The San Francisco call., 1901-12-06
BY BLANCHE PARTINoToN.

wv y ELL, it is all over, the bril-
w N liant song and pageant of the
WW last three weeks at the Grand
v v Opera-house, and 1t closed last
night in great blaze of glory.
No such scenes as those that marked last
nights performance of LIE Nozze di FL
garo, with its matchless cast, have been
witnessed here since PATHS day. 1t was
the old-time sort of reception one has
heard tell Of" but sees once only per-
haps in a lifetime: flowers raining upon
the stage, deafening applause, and the
whole paraphernalia of enthusiasm in full
working order.
1t began with FRITZ Scheff, whose
choice singing of the Cherubino song,
''Noi che sapete," received an enthusiaS-
tic encore, and couple of bouquets as
tall as the piquant little damsel herself.
Then Campanari, the competent, came
in for a share of the plaudits as Figaro,
whose marriage caused all the trouble.
Afterward came the magnificent recep-
ton to Nine. Eames, after her Dove
Sono" aria. have never seen anything
quite like it so far in my life. 1t was
more like Tivoli crowd multiplied by ten
than anything else, that greeted the
opera, and gave godspeed to the singers
last night, and Eames got the first full
taste of its quality. After her Dove
Sono" she stood under a rain of flowers,
all fair red and white like her lovely
gown, that took three ushers to carry
them off the stage, and came out time and
time and time again to satisfy the clam
orous audience. She did not repeat the
aria, as the letter duet followed almost
Immediately.
That, Of course, was the signal for an
other Hood of enthusiasm, to which Nine.
Eames and Nine. Sembrich graciously re-
sponded with an encore. Then came Sem
brich's turn, and the demonstration of the
season greeted the most glorious singer
that most of us ever hope to hear. The
progress of the opera was again impeded
by several minutes and Seppilli, with his
sharp little rap on the desk, had to call
the audience to order at the last
De ResZke, the magnificent, and all
satisfying Almavina had his greeting, too,
and the close of the second act marked a
distinct triumph for the audience in that
the elusive Mr.. Seppilli was persuaded
upon the stage. | don't know how they
got him there. The only other occasion
during the season when the modest con-
ductor was found on the further side of
the footlights was when some ingenious
improvisatore told him that Mr.. Grau had
asked for him therei 1 noticed though,
that Mr.. Seppilh seized the occasion to
imprint an admiring kiss upon Sembrich' s
pretty hand.
Tavecchia, the excellent Bartolo of the
cast; Miss Bauermeister, the clever Mar
cellina; Reiss, the very worthy Basilio,
and Dufriche, the good Antonio, all got
their welcomes. But the closing scene
surpassed all. Women crowded down the
aisles, waving their handkerchiefs, piping
"bravos' at the top of their voices They
clambered through the orchestra and
right to the stage to touch the hands of
the reigning queens, who stood there Civ
ing audience to scores of their adorers.
Nine times the closing curtain went up
and down and thus ended with all honors
opera here, a ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS scene.
Gadsd received an ovation yesterday
afternoon for her noble and beautiful per-