The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-03-31
At St. Paul Theaters

MISS well achieved distinct per-
sDnal triumph at the metropolitan last
night as Carmen. There have been
other Carmens, some Of them char
acterized by certain subtleties and
graces-and even less pleasing attri-
butes-but the Interpretation given the
creation by Miss Iuell is very much
her own and rather astonishing in it's
frankness.
Dressing the part very perfectly,
Miss IYell looked 1t every instant she
was on the stage. There was no watt
ing for elimacteric efforts. She came
before the foetlights a full-blown, pas
sionate, loving, hateful, sneering, cajol- ,
ing, vicious Carmen, and fell under the
the knife Of Don Jose with all those
attributes fixed under a horrid aspect
of mortal fear. And she sang the pas
sionate notes with such spirit, such /
a nice appreciation of the possibilities
of musical expression, and withal in
such complete sympathy with the motif,
that the audience, at first gasping
little, entered with her into the sinis-
ter tragedy of the piece and forgot the
setting in which she sparkled.
Her 1.-the figure, high colering, the
naturalness of her abandon, made Miss
Wells Carmen something to hold the
eye, while her supple voice charmed
the ear. There was no straining for
musical elimaXes No working up to
the lmpassioned love scenes. She lived
the story of Carmen, and, had the music
been absent her triumph would still
have been great, for she showed herself
a consummate actress. Such a COM
blnation of acting and singing has not
often been shown to st. Paul audi
ence.
Mr.. Gherardi sang the Don Jose, and
did 1T in a manner almost worthy of
the Carmen. He was quite true in his
notes and reached to the proper pitch
of passion in the second act. The only
notable feature of his work. aside from
this, was in the duo in the last act,
which was ma gnificently sung to the
catastrophe.
Miss LIE Brun sang the role of
Michaela coldly but with musical pre-
cision. Mr.. Mafsano was substituted
for Mr.. Golf in the role of Escamillo.
He has an excellent voice, but ex-
hibited a WANT of familiarity with the
music and encountered some difficulties
with the lines, breaking badly in the
last duet with Carmen. His rendition
of the Toreador song was effective, but
he wants the romantic personality nee
essary to the part.
There was lack Of spirit in the cho-
rus, which was more than redeemed
by the magnificent orchestral work,
directed by Mr. Schenek.
The opera was handsomely mounted,
as are all Mr.. Savage's productions,
and the audience, which was large, was
conscientiously If not demonstratiyely,
appreeiative.
This evening 4Lohengrin."
Francis Wilson is one Of the most
resourceful fun makers before the
American public. Mr.. Wilson, with his
star company, will present the ever
popular opera, "Erminie" at the Met
ropolitan for one week beginning next
Monday. The Indications are that Mr..
Wilson will be greeted with enthusi-
astic audiences during his engagement
here. Mr.. Wilson's company, under the
direct management of Messrs. Nixon
& Zimmerman, includes several of the
most noted now connected with light
opera-Marguerita Sylvia, Jessie Bart
lett Davis, William Brederiek, Jennie
WeatherSby Clara Belle Jerome, Sig.
Perugini, William C. Weeden, Robert
Broderick and others who have made
excellent regulations on the American
stage.
w euueu ana fdTleQ continues 10
draw large audiences at the Grand,
where it will remain all the week.
There will be something doing at
the Grand next week, when 1.-THE Stain
of Guilt" is given its first presentation
in this city. It is said to be one of
the strenuous plays Of the season.
The Rentz- Santley company con-
tinues to give satisfaction with
varied vaudeville and buriesque bill at
the Star. The Japanese acrobats do a
startling turn, and there are other no.
table numbers in the clio. There will
be ladies' matinee given tomorrow.