The San Francisco call., 1905-04-09
THRONG AT OPERA HOUSE
CIAM0RS FOR SPEECH
FROM TENOR,
His Canio in Il Pagliaoci" Stands Among
Marvellous Efforts Heard in San
Francisco.
RESPONDS BY BOWING
De Maochi Sings Santuzza as the Great
Mascagni Would Like to Hear
1t Rendered
MISS LEMON SUCCEEDS.
4
RESPONDS BY
SIS LEMON SUCCEEDS.
BY BLANCHE PARTLNGTON

There are things that happen just
once IN a lifetime. first love. a Calye
Santuzza, a Caruso Canio- When
heard and saw that scintillant. fam
ing performance of Calves sprung
upon US like a holt from the blue one
night after e weary "Boheme," 1 sat
back TO say, That is one thrill that
can never be repeated" Neither has
Il been repeated until yesterday, when
Caruso sang the Canio in "TPagliacci''
down at the Grand Opera-house.
Some one has been jesting with us
here. II was repeatedly announced by
the press agentry of the company that
the Caruso voice was "unmatchable,' -
but that his acting was respectable y
Respectable" is precisely what
Caruso's acting is not. 1t is every
thing else but the thing signif1ed by
that subtly insulting adjective. The
man can do anything. One forgot yes
terday afternoon. in the fire and flame
OF the acting, that one was also hear
ing perhaps the voice of the century.
one remembered with amaze the de-
bonnaire wit and wickedness and
breeding of his duke in "Rigoletto.' -
As Canio the singer came on as
though he had never done anything
in his life but beat a drum in herald
~ Of travelling circus. His by-play
with the crowd was irresistible in its
rollicking, strutting, braggart bon
homie His every gesture was that
OF the travelling mountebank, his every
expression delicious in its theatric,
pompous geniality.
And then "a aT71a Sicrr7nr
ment OF tragedy. 1t was not a cold
day yesterday, but l venture to say
no one al that performance has yet
forgotten the shiver of ii. The audi
ence was a single shudder as with
eyes cleaning like daggers Canio
sang into the mock jealousy of the
husband IN the play. his owns frenzy.
As though one were watching, help
less, A tragedy at ones door, one
shuddered- And there has never be-
lore been given here a ''Pagliacci'' in
which the preceding acting found
such magnificent foil. The play with
IN the play, the love Of harlequin and
cOlumbine, was acted with the cor
rect, ridiculous, charming exaggera-
ton Of the French harlequinade.
columbine stepping like a dancing
flower, and the lover harlequin strut
ting as on wheels. Here. then. flung
into this delicate, artificial mummerv,
comes the frenzied husband, acting al
first in the plsy his part in real life.
The acting within acting, the volcanic
bursting forth Of the clowns murder
Gus rage, the gradual horror of the
wife as she realizes that the acted
Jealousy IS becoming the real thing.
left an unforgettable thrill. No cur
tain has ever fallen here upon a la
commedia e fnita" like Caruso's. nor
ever will. ii is very safe to say.
Vocally there was limitless beauty
IN his song at the close of the first
ect. There was unlimited fun in his
song at the beginning Of it, There
was again illimitable tragedy in the
vocal expression in the second act. II
you see and hear nothing else. hear
and see the Caruso Canio.
The rest OF the cast was entirely
splendid. even TO a jocose donkey
that wouldn't go like other donkeys.
before IT. In Mr.. Goritz's Tonic one
got a taste Of the comedy that is go
ing to make Die Meistersinger" a red
letter event In its Beckmesser, and
Die FIedermaus" a harvest Of fun in
its Frank. And how the man can
sing, He is entirely worthy Of his
company. The voice Is bright, bril-
liant and deep as the bay, and simply
pours out The prologue was a barry
tonal epic and encOred accordingly.
Yet another genuine sensation was
Afforded by the delightfully."- sung and
acted Nedda OF Miss Lemon, who sub
stituted for Miss Alten. Tt was almost
Incredibly good for a debut perform
ance. which one is Informed it was.
Miss Lemons vocal outfit. TO begin
with. is a very useful one, the voice
sweet and full. easy in flow and quite
dramatic in fiber. The singer further
has style and a distinctly piquant per-
sonality. Her acting IN the play with
in the play as Columbine showed
nnesse. chic and poise quite extraor-
diuarv IN the circumstances. David
Reiss again as the Harlequin brought
a delicate and delightful bit OF comedy
irto the play
Mr.. Vigna at the conductors desk
bore a triumphant baton. He struck
sparks out Of every measure Of the
opera, reading it with a spirit, buoy
sncy and dramatic discrimination that
left nothing to be desired Chorus and
orchestra answered blithely TO his de-
mand. yesterdays 'PagIiacci" alto
gether being a red-letter performance
Not 20 be forgotten is the lovely fact