Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-12-24
Special Correspondence.

opcNih correspondence
7 ONDON, Dec. Yesterday, at His
Majesty's theater Miss Mamie
Tout took the title role I'm the
presentation Of Guck's "Alcestls.
Greek opera founded on the play Of
Euriplies, As stated IN the program,
there have been many performances Of
this work upon the continent notably
those in Paris In 1861 when Madame
Viardot Garcia played Alcests and
IN the summer Of the present year, at
the Opera ComlQue); but with the
possible exception Of Sir Henry Blsh-
ops presentation at the 81. James
theater London, IN the SOS, there is no
trace Of any previous performance in
England The opera was, originally,
written to an Italian libretto, and pro-
duced by Calsablgl, in 1867, at Vienna,
The French version by Bailli du Ronet,
was brought out In Paris In lIl6, and
contained several alterations, numbers
from several other operas being includ-
ed IN the score The English transla-
ton was accomplished by Claude Ave-
ling, latterly known IN salt Lake, as
the author Of the words In Utah HAIL
There IS an austere simplicity about
the legend which makes "Alcestis,'
on the whole, a somewhat tedious but
instructive elucidatlon Of pristine myth
olcgy, and il thus requires exceptional
merit In the artists, TO dispel signs Of
wearisomeness IN the audience. The
story presents no interesting problems
for solution and AlCestis, the queen,
merely offers to give up her life 20 the
gods In order to gave that Of her hus-
band, King OF Pherae, Thus the am
tiquity OF the subject, the sublime idea
OF self sacrifice that pervades the role,
and the indispensable tragedy OF the
scenes. demand vocal and histrionic
Qualities of the highest order for justice
To be rendered 10 the leading charac-
ter Alcestis.
In this Royal college production, the
general ensemble manifested an 'at-
mosphere" of dfiidence and artihcialitN
nearly every artist feeling that he
was a probationer, indeed, but this de-
nclency served but 20 demonfdrate,
liNIf NlkNl NNNiN ~ N'HiiNNAt -AtN'
Touts more finished proficiency. Her
work received the most enthusiastic
appreciation ot the end Of the first act,
during which she had stood before the
statue Of Apollo and with majestic
triumph had challenged the dread sis
ter the Fates, and dehed the Lords Of
Endless Night TO do their worst.
Eye lords Of endless night,
We satellites Of DEATH
Never viii / invoke
Your pity cold and cruel!"
Amidst acclamatlons Of Bravo
| Brayol" Miss Tout was repeatedly re-
called; and II Is "a significant fact that
| the applause was most prolonged IN the
| dress circle and boxes, In the latter
| Of which sat the Princess Henry Of
Battenberg, Princess Victoria OF Bat
tCnberg and Beerbohm Tree,
In giving criticism upon the opera
one minor London paper speaks OF
Mamie with some technical dispar-
agemsnt, but one and all combine In
praislng her wonderful vocal powers.
| Below are the principal clippings
The Times. The beautiful quality
| OF Miss Mamie Touts voice told, ey-
celently, In the title part; she filed the
| part very well and ended by convincing
her hearers OF her great artistic abll-
ity"
The Morning Post: Miss Mamie