Los Angeles herald., 1906-11-10
LUCIA PROVES
A VOCAL TREAT
ALL FAULTS OF AUDITORIUM
FORGOTTEN LAST NIGHT
New Soprano, Tenor and Baritone
Make Hlts-FamIIlar Numbers su-
perbly Rendered, and Whole
opera Almost FIawIsss

opera Almost FIawlsss
'Tis a great pity that the Auditorium
could not have been inaugurateu anu
| the opera season begun last nght, III
stead of the night before. Tnen none
OF the harsh things said of the Lam
bardi forces would have been written.
As it is the opinions expressed OF the
opening were fully justified, OF course;
but it would have been so much better
for all concerned, singers, management
and especially the public, had 1t been
possible to have expressed the views
of the opening that one most Bledly
enunciates about last nights produc-
| ton 80
AS all know. Lucia" is quite diff
ferent proposition, so far as dihioultes
of both vocal and instrumental score
are concerned, from aida" The latter
contains some of the most stupendous
work ever cut out for musicians TO 90.
Lucia" on the contrary, both vocally
and in the orchestral parts, Is much
| lighter; more musical to the ear, per-
haps, but far less demanding on the
performers. This in itself insured an
Improvement last night; then better
acquaintance of singers and players
with one another the inevitable
smoothness coming with secondNper-
formance, and the general air OF confi-
dence and absence of premier nervous
ness, all initiated for the success of
the Lucia" Interpretation. So more
was expected
But not one of that audience that fore
gathered in the beautiful Auditorium
was prepared for the treat that was
his. 1t was a surprise so overwhelming
that it almost took ones breath. 1t
was a performance so good in all
around excellence that it fairly lifted
the listeners out of their seats, and the
whole applause of the inaugural was
not so great as was manifested time
after time for some special number of
the familiar score.
This very familiarity of the opera
helped to make it the more enjoyable,
too: there was a satisfaction in hear
ing such old favorites as the love duet,
the sextet and the mad scene rendered
so superbly, and with such consummate
artistic skill, that made one overlook
any minor defects and gave one cause
to applaud to an almost hysterical eX-
tent.
Consequently it was highly delight
ed and enthusiastic audience which
filed out of the great building after
Edgardo's splendid lament, and went
its way with the divine harmonies still
ringing in its ears and the SalVoS OF
cheers still reverberating. Pity tits
that this could not have been the case
one night before.
To begin with. last night brought out
eight principals of super-eXcellence-I
Tromben, lyric soprano Of winning
sweetness and charming personality
a tenor with voice Of gold
and liquid as a brook, and Antola, a
baritone of finest quality. This trinity
was backed by several others of minor
note as to roles, but of the same high
30 -4t1 tnl1rr 1Nkf
a basso who made his bow Thursday
and who won much favor then. These
principals rendered an almost flawless
score, and were a delight from begin
ming to end. Not once sdid the four
named fail to rise to the demands
made upon them, and in several in
stances they outdid anything of the sort
yet done here.
Tromben is a soprano whom all took
to their hearts at once. She is fragile
looking woman of considerable beauty,
with voice of pure lyric quality. Her
lower notes are excellent, and her high
ones, though q bit thin at times and
suggestive of falsetto, are still so gen.
uine that they charm. Her voice is not
as strong as opsslbly some roles that
require, but as Lucia, the plaintive
strains in it fit the part to a nicely
and make 1t all the more acceptable
Her acting is far and away ahead of
what one expects of vocalist, and the
combination makes her a tower of
strength, singer to whom we will
look for many an enhancing appear
ance in the near future.
Salvaneschi, the tenor, also possesses
jewel of a voice, of pure lyric timbre,
which he handles superbly Not once
did he fail to make the most of his
chances, and his golden throat poured
forth stream of melody that was
faultless. Antola's baritone is reso-
nant, steady, never harsh, and fully as
flexible as any that the writer recalls.
He was especially good in the scene
over the marriage signature with from
ben. Canetti had his chance in the last
act, and his vocal achievements es-
ia blished him at once.
From the beginning the opera took
strong hold on the audience. The love
duet between Tromben and Salyaneschi
was great; the sextet got a tremend-
GUS recall, and was better done the
second time even than the first-the
city never heard 1t more perfectly rem
ldered-and the mad scene, which per-
mitted Tromben all sorts of opportuni-
ties for vocal pyrotechnics, was SUI
perbly given: though on the recall she
did fail on her final high note, this
was gladly overlooked Martini, as
Bucklaw, was poor, but his part is of
so small Importance that 1t scarcely
marred even the ensemble.
The chorus, praise be, redeemed it.
self, too, so far as it could. 1t sang
without individuals trying to single
themselves out, and kept with the Or
chestra, which Guerreri had we'll in
hand this time. If one doesn't look at
the chorus, really 1t isn't so bad now.
The costumes seem to have arrived:
those last night were all that the opera
demands. The scenery too, was ade-
quate, and the stage management
shows some improvement. The prompts
ers should be gagged, or permitted to
take the center of the stage; they an
noy as they are at present concealed.
Aida" will be repeated this after
noon and Lucia" tonight. Go tonight.
by all means The same casts will
| sing.