The San Francisco call., 1905-03-16
DOUBLE OPERA
BILL PLEASES
AT COLUMBIA

Rita Newman had her triumph In
the double bill Of the Savage Opera
company at the Columbia last even
ing, both as Santuzza IN "Cavalleria
Rusticana" and as Media in "TPag-
liacci." 1t was star night In interest,
for the reason that both the musical
and the dramatic element. the latter
particularly, were In the ascendant.
The inherent interest In the hbretto
lines and situations and the strength
OF the music. with its entire adapta-
bility to the dramatic exigencies. were
sufficient to hold attention. Curiosity
was on foot to see and hear Newman
In both roles and not less keen to Judge
Sheehan in "TPagliacci-" 1t may be
said with entire frankness that Shee-
han was far better than on some pre-
few tricks. His dramatic work was so
good that one almost could forget that
this was opera from that point OF view
Newman's great success was neces-
sarily in Santuzza. the role giving her
greater opportunities than that Of
Media Throughout both she worked
conscientiously and received the COM
pliment of repeated curtain calls.
Santuzza was played intensely. In
deed the entire "Cavallerfa Rustica-
ma, characterized with marked fierce
ness. was made more noteworthy
by the impression that 1t gave OF more
force In reserve.
In "Cavalleria" Kate Sherwood had
the role of Lola Reginald Roberts
was Turridu. Arthur Deane Alto, and
May Walters was Lucia While this
cast combined TO give an entirely sat
isfactory and good rendering Of the
opera, the glory justly went to Rita
Newman. Deane was a rough and
ready Alto. doing a good turn with
the role. OF course the intermezzo was
applauded and had to be repeated.
Schenck was at the baton.
While the intermezzo lacked the deli
cacy and extreme varieties Of shading
that Mascagni would have given to
it, the personality OF Schenck was
strongly in evidence. OF the entire
orchestral work in "Cavalleria'' about
the same would apply that has been
said about the intermezzo. The or
chestra was handled vigorously and,
truth to say, the players sometimes
displayed a little too much vigor, once
partly drowning out a duet. On the
whole. Schenck won laurels.ld Had that
been his only appearance he stfIl would
have been remembered by those OF his
auditors who prize the vtrile quality
first in orchestral playing. To con-
tinued applause he was compelled
twice to rise and bow acknowledge
ments.
The heralded singing OF the prologue
TO ''PPagliacci' by Winfred Goff was
made good by the actual performance.
So well was it done that the audience
demanded a repetition. and had 1t. Mr..
Emanuel conducted 'IPagliacci'' and
made much Of the delicacies OF the
wood wind and the power OF the heav-
Ter brass wind. The final scene Of
'1Pagliaccf was handled with great
cleverness. The second OF the two
tragedies was carried of with sufi-
cient deliberation to pay some atten-
tion to the plausibilities and was a dis
tinct compliment to the intelligence Of
an opera audience. which always de-
mands more dramatic work than II
really gets when the music puts aside
judgment by its own charms OF the
chorus, a good word is deserved at
each and every performance OF the
Savage company and not least for
what was done last evening.