The San Francisco call., 1905-01-12
Italian Opera Company Opens in ''RigOlGttO

For the first night of its first grand
opera season the new Tivoli heaped up
history last night with all kinds of a
wonderful "Rigoletto." The audience
was as large as the house and almost
as Latin as the cast. 1t was as en-
thusiastic and ready to say so as any
audience this side of Milan, and said so
nightly last night.
There were most reasons for en-
thusiasm. There is a soprano-but of
Tettrazzini later-and there is con-
ductor that lives up to even the Mexi-
can legends of his achievements.
Yesterday morning the company
walked into the Tivoli after a little
1000 mile journey from Mexico. They
were washed out at Banning, almost
kidnapped by the music-loving Governor
of Chihuahua-who wanted them to
put US off for a day or two and sing
a little tenor for him-and otherwise
happily beguiled on the way. Yester-
day morning tired, dusty, with a hand
full of orchestra, part of a chorus, the
scores somewhere, the costumes else
where, the principals and a conductor,
they arrived. 1t is owing to the fact
that the conductor was a Pollacco that
last nights performance was given at
all Its kind also is due to the same
fact.
Signor Pollacco is a wonderful sort Of
person. He has the fire of a Creatore
and the fineness of a Mancinelli He
was all over the orchestra last night,
darting a rapier-like baton at the vio-
Inns, whipping in the brass, coaxing the
wood wind and compelling them all to
a quick, clean, close, sensitive ensem-
bic that l do not remember to have
heard equaled before at the Tivoli. And
II Signor Pollacco can do this with one
rehearsal with a number of men yet
musical strangers TO one another, what
Will he do in a few days? The scores
he is evidently on the most musicianly
OF terms with; he is apparently as lit
tie inclined TO spare himself as Mas
cagni, and in the orchestra, both home
and imported, he has evidently the best
of material. There are to be fifty-two
men all told; last nights count was
forty eight. One thing only the con-
ductor has to learn-that in shouting
as we did at the end of act three We did
not want an encore, but the privilege
of a stage view of Signor Pollacco-his
back view is of the young and hand
some sort, However, the audience took
it out in applauding him between acts.
A little woman about the height and
something of the build of Sembrich
is Tettrazzini. One had heard all sorts
of wonderful things about her-and
feared things therefore. But the Tet-
T a ha
legends, are all less than true. One is
. almost afraid to own to the depth and
character of the impression that the
. singer made. To me. however, the
voice has all the crystalline purity and
freshness of the Melba voice, while the
method of using it much more nearly
approaches that of Sembrich. Large |
words these. but believe them entirely |
justified The voice is flawless. 1t is
perfectly sweet, perfectly clear, per-
fectly even-up to a full E in alt-and
perfectly round. 1t runs as easily,
lightly as a larks- There is trin
that shanes any lark ever heard and
a scale even as string OF pearls 1t
is the purest bel canto. Just three
notes it took the audience to discover
what was before them in the way of
good as labeled
AS before said, she is as good a |
singer as owner Of voice Tettrazzini |
is further an actress of unusual abil- |
ity, though it is apparent that, like |
Sembrich, her feeling is more for COM |
edy. Her Gilda, however, was notable |
for the sincerity and charm of the act
ing, the scene where, despoiled, the |
-
tune to her father in particular rising |
to power.
Signor Romboli was the RigoIetto. |
and the cast was happy in him both |
from the dramatic and vocal stand |
point SignOr Rombon has a bright, |
powerful and resonant barytone that |
he uses with ample freedom and con-
yiction. In the sustained notes one |
gets a little too much tremolo occa- |
sionally, but otherwise the Romboli |
method is entirely artistic. The en-
semble passages between the jester and |
his daughter were delightfully."- sympa- |
thetic, the duet in act being rede- |
manded for this alone.
The Duke was essayed by Signor Ba- |
zelll, who, to a successful vocal |
handling of the part, added an excep- |
uonally happy acting of it. He is |
distractingly handsome person, as the |
matinee girls will say, and sings with |
great spirit and dash. Bazelli's voice |
lacks the pure tenor quality of say |
Russos, but is delightfully."- flexible, |
resonant and powerful. 1t is rather of |
the tenore robusto order. His La |
Donna Mobile" was given with all |
essential deviltry The following quar- |
tet, in which Signorina Bettini as |
M2ddalena added a vivacious and coll |
orfui contralto. came with even more |
than it's accustomed flavor. Signor |
Cirotto adds a Sparafucile that looks |
like Captain Kidd and that sings in a |
handsome enough basso at need.
As TO the chorus, 1t is as good-look- |
ing as Mr.. Grau's, but can sing. and |
even takes the trouble to act. Its |
Aitti, Zitti,' the whispered brigand's |,
chorus, was the best sung within my |