The Washington herald., 1906-10-14
PuccinPs "Madam Butterfly" the At
traction at the Columbia.


II Is not TOO much to say that no more
interesting theatrical event will take place
IN Washington this season than the first
American production Of the new japanese
opera, Madam Butterfly" by Giacomo
Puccini, at the Columbia Theater to-mor-
row evening This opera viii during the
coming winter hold the stage OF six
European music centers. 1t Is being IN
troduced 10 America by Mr.. Henry W.
Savage. who, after ten years OF success
with grand opera repertoire in English. IS
this year disseminating his original en-
teTprise in order 10 concentrate his at
tention upon the American presentation
OF this new opera by the composer Of
"Tosca," la Boheme" and "Manon
I-Lescaut"
Slgnor Tito Ricordi Of Milan. who
stages all Puccini operas in Europe. has
come TO this country TO stage the Ameri-
can production. Mr. Savage promises
that the staging viii rival the most cor
rect stage investitures yet attempted in
this country OF The fragile and airy archI-
lecture and charming landscapes Of the
japanese. With this end in view. he COM
ullss!oned Mr.. Walter BurTidge TO project
and complete the scenic settings of the
three acts. and employed the assistance
or Comelli. the noted designer Of Covent
OstIden productions, and Louis NeIdhardt
an eminent French artist.
Mr.. Savage recruited his orchestra of
sixty musicians from various musical CEN
ters. and drew upon Europe for his three
conductors and concertnaster. Firs.
among these conductors is Walter Roth
well. OF London, who learned the ART az
Hamburg under Mailer
Another fine director is Herr Alfred
Feith. from the Royal Opera, Berlin. The
assistant conducting falls to Herr Cor
nels Dopper. Of Amsterdam. The concert
master is PietrO Marine, a pupil Of
fsaye. and leading first violin OF Mas
cagnls orchestra when il visited America.
Three complete sets Of principals are
required To give eight successive interpre-
tations or the opera every week
-Four Of the prima donnas are American
girls who have won success in Europe.
Only one Of them-Mrs. Adelaide Nor-
wood -Brandt-has been heard on her na-
tive stage Her work with Mr.. Savage's
English GraDd opera Company up TO two
years ago is familiar 10 American opera
goeTs- She is a native of Baltimore
The other three American singers viii
make their American debut IN Washing
ton during the week
Miss Rena Vivienne was discovered in
Milan by Pucclni himself. who recon-
mended her to Mr. Savage The other
two AmeTican-born prima donnas. Miss
Harriet Behnee and Miss Esteile Bloom
field, were born in New York. Miss
Behnee studied in Berlin. Her first ap-
pearance was as AcuZena- st Breslau
NH sfre
for FIVE years. during which period she
sang all the principal Wagnerian roles. in
addition 20 Ortrud, Delilah. Amneris, Car
men and Fides. III The Prophet
Miss Bloomfield, another New York
girl who has been engaged 10 alternate
with Miss Behnee in Suzuki" has been
one Of the prima donnas Of the Dresden
opera.
The two foreign prima donnas engaged
for the role Of Cho-Cho-Sau. the little
Japanese wife OF the title role, who are
also 10 make their American debuts ia
Washington, are Frau Eliza Szanosy and
Nile. Louise Jansen. Frau SzamOsy
created the role OF cho-Cho-San AT the
Royal Hungarian opera, Budapest. and
was engaged upon the recommendation
Of Puccini. Her voice Is a strong dra-
matte soprano, with such a wide range
that she takes many Of the cOntralto
roles
Mile. Jansen, the Danish prima donna,
also engaged for the title role was the
fsvOTite pupil of Nine. Aaterna. Nile
Jansen IS regarded in France as one Of
the greatest Wegnerian pTima donnas.
She made her debut at Lyons IN 1891 as
Elsa, in ''Lohengrin" She Is endowed
with a soprano voice Of power and purity.
She was q member Of the Paris opera dur
} ing the season of IS94-5
/ Nagasaki Is the scene Of the story OF
[ Madam Butterfly" The book is found
ed on the story by John Luther Long,
and the One-act drama by David BeIascc
and has been expanded into three acts
for the opera. the English version of
which has been rendered by +. II. Elkin
1t rev0lves around the infatuaUCn Of an
American naval officer for ChO-ChO-San,
a pretty japanese girl. He enters into 2
marriage covenant with her. but Is
suddenly called away 10 America Three
years later Madam Butterfly still sits in
her house Of bamboo with her curly
headed child, and while she Is waiting
and hoping, the American consul brings
news OF the officers orthodox wedding
in America II is difficult To convince
Madam Butterfly. who holds vigil
/ throughout the night, and then in despair
/ upon realizing the truth. kills herself
with the dagger of her Samauri father
10 avenge her honor after the custom 6I
the country. The eight Washington pre-
sentatiOns OF the opera vii include matt
neeS on Thursday and Saturday
The cast for Monday nights perform
ance is: Madam Butterfly. Frau Eliza
/ Szsmosy; Suzuki. Miss Harriet Behnee;
{ Kate Pinkerton, the American wife, Miss
/ Rena Eivienne; Lieut.. Pinkcrton l. :
/ y. Mr.. Joseph F. Sheehan; Consul Sharp
( less, Thomas D. Richards; Goro, stephen
Jungman; Prince Yamadori, Wallace
/ BrownIow; The Bonze, Robert Kent Park
er; Yakuside, Richard Jones: imperial
] commissioner, Francis J. Tyler; official
/ registrar. p y. Vekyrofl: the mother
Margaret C0wan; the aunt. Elsie Van der
Wort; the cousin, Winifred Baldwin;
/ Trouble, ChO-ChO-San's child, La Petite
1 Miriam; conductor, Mr.. Walter RothweN.
Francis Wilson at the National.
/ Nj Francis Wilson, who two years ago
deserted musical comedy for comedy
without music and tinsel, has entered
] on his third season under the manage
/ ment Of Charles FrOhman this year ap-
pearing at the New National this week
AIr. Wilson will present his latest sue
cess. The Mountain Climber" which
/ created great enthusiasm and much
I laughter at the Criterion Theater, New
York. last spring, The play provides the
comedian with capital opportunities for
/ tie exploitation OF his peculiar style Of
! ELmor.