The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-22
Savage Grand Opera Company i'm
ssOtheIIO.''

savage Grand Opera Company In
'OtheIIo."
The grand opera season, inaugurated by
Henry w. Savage's magnificent company
last night at English's Opera House. is
surely the most memorable event of the
local theatrical year, from the musical
standpoint, and is deserving of the warmest
encOura cement and the most whole-hearted
support. Mr.. Savages admirable young
singers made a profound impression
when they were heard in Indianapolis for
the first time a year ago, but their success
of last night was unquestionably greater
than that which they scored upon the oc-
casion of their initial appearance here.
These sterling young artists possess the
ambition and the courage TO undertake the
most difficult Of musical works, and they
have the ability TO carry out successfully
all of their undertakings. In university life
you hear of the college spiIit"-the sort
OF thing that wins contests against ire
mendOus odds. There is just such a spirit
as this to be found in this operate organiza-
tion-a determination TO make the most
OF sincere and serious study, and never 10
be content until great results have been
accomplished.
The opening opera of the indianapolis
festival was VerdiS "Othello,' which had
never before been sung in English in this
city, and it forcibly and effectively
set before the large and appreciative audi
eICe IndI the applause was frequent anu
most genuine, and everywhere throughout
the theater expressions of delight were
to be heard. There are those students OF
music who affect to believe that the great
operas cannot be adequately interpreted in
this country by any organization save the
Metropolitan Opera Company, but 1t would
be hard TO convince the person who loves
music-loves it for its own sake and not
for the problems it presents-that the per
Torrance of last night was not as dlStlnc-
tive and as convincing as many of those to
he I'd "a "a house Broad
way.
The masterpiece was superbly sung by
principals and chorus; it was staged in
manner that left absolutely nothing to be
desired, and the large and excellent orches-
ira, under the conductorship of Chevalier
EMANUEL musician who is thoroughly in
touch with the spirit of modern Italian
music-played the score with vividness and
warmth, rendering its sweeping floods of
strong, impassioned harmony and its rills
of tender melody in a manner that was
wellnigh perfect. 1t is a temperamental
baton that Emanuel Yields, and he read
the score last evening with a due apprecia-
ton OF its poetry well its passion.
Best of ali, the glorious work was sung in
a language which the American citizen
could follow with intelligence and which
allowed him 10 give himself up TO the right
| sort of enjoyment of the wonderful music
urdmd-pefmltted him TO understand the
| meaning of the words that being sung
and TO give thanks in his heart that
| sealed book has been opened for him al
| last.
The average American loves music, all
assertions of the elect to the contrary,
| but he becomes sckened with the silly at
| fectations sand arrant humbuggery or the
! so-called music thinkers who turn with
| disfavor from that which is simplest in
music and, therefore, clearly comprehen-
| sive TO the general public. And the
thought
many who were present at last nights
| beautiful performance that it was refresh
| ing relief to hear ones own language in
| grand operate hear ii sung by artists who
| were capable of realizing the spirit of the
work in hand, and not only to sing it as it
should be sung, but TO give Ii pregnant dra-
matte expression. OF course. there were
some small defects in the presentation, for
ali of the singers are young and few are
without long experience, but on the whole
| the opera was given with much skill and
ability and the general cooperation of the
| forces so satisfactory that Verdis
| ''Othello" will not be forgotten by those
| who were fortunate enough to hear its in
depreciation.
This brilliant and thrilling setting of the
Shakspearean tragedy is accounted the
| most mastery achievement of the great
Italian composer. ''Othello." as a work of
art, is indeed a masterpiece and when one
recalls the fact that it was composed by
years old, and who at that age adopted
style entirely different from that employed
in all of his previous works, the compost
ton becomes marvel Verdi demonstrated
| in this opera that he could compose in the
| modern style quite well as in the old.
| Excepting Wagner, no master of music
could give such musical expression to the
| feelings peculiar TO the different characters
and to the general sentiment of the libretto.
The presentation of this Verdi work offers
| added interest to the students of the drama
| and opera by reason of the English blank
| verse librettO of Francis Hueffer, the music
! critic of the London Times. In making the
| English translation from Boito's poetic
Italian version, Mr.. Hueffer took steps to
| restore the original Shakspearean text as
| far as possible. He discarded the Italian
| blank verse, which he found peculiarly
| suited to the dramatic declamatOry music
| written by the composer. The story is
| clearly and dramatically presented-far
| more so than is usually the case in grand
| opera There is scarcely mood of hui
| man emotion that is not brought out in the
/ course of the opera. There is the jealous
| wrath of Othello, made all the more pow
| erful by the belief that he is in the right;
| the pitiful pathos and hopelessness of the
| wronged Desdemona; the malgnity, cyni-
| cism and cunning of the treacherouS Iago;
| the honest friendship of Emilia; the ire
| sponsible gayety of Cassie and the dignity
| and gravity of Lodovio and Montana. The
| range of feeling is immense, and il has been
| given wondrous transposition into a beau
| Il1ul muSlcdl FORM.
| The Interpretation of the title role was
| nothing short of triumph for Joseph Shee-
han. This handsome young tenor. who
| stands quite alone among the English-sing-
| ing tenors of the American stage, has never
| been heard before TO such great advan-
| tage. His magnificent voice thrilled the big
| audience and his acting at all times
| forceful and intense. His makeup as the
| hot-headed Moor perfect; in fact, a
more ideal Othello could not well have been
presented so far as appearance was con-
cerned. and certainly no operate tenor
singing in English could have equaled his
! performance of last night. Mr. Sheehan's
work was indeed a surprise. for although
he disclosed a splendid voice and much
| ability actor last season, he accom-
plished nothing that could be compared
| with this new portrayal. In the love music
| in the passionate duet with Iago and in
| Othello'S rage, hate and grief during the
| final tragic scene he was superb.
Sharing honors with him was Gertrude
| Rennyson. whose wondrously pure and
| sweet soprano was exceptionally well suited
| to the music that falls TO the share of Des-
! demona Miss Rennyson. who gave promise
| of great things last season, has fulfilled
| all expectations. Her art has matured, and
she not only sang with unusual skill and
| artistic intelligence last evening, but she
| portrayed the role of the Moor's unhappy
bride with true understanding of the