The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-06
A Musical Event in New York
Opening the Under of
- r. - - the - - - -
fore the curtain. and it was a discouraging
beginning of the Wagner series.

fore the curtain. and it was discourasing
beginning of the Wagner series.
The third event was In sharp contrast
to the second The opera was Puccini's La
Boheme," and though it was made known
that Mr.. Caruso had contracted cold and
could not appear Rodolpho. the audience
was larger than that for the 'all-star' per-
Torrance of die Walkuere." Mr.. Con-
ried had provided but one Italian tenor
there were three last season-and when
that one fell i'll he was i'm a dilemma. In
seeking substitute he began to realize the
truth Of Mr.. Grau's dispatch, from Paris
to him, that if he made million dollars
he should have earned ii. 1t so happened
that there had just arrived from San Fran
cisco, On his way to Europe, a tenor. Mr..
Agostini. that had sung the part of Rodol-
pho in La Boheme when it was first
given In New York. by the Baggheto Opera
Company. But it took hours to find him,
for he was stopping at the residence Of
some, friends.
Mr.. Agostinis voice, though pleasant,
was small in comparison TO Mr.. Carusos,
but the Mimi Mime. Sembrich and the
Marcello was Mr.. Campanari, so the per-
Torrance was full of profit. The opera is a
genuinely melodic and finely sympathetic
Interpretation of Henri Murger's descrip-
ton of Scenes in the Life of Bohemia"
conveying a sense of the happiness Of free
existence and congenial work, the beauty
of purely passionate love with its conse-
quent pain of misunderstanding and separa-
ton, and the inevitable agony Of death,
which casts its shadow before and behind.
* \
AIDA" on last Monday night, was a
triumph for Mr.. Conried and his assistants.
There showed the investment in new stage
mechanism and the patient drilling of
chorus. ballet and supernumeraries in tho
purpose of presenting an illusion of gor-
geous Oriental life. At the return of Rhad-
ames, the stage was crowded with throng
moving in ceremonial pomp and forming
brilliant picture. The acting and sing
ing of the principals in the opera, too, was
of an intense force that drew upon them
the ardent approval of the great assem-
blage across the orchestra pit; the "bravos"
and "bravas' were thunderous. Mr.. Caruso
had recovered from his indisposition and
| was in full voice. He is resourceful and
| dignified actor and his Rhadames was a
| "iShty Aau. ituCOu was The RdIuiiS
| and Mr.. Scott the Amonasro. As Amneris
another American contralto, Miss Edyth
| Walker, made her first appearance in this
| opera house. She sang and acted with
| skill and fervor.
1t was Nine. Gadski that dominated; her
Aida was superb. The high tones were at
| once clear as crystal and softly lustrous
| Nine. Gadski has an unusual talent for
acting and her ability is directed by intel
ligence, but it is pity that she does not
| forego the rewards of the declamatory
| music-drama and devote her lovely voice to
| the high uses of melody, which In the end
must bring the lasting satisfaction. The
| Wagnerians claim Aida and certainly in
this work Verdi adopted to some degree the
dramatic method, though he could not sup
press entirely his native prediction to
melody. Aida" is a brave show, but it
has not obscured the tuneful "Rigoletto,"
and 1t never shall until both are forgotten.
La Bohemia" is the latest type, and one
may rest on it. Puccinfs '"Tosca" and
| Wagner's "Tannhauser'' were in this
| weeks programme, but this report must be
| discontinued without them.
| HORACE LANCASTER.