The sun., 1903-12-10
TWO OPERAS IN ONE NIGHT.
"CavalleriA Rusticana," and "Pagliacci"
With Sembrlch ~ Media,

with Sembrich ~ Media.
Mr., Conried gave his first bargain counter
performance last night wien he served
up a combination opera bill-two casts
with but single price. two operas sung as
one. The operas were 4Cavalleria Rusti-
cana" and -Pagliacc," introducing two
tenors, two soprani, three barytones, two
horses, two wagons, a singing chorus and
the celebrated sweet bells tangled. 1t was
grand sight for the bargain hunters. The
storms came and the rains fell and the
winds beat about the Metropolitan Opera
House, but many seats in the audit orfum
were nevertheless filed by strangers and
wayfarers.
They could be seen earnestly endeavoring
to make the seats fold up and they assidu-
ously used their librettos and programmes
to identify the singers. For with the bar
gain hunter the all important question is:
What celebrated opera singer am listen
ing to now?" 1t was thus that the exper-
fenced Mile. Bauermeister got great glory
while she strutted her brief ten minutes in
tho first act.
Having now but the image or eidolon
Gas Carlyle would say OF voice, she must
needs make herself seen as we'll as heard:
She pranced all over the stage, waved
her arms aimlessly to ward the four corne rs
of the earth, posed, attitudinized and
grimaced in front of the PriIna donna till
she completely succeeded In depriving
Of artistic verify. 1t was a blessed relief
when she went into the church, where. 1.
let us hope, prayers were offered for her
pardon.
In addition to Mile Bauerrneiste-, Mines
Gadski and Homer, Messrs Dippel and
rofi N All
ticana." Nine. Gadskis SGrtuzao is an
old friend and it IL a pleasure to record
that the soprano grows in the part. she
has improved and deepened me slgnlfi-
canoe OF her action and by-play, She sings
the music well, too, but she was not in her
best voice last night. Her conception Of
the part is correct and she has excellent
ideas about costume and carriage. IL
ia, on the whole, good impersonation
Nine. Homer makes a most convincing
Lola. 1t IL really hard TO blaine IaTiddh
in the ciTcuuste noes.
The performance OF 'Pagliacci" had
much more Of the genuine italian spirit
In it than that Of the Mascagni work: The
cast embraced Nine. Semhrich as Neddd.
Mr.. Caruso as Canio, Mr.. Scotti as Tonic
al the opera, as Silrio Nine. sembrioh's $
Media is, OF course, new TO this public,
but che has sung the part In Europe. 1t
Is a delightful addition to her American
repertoire The music lies well for her
voice, the Instrumentation does not cover
her tones and the character is suited to
her temperament and artistic proclivities
She has all the temperament necessary
for the passiopate o scenes. while NO one could
we'll excel her in the comedy. She gave q
consist ent and clearly drawn iinpersonation
of the faithless wife and she sang the music
with ali her consummate art. This sounds
cold and circumstantial but 1t is perhaps
the hest summary OF the matter Enthust-
asm is always understood when the topic
liz Sembrich Aglorious artist, whose deeds
are ALWAYS lovely and whose sweet per-
sonality pervades everything she does
That is Sembrich.
Mr.. Car,so was an adm irable Cdnio.
He sang the monologue at the end OF tho
first scene very beautifully. Instead of
tearing it to tatters, as most OF his prcde-
cessors have DONE he sang 1t with tender
ness and pathos. Perhaps there was a
little too much tearfulness, for the music
may we'll be left to speak for itself, but it
be repeated. together with the pantomimc
action for which the orchestral postlude
is written. This is reductio ad obsurdum
which might gracefully be omitted.
Mr.. Scotti's Tonic needs no praise at tl.is
time. 1t is just as good as i ever was.
Mr.. Guardabassi betrayed both nervous
ness and inexperience. hut his debut was
successful He has two very valuable
things, a very pretty voice and good looks.
He sang his music we'll, but he will sing it
better next time. He will have TO learn
to stand up straight. He is tall-thsts
& fact b but It.; he so;att need not be young man
Mr.. Vigna conducted both operas with
many nice touches in the shading and he
even induced the choristers to treat the
music as IL they had some feeling for it
The orchestra performed creditably.