Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1903-11-27
Il IL Il u q e 81 81 y Il Ms
That Night at ia Scala" /
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afbf afbfH 81 81 aHHI e a 8 Is M 81 H H HMESHH
1T WAS the third day of the carni-

Lucia di Lammermoor had been per
formed for the first time at the San
Carlo, in Naples, few months preyi
GUS, and was then making its trium-
phal tour through Italy
Then genius of Bergamo's sweet bard
had attained It's eliminating point
Its great aria and the stupendous
magniticence OF the septet had elec-
tritied the entire musical world; even
the star of Rossini was eclipsed by
the incredible success OF the younger
composer.
Milan was in an uproar; the streets,
squares, and arcades were Illuminated
a giorno; the cathedral In marble
majesty glittered beneath the glare
of innumerable lanterns, while the
joyous laughter OF sixty thousand
pleasure seekers made the old, mar
row streets ring and echo again, and
the Scala. ltaly's greatest opera house,
ablaze with glory, had placed before
the entrance, In letters of hame, the
magic word Lucia.
No wonder the crowd hastened
thither; for eighty lire you could not
have obtained seat 1t was the
third representation only, and fame,
beauty, or gold could not have forced
an entrance. 1t WAS six o'clock; the
pit and gallery boxes and stalls Of the
immense theater were crowded to suf-
location. Four thousand eager people
-four thousand anxious, soulful Ital-
lans-were waiting with subdued
frenzy for the curtain TO rise.
The nobility of Lombardy graced
the boxes, the political celebrities Of
the city crowded the passages. all the
elite Of the art-loving town had flock
ed thither.
The heat was sitting; at half-past
six the overture began. The immense
throng was silenced at the first wave
of the conductors baton. Was 1t not
to hear the last and most admirable of
Donizetti's operas? Had not the
Neapolitan papers been deyoured with
avid eyes? Was 1t not to hear the
song over which Italy was raylng?
And last, but not least, was 1t not to
applaud the beauteous prima DONNA
Alfieri, who had achieved such a
colossal success the two previous
nights their fayorite-their idol-the
divine Altierl. who had sung for seven
consecutive seasons In Milan, alike
renowned for her consummate art.
her beauty, and her unriyaled voice!
How the audience was moved. how 1t
trembled with expectant ecstasy.
The curtain rose at last.
The hunters chorus was listened
to with religious attention; the bari
tones song and cabaletta which follow
caused but slight impression in spite
Of their yeritable excellence, and the
shifting Of the scene to the park where
Lucia makes her first appearance was
welcomed with a hushed murmur Of
delight.
A frail, white-robed female form
advanced toward the footlights, her
eyes were cast down, and she moved
slowly near the prompter's box. There
she stood still, raised her eyes and
gazed full upon the audience.
A howl OF disappointment arose
from the house. Its not Altieri!'
The cry was echoed ON all sides;
groans, Kissing. and stamping of feet
drowned the orchestra.
"Off, on Altieri Alheri'
The woman, confronting that audi
ence. not la the least disconnected.
walked leisurely around the stage. A
man peeped out from the side-seenes.
It was the Observation-Disclosures and
disturbed.
"who Is that woman? 1t is not
Alferil"
mo one knows-no one saw her en-
ter"
Again the conductor raised his
baton; the unknown prima donna seem
ed to rouse herself from her pensive
lethargy, and moved solemnly to the
center Of the stage.
The clamor had ceased.
She raised her eyes to the level of
the first der, and stood In the full
force of the light. She was Won
drously beautiful, but white-white as
snow deathly, spectrally white; not
a tinge of rose enhanced the marble
sraces of her face, which was purely,
faultlessly Greek.
Her eyes, black and radiant, flash
ed luridly. When she dropped them
their tint became sad. gray, and
Her lips shone red as YER
million, and seemed like a gash-hke
A hideous gash-when contrasted with
the whiteness and rigidity Of her face.
Her hair, long and purplish, in un-
dulate tresses rioted over her should
ers, pure and colorless as marble.
She had no ornaments. tuberose
thrust In a rebellious curl adorned her
brow, around her throat was piece
of broad. black velvet
Her dress was Whitehall white.
She gazed weirdly upon the audience
and began, In strange. vague, IN
earthly tone Of voice, the ravishtng
aria of Lucia" upon hsr entrance