The San Francisco call., 1905-01-22

One does not wonder after seeing
and hearing Berlindi's Manon that the
soprano has been engaged to sing the
role with the famous Caruso next
spring in the French capital. 1t is one
of the pronounced hits of the sea-
son, effective from all sides. BaZelli,
too, in the role that Caruso will sing.
also made a most favorable appear
ance. To Massenet himself he owed
his teaching of the part, the composer
lnstructing him in it's necessities on
the occasion Of the operas first pre-
sentation in Milan at the Lyrico. Ba-
zelli counts very pleasing appearance
and manner among his assets, and con-
tributed considerably to both the dra-
matte and picturesque illusion.
The whole performance Of the opera
Il speak of it's first night-ranks with
the fine opening one of "Rigoletto." 1t
showed the conductor. Signor Polacco
in a new and again favorable aspect.
Spirit, abandon, magnetism one had
already found him amply possessed Of.
but in "Manon" one discovered also
charming conservatism, a finesse an
elegance Of conception, that added not
ably to ones opinion of him. Signor
Polacco should conduct Mozart admir-
ably-too bad we shall have none-but
there will be ample opportunity in the
operas to come for the exhibition OF
all his varied capacities.
It is unfortunate that the opportuni-
ties for rehearsal have been so scant-
The performances, astonishing as they
are as a whole, are only sketches or
what might be. Neither conductor, or
chestra, soloists. chorus. have had fair
opportunity to show their abilities 1t
is only the long experience of opera
that the Tivoli orchestra and chorus
have had that has made the perform
ances even possible. There is talk that
Signor Polacco will return next year,
and prelude his season with rehearsals
befitting the occasion. It is much to
be hoped that it is true.
It would not be a bad idea, also,
for some one to get in and rehearse the
audiences There are things to be
said for the Partisan claqueur. At least
he does not intrude his noise upon the
heart of solo or upon the orchestral
phrase that rounds 1t off, as do we.
The applausive Interruptions this week
have bordered upon the ludicrous and
gone over the border. They have had
at times neither more rhyme nor rea-
son than the shouts of the Central gal
lery when the hero thrusts do-or-dte
hand into the air. The action of the
cpera has been slashed in two, its
logic-and heaven knows there Is little
enough to go round-has been utterly
lost. Neither have the singers helped
the situation as they might. They have
risen, LaZarus-like, from the dead, to
bow their acknowledgements; they have
gone through the agonies of double
farewells and generally played fast and
loose with the stories. Possibly the
enthusiasm will be little more staid
this week, but last it lacked wonder
fully in Judgment and place. 1t Is
fact that we were ready for any and
every thing of opera, and this, so be-
yond ones expectations, perhaps pro-
nounces its own pardon for the extrav-
agance of it's greeting.
Next week come Creatore and his
Italian band. Creatore, who stopped
playing Angel Gabriel with his lovely
key trombone to become conductor
in town here just three years ago.
needs no introduction in San Francisco.
His band is said to be in excellent
shape and will play the usual italian
band sort of repertoire. Here is the
first nights programme. 1t is for
Monday evening, and the concerts are
to be given at the Alhambra:
March, "Tannhauser" (Wagner);
overture, 'Mignon" (Thomas); Minuet
(PaderewskD; organ offertory (Bat-
iste); quartet from "Rigoletto" (VerdD,
solos by Signori Tommasino, Sementa,
Catalano and Iafisco; soprano solo,
Ave Maria" (Gounod), Nine. Barili;
grand selection, Carmen" (Bizet),
solos by Signori Tommasino, Catalano,
Iafisco and Raho.
Mime. Barili again accompanies the
organization, and the prices are popu-
lar.
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