann-Heink, a great contralto,
who was the soloist of the occasion. How
many We're attracted by the orchestra alone
and how many by Nine. Schumann- Heink
cannot be determined until the next con-
cert Mr.. Herbert's program included the
Beethoven "Leonore" overture number 3,
the Dvorak 9TH symphony From the New
World his own symphonic poem Hero
Massenet's LIE Cid" The first number
was heard here only two weeks ago by the
Washington Philharmonic Orchestra, which
has been organized by Mr.. Santelmann, and
which was played every bit as WELL both
as to expression, precision of attack and
general ensemble work as was given by
Mr. Herberts band yesterday. There was
this difference, however, Mr.. Herbert has
seventy musicians, and Mr.. Santelmann
has but fifty-fve, but If the same public
spirit existed in this city which would in
duce men to subscribe to keep an orches-
ira together until it commanded the recog-
milton of the general public and could stand
on its own feet, as has been the result in
Pittsburg with this orchestra over which
Mr.. Herbert yields the baton, the WASH
ington Philharmonic Orchestra could have
its seventy members and could command
an equal position with the Pittsburg or
ganiZation. The symphony played in
excellent form, all the four movements
being given with fine effect, particularly
the Larghetto with its quaint melody and
it's unique ending. The symphonic poem of
Mr.. Herberts was a musical production
over and above anything that has yet
come from his pen. The themes We're me-
lodic and were finely worked out. while
the scoring was rich in color and brought
forth all the resources of the orchestra.
The one fault to be found with it, how
ever. was its length. 1t is altogether too
long and a judicious pruning would bene-
fit 1t very much for the audience and make
it more compact as a work. Mr.. Herbert,
however, is entitled to great praise for his
effort and his musicians interpreted it in
splendid form. The ballet music of LIE
Cid with which the program closes. was
dainty and bright and sent the audience
away in good humor Nine. Schumann-
Heink chose for her first solo, the aria
from MoZart's Titus work not well
known, but which afforded her glorious
voice a splendid opportunity for the dis
play of its fexiblity its tonal coloring, it's
power and range. She completely electro
fASl hn audi and yI-o- "A ~,
and again to return to the stage to bow
her acknow. edgements, and finally she re-
sponded to the demand for more singing
song with piano accompaniment Her sec
ond number was a couple OF Schuberts
songs which were sung with beautiful eff
feet. Miss Katherine Wilson was the
piano accompanist, and acquitted herself
very gracefully. The second and last concert
of the series will be at the Columbia Thea
ter February 49, 1t is intended. so it is
announced, to play an entire Wagnerian