The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1905-03-29
At St. Paul Theaters
Grand Opera at Minneapolis Auditorium


Mascagnfs "Cavalleria Rusticana" and
a brilliant performance of Leoncaval-
los 'Pagliacci"
The audience was fairly as large as
that which attended ''Parsifal" on the
preceding night and, doubtless because
there was no mystery to awe 1t and no
symbolism to puzzle Ii, permitted itself
the expression of a more festive mood.
The two Italian operas which
comprised the double bill are alike
not only in the character of their
music but also in the types
and the passions that the dramas
depict and therefore they offer
the two linked together convey the i'm
preston of continuous performance
two sordid village tragedies differing
In incident only and with an appro-
pirate musical setting for each. The
superior vocal and histrionic gifts of
the artists who presented 'Pagliacci,"
however, made ii appear much the SUI
perior creation. Mascagnis master
piece. a far more meritorious work,
suffered by comparison.
II was CaruSO who glorified Leonca-
Vallos opera last night; il was Caruso
who stirred the great audience to it's
very depth and drew from it mighty
display of enthusiasm. A handsome.
staggering gallant is this Italian tenor
" AO OCNOlile the lOOl VI the IuuSlC
lovers of two continents. AS Canio, the
mountebank, he has a role which, both
Vocally and histrionically, fits him per-
fectly. Throughout the opera last night
he sang with an abandon which show
ed him prodigal of his great talent.
but IL was III the inexpressibly sad
lament at the end of the first act that
his most impressive singing was done.
In every rich, glowing tone there was
Understandable pathos and when what
sounded like very real sobs put an end
to the heartbreaking song and the
gaudy figure disappeared behind the
curtain of the mountebank's tent, it
was the signal for the outburst of ire
mendous applause. Again and again
the tenor was recalled. Many 'brayos"
were shouted at him, handkerchiefs
fiuttered in the air. the handclapping
was incessant. He bowed impassively
almost as IL applause had become
a wearisome thing, but his lack of en-
thusiasm in no degree lessened the
enthusiasm of those whom his singing
had aroused. Not only has Caruso
great natural gifts of voice and Of tenn
permanent. but every note he utters con-
veys the effect of a musicianly under
standing and a fine sincerity.
Miss Bella Alien, who is the Media
of this same opera, has. it is said. sue
ceeded to FRITZ Scheff's place as the
Soubrette of the Metropolitan forces.
She was eminently satisfying in the
role she sang last night. Her soprano
is beautiful in quality. of excellent
range and, to use a worn but effective
figure, as clear as a bell. The bird
song" in the first act of the opera was
sung not only with great vocal sweet
ness. but also with a delicious naivete,
and when passions deepened with the
development of the story Miss Alien
was able to display the temperamental
fire necessary to make her part effect
i've. Personally she Is very good to
look at and she moves about the stage
with a dainty grace that makes her
figure one worth following with the eye.
Goritz's Tonic was another splen-
did Characterization in Leoncavallo's
opera last night. His utterance of the
prologue which expresses so much Of
the sad and Sordid atmosphere of the
story fully revealed his superior artis-
tic capabilities. The baritone, Parvis,
who was Silvio, and Reiss, in the
smaller role of Beppe. admirably COM
pleted more than competent cast.
Vigna, who conducted the opera. is a
spirited leader and under his very eff
fective baton the musicians entered
heartily into their work. Scenically
also the production was satisfying.
Competent, but in no respect gifted
people. sang the "Cavalleria Rusti-
cana" which preceded Leoncavallo's
work. Maria de Macchi, who sang the
role of SantuZZa, has an adequate So
prano, but her temperamental Iimita-
lions are well defined and she is fur
Their handicapped by personality that
is the reverse of pleasing. Histrionic-
ally Nine. Jacoby's Lola was satisfac-
tory and her meZzo soprano is a good
natural organ marred by no faults of
expression. She was by far the most
interesting of the principals in Mas
cagni's opera and succeeded in impart-
ing distinction to the character of the
coquettish Lola. Bars, the tenor, is a
capable artist and he has the personal
comeliness necessary to make the char
acter convincing, but compared with
the greater Conried artists he seems
not very far above mediocrity. Begue's
Alto was satisfying vocally, and Miss
Bauermeister's Lucia was adequate.
The choruses in "Cavallera RuSti-
cana" are excellent and the orchestra
under Nahan Frankie played the me-
lodious music as il should be played.
The "intermezZo" was warmly applaud
ed and some effort was made, indeed,
to secure an encore, but, naturally. It
was Intellectual M. G. F.
An inspired presentation of Meyer
peer > OPERA was
the offering OF the Conried Grand
Opera company yesterday afternoon.
The attraction of a cast that included
so many of Conried's great artists
caused many who were unable to at
tend all three of the operas to select
this one, and the rOomy Auditorium
presented a brilliant appearance when
the afternoon audience was assembled
there.
1.-The Huguenots" excels in the vocal
opportunity il gives those who assume
the chief roles, of which there are a
great many. and it also excels as n
spectacle. With Nordica as Valentine,
Sembrich as the queen, Homer as Ur-
balm, DIPPED as Raoul and Scott as the
count, the cast was as satisfactory as
these noted names would imply. I'm
der Vigna the impressive and very
French music was read with great
brilliance and fine tonal effort. Seen
ically the production was superb. The
audience that witnessed the opera was
unusually demonstrative, and there
were numerous curtain calls for the
principals.
Checkers with Thomas w. Ross
and a company OF $50 people. continues
to draw big audiences at the Metropoli-
tan opera house. The play is divided
into four acts. The first shows the ro-
tunda OF the Arlington hotel at Hot
Springs, where Checkers falls in love
with Pert Barlow. daughter of the
croesus OF Gainesville. Ark, whom he
met there for the first time. The sec
ond shows the village square Of