The Saint Paul globe., 1904-03-29
At ST. Paul Theaters

jealousy, blended with the music of
Verdi, a genius three centuries later.
than the Bard, that was the composite
creation presented at the Metropolitan
last night by the Savage Grand Opera
company.
The presentation possessed rare
distinction. Other Shakespearean trage-
dies, notably Hamlet and Romeo
and Juliet" have inspired such COM
posers as Ambrose Thomas and Gou-
nod to convert them into operas, but
| nobody ever heard those operas in the
English language.
"Othello" was sung in English at the
Metropolitan last night
Moreover, much of the English was
Shakespeare's own. It sounded strange
indeed to hear the immortal lines
sung by Othello and Iago. AT times
these lines did not seem to lend them
selves to musical expression. One
missed the frenzied defamation of
I'D rather be a toad and feed upon
the Vapor of dungeon than keep
corner in the thing l love for others
| uses!" The sardonic humor of honest
Iago" can hardly be conveyed in song.
But music-Verdi's musician ex-
press passion, and it does, most elo-
drama of passion. 1t is almost in
credible that Verdi composed this
opera after passing the allotted three
score and ten years.
1t is tragedy in tempos. The or
chestration is exquisite. Moments
pass without a vocal note, but the
}sStrings, wood winds and baSses illu-
inmate the pantomime of the actors.
| Under the direction of Chevalier N. B.
| Emanuel the orchestra Of forty pieces
acquitted itself most creditably, not
only supplying the rich musical back
ground but constantly ornamenting the
vocal achievements of the players.
The applause of a discriminating
audience rewarded the singers. Doubt
| less it would have been more frequent
if "Othello" were studied with melodic
gems, like 'Rigoletto," "Traviata" or
| I'll Trovatore." But "Othello'' does not
little melody. in the popular sense of
| the word. Yet it teens with music.
! Everywhere is the great composers
| appreciation of the great dramatists
| thought in evidence. The score is a
masterpiece, vibrating with sonorous
melody, rich with divine harmonies
and eloquently expressive of the rag
| ing jealousy of the Moor, the demoniac-
| al, remorseless villainy Of Iago and
| the agonizing grief of Desdemona.
| The dramatic climax Of the opera
| comedies with that of the drama-the
sworn compact between Othello and
Iago for revenge. Both kneel as in the
| play. The duet is brilliant, passion
| ate, thrilling outburst of song, that
| closes the act. @
| But the gem of the opera, not only
| in it's meIodic beauty. but in its ex-
! quisite pathos, is the last prayer of
| Desdemona before she seeks her death
| bed. Many in the audience felt 'the
| dint of pity" while Miss Rennyson
| chanted this ethereal melody. Suspi-
| cious clearings of throats and visions
Of handkerchiefs were in evidence all
over the theater.
It was a tribute to both composer
and artistic. Miss Rennyson sang with
absolute purity of tone. Every note
| throbbed with feeling, each one spring
| ing from the. other as though Watered
| by Desdemona's tears.
| Miss Rennyson made an ideal pic
| ture of the gentle Desdemona.
Mr.. Sheehan deserves high praise for
! his portrayal of the immortal title role
la character that has enlisted the
| genius of the worlds most illustrious
actors. His bearing was at all times
| dignified and majestic-his makeup
| f1awless and his acting fervent and
| intelligent Vocally he was always ad-
I eauate. Mr.. Sheehan possesses rare
| tenor voice, whose truenesS of tone is
a conspicuous virtue. That it was SUI
| fering from fatigue, aggravated by a
| cold was apparent in the last act, but
/ the score was not allowed to suffer on
| that account. The impersonation was
altogether the most effective that Mr..
| Sheehan has presented upon the local
| stage.
| Another portrayal worthy of excep-
| tional commendation was the lago of
| Winfred Golf. Here is an actor Of pro-
nounced ability as we'll as vocal
| artist The role of Iago comes pre-
ciously near dominating the opera, and
| Mr.. Golf gave it the authority due.
| His resonant baritone is under perfect
control and he emits it without the
| SLIGHTEST perceptible effort. He sang
| with the utmost ease the recitatives in
+! the colloouies with Othello, Roderigo
| and Cassie, and suited the action to
| the word in the manner that unm1stak-
ably denotes the actor. An artist VINO
exemplifies all that sympathy implies
| is Mr.. Goff.
The Cassie of Mr.. Fulton and the
| ambassador of Mr.. Bennett were sat
| isfactory
Tonight, ''Lohengrin.' F. G. H.
1t was distinctly an audience of So
ciety people that greeted the castle
| Square company on the opening OF its
| ST. Paul engagement last night; ana
| evening dress was the rule not only
| in the boxes, but throughout the house.
! 1t is doubtful if at any time in the past
| winter there have been more handsome
| toilettes displayed in the Metropolitan
| theater than last night. With but IT.
| tie exception it was carriage audi
| ence. and for some time before the
performance the street in front OF the
! theater was crowded with the hand
soonest equipages in the city.
| In the boxes were:
| Mr.. and Mrs Gustave Scholle, Fitz-
| hugh Burns.
i Mr. and Mrs H. T. Black and Miss
| Black.
! ford Livingston.
! Mr.. and Mrs. Arnold Kalman, Mr.. and
| Mrs. C. o. Kalman, Miss Celia Kalman,
| Greve Oppenheim.
| Prof. and Mrs. c.. G. Titcomb, Prof
! and Mrs D. F. Colville.
| A. Mcpherson, Carl Taylor.
c. o. Searle Miss Snawe.
@Erminie" has proved one of the
most popular comic operas of the past
| twenty years It's run at the New York
Casino made both famous. 1t also made
| the reputation Of Pauline Hall. "Er-
mimic" will be presented at the Metro
| pelitan next week and will have cast
that, in strength of names, rivals the
| original production. Francis Wilson
WILL of course, play Caddy, and the
balance of the cast is made up of star
players, including Marguerite Sylvia,