The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-03-12
The Grand Opera Season
Is Opened lvith La Boheme

The third season Of the English Grand
Opera company opened at the Metropoli-
tan operahogse last evening with PUG
cini 8 La Bohenae. The production
was characterized by the same painstak-
ing care, fine scenery, appropriate cos
tuning and fresh young voices that ha ve
always characterized the. work done by
/ was q pleasure to listen again to the
work Of his company and to! observe
that the same high standards prevail
| that have been noted in the past.
La Boheme Z is somewhat Of q. nov.
city in the operate world. It is essen
TALLY modern, and most Of the work is
done BY the principals, Rudolph the
Gus students of the Latin quarter In
Paris in 1880, among the men; and Mimi
! the heroine, who embroiders things i'm
possible to sell, and Musetta, who poses
for the artists in the quarter, as the
women. There are two other Bohemian
companions Of the men, who share the
artistic garnet and the jolly crust that
keeps the wolf from the door, who help
out with the dramatis personae and ass
1 Shaunard, the musician, and Colline, the
philosopher.
The story is one portraying the de-
prlvations Of the artistic aspirantS, the
unconventional mode Of life in the quar-
| ter, the bond of affection which springs
up between each Of the two pairs, the
| Inevitable quarrels and the ultimate
death of Mimi, whose consumptive couch
eliminates in the last act in d very dra-
matte finale that is very effective. This
first scene opens in the artist S attic,
which is beautifully set. The second
scene shows a busy street in the quar-
ter, filed with all sorts of characters,
and much brightness and gayety. The
third shows the dawn Of a February
day at the city gates, while the fourth
returns to the attic for the final scene
second act is there any approach to a
chorus, and that has but little to sing.
Practically the entire story is told by
the leading characters.
The principalsi Were in fine voice and
presented east that was really. re-
markable. Miss Gertrude Rennyson
took the role of Mimi, and sang, if any
year ago. Her Interpretation Of the
character was sweet and womanly, and
her singing was beautifully clear and
done with a fine discrimination. Joseph
Sheehan took the role of Rudolph. He
! made a rather robust-looking poet, but
his singing was remarkably beautiful
/ .NocAA " wv OpOu4AS iW1LH HIS 1Ofc SUuS
in the first act. ~
! Winfred Golf, with his tine barytone,
| made a splendid foil for sheehan, in
the role of Marcel the painter, and his
duets with Musetta, taken by Miss
Claude Albright, were very spirited and
good: His voice hasf lost none Of it's
| Old-time resonance and power, and he
| has the same impressive personality.
Miss Albright has not been heard here
before in solo parts. She accomplished
a good deal with the role Of Mnsetta.
| Her voice is clear, sweet and strong,
! and she sings with dramatic power that
| is very grateful. t.E@a y ii
Harrison w. Bennett as Shaunard
sang with more abandon than formerly,
and showed the results of his expert,
ence Of the last season. His voice has
the same clear bass register and he
uses it with the same care and effect.
| Robert Kent Parker took the role of
Colline, and sang with excellent effect,
notably in the solo sung in honor of the
coat to be pawned to buy things for
Mime just before her death.
| While as a whole the opera is enjoy
able, and full of sparkling bits of mu-
sic, there are few things in it; that will
become solo numbers in any Tepertory