Los Angeles herald., 1905-03-19

-HE long-planned transcontiheiitai
tour of the Conreid Metropolitan
opera company was begun at the
Boston theater, Boston, Monday even
ing, March 6, with performance OF
"I,ucia di Lammermoor." The prln-
cipals were Madame Sembrich and Bau-
ermeister Messrs. Parvis, Journet and
Bars. The Boston Globe, commenting
on this brilliant performance, said:
"The audience was one of the larg-
est ever brought together on the hrst
night of grand opera in this city OF
famous musical fervor. 1t was an oc-
casion of infinite joy to the lover of old
fashioned Italian opera, for the Dill was
Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor,
and the melodious work was interpre-
ed by two of the greatest living expo
nents of the bel canto art-Marcella
Sembrich and Enrico Caruso.
MADAME Sembrich has delighted
Bostonians innumerable times in the
past. but Mr.. Caruso made his hrst
appearance here last night. His fame
was we'll known here. however, and he
was given a receptioh ouNh Go 49,
tofore has been reserved for long-estap-
lished favorites. Probably a large
number in the audience had heard the
great tenor in New York, and were
nrepared for the glorious treat provid-
ed. however great were the expecta-
tions of those who had not heard hlm'
they must have been amply fulfilled
Caruso is a superb artist certainly
the greatest lyric tenor now on the
grand opera stage, and possibly the
| greatest known to the world during
the last half century.
"To hear two such singers as Ca
russo and Sembrich on one evening is
to enjoy a er-to-be-forgotten mu-
steal feast. Nothing superior has been
offered in Boston since the days, long
ago when Gerster and Campanini sang
together in this same delightfully."- me-
lodious opera. Director Conreid could
not have chosen better for the opening
of the present season. Lucia is ola
in years, and in style may be decidedly
out of fashion, but so long as its melo-
dies are sung by artists such as were
heard last evening the opera will never
suffer for lack of popularity
I'm commenting on Mr.. Carusos
singing last evening only words of
superlative praise can be used. Vocal
ly his performance was practically ire
proachable. The role of the desperate
ly love smitten Edgardo offers few
opportunities for display of histrionic
skill so there was slight opportunity of
Judging Mr.. Caruso's ability as an
actor, but when a singer possesses such
a glorious voice as his, 1t matters very
little whether he can act or not. Ii
is suficient to state that he was equal
to every histrionic demand last even
ing.
"Mr. Carusos voice Is an absoluteiy
pure tenor and of the most deilclous
tonal quality. He sings with tne Ut
most freedom, generally with absolute
fidelity to correctness of intonation' ne
nhrases tastefully and refinement OF
stvle Is always In evidence in his IN
terpretations. He has few OF the ar
fectations conventional with ltaliah
tenors, but generally he sings III
vigorous manly style that is most
gratifying. -
"The number of recalls given Mr.
caruso last night were almost count
less; had all the demands Of the au-
dience been granted not one OF MS
numbers would have passed without
freouent repetition. And the enthusi-
asm awakened by Nine. sembrich's
singing was just as demOnstrative. The