The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-02-03
CASTLE SQUARE SEASON OPENS
WITH VERDPS I'll TROVATORE.'

With Sheehan as the Manrico In the
gloomy tower and Adelaide Norwood as
the Leonora in sable robes under the grated
window, was 1t any wonder that the Gen.
fury Theater was flied to the doors last
night with an audience that made you
think of the Music Hall evenings now be-
ginning to take on the sentimental misti-
ness Of "auld lang syne''?
1t was the opening performance OF the
Castle Square Company's engagement of
1903, and that's the reason the faces Of the
audience seemed so familiar and SO remin-
iscent Of past days.
They were out in full force-the friends
Of Colonel Savage's singers. glad to well
come the favorites as they have long been
wont to do. and eager for a repetition Of
remembered delights. 1t was a keen pleas
ure just to observe and SAVIOR the atmos-
phere of friendliness that pervaded the
house.
And the opera being the always beloved
III Trovatore,' the fullest provocation was
offered for an enthusiastic evening. OF all
the operas that Verdi wrote--but there's no
use recalling AUX Italiens" and the senti-
ment OF Owen Meredith. OF all the operas
that the Castle Square Company sings
'~'Trovatore'' is the local favorite. ard the
surest of bringing out the Savage clientele
in St. Louis. Especially is this true when
Joe" Sheehan. the Irish tenor, and Nor
WoOds LlC liC otAo 49, W SbS
front in the cast.
So, all these things considered, It was lit
tie wonder that Norwood was applauded to
the echo. and made to come to the foot
lights and be loaded down with flowers and
then forced to respond TO curtain calls a.
plenty.
Nor was 1t strange that Sheehan was
treated in like manner, with flowers almost
as plentiful. and that. when he had bowed
and saluted the house with his shining
sword and then with a single rose waved In
his doughty right hand, there wero face
tious friends in front who shouted Speech!
Speech until Sheehan himself could not
but laugh at the idea Of an operatic tenor
making a curtain talk to the house. After
this. too. the "Miserere" was to come-and
maybe the Century didn't ring with ap-
plause and braves when It did,
Well. the necessity for a critical review of
the performance seems somewhat to pale in
the face OF the evenings welcome, yet 1t
may be said that the Savage company Of
the present fully met the expectations Of
the audience. 1t may be that there is not
quite the same evideno Of thorough and al
most merciless drilling of the minor people
as used to be visible in the days Of the ter
rible Temple.
Some Of the chorus appeared q bit
nervous and i'll at ease, and that didn't
use to be the case. but the singing effects
noieSproperiy obtained, tne crucial An
vii Chorus" bringing down the house as
of yore. The more important members Of
the cast were entirely satisfactory. Sheehan
and Norwood, as a matter Of course. and
Miss well. as AZucena; Miss Ramey,a as
Inez; Mr.. Con- as Count di Luna; Mr..
Boyle. as Fernando. and Mr.. Fulton. as
Ruiz.
The orchestra under the leadership Of Mr..
Emanuel. deserves praise for excellent
work. Its members, however, were SO
tardy in reporting at their posts for the
fourth act as to keep the curtain down
quite o noticeable while after tho lights
had been lowered, but this only provoked
laughter and whistling from the upper
house. Mr.. COTS Count di una was ex-
cellent in voice and finely dramatic. Miss
Wells Azucena could have been improved