The Washington herald., 1907-03-29

The Beiaseo Theater was packed 10 the
doors last night at the opening Of the
short season OF grand opera presented
by the Metropolitan Opera Company. OF
New York. under the personal direction of
Heinrich Conried. 1t was an audience
typical of the best society in Washington,
a music-loyiug audience that sat enrap-
tured through a mastery performance
and greeted the noted artists with vigor-
Gus applause.
The opeFa was "Madama Butterfly" the
beautiful story first conceived by John
Luther Long, whose book was translated
into opera by L. Illica and G. Glaeosa. and
set TO soul-stirring music by Giacomo
Puccini 1t was a notable performance in
many ways. II marked the first appear
ance here of Miss Farrar. an American
soprano OF wonderful gifts. The opera
was. OF course, In Italian. a language in
which she sings with great feeling and in-
tensity. The part of Cio-Cio-san, the
poor little Japanese wife. comes well With
In the compass Of her marvellous soprano
voice, and to her vocal gifts, whlc hare Of
the very highest quality. she adds dra-
matte fervor and talent that has seldom
been surpassed on the operate stage.
Miss Farrar Delightful.
The story of "Afadama Butterfly" is a
beautiful and poignant tragedy, but 1t
moves 10 its sad and bloody end through
primrose paths and 20 the accompaniment
OF smiles and happy laughter. The grace
and Ilghtsomeness of Miss Farrar In the
,..-t.- .-,...-., -.-a-e Z. .salfzRk natuyaar her
dainty smiles and her gentle happiness
over her love for the American, Pinker-
ton, and the pale pink cherry blossom Of
her beautiful garden there seemed to be a
subtle harmony. II was the very Joy OF
life coutured into song
Then. in the second act, though her
American husband has been away three
years, and only her little child Is left to
remind her OF her brief welded bliss, her
faith stays firm and sure, and Il Is not
until the consul brings his message OF bad
cheer that she permits herself 10 doubt.
Even then II is hard. and Miss FaTrar's
singing here was beautifully expressive.
Her song here
o Butterfly
Pioclna nleslietsiHs.
TgrnsTO ROSE
was marvelously pathetic and her conf
denee sublime. It was the poem her hus-
band had told her when he left:
BatteFay.
Afy tins ehiid-wifs.
I'll return with tie roses,
The WaI1n and sunny season
When the red-bFeested robins
are busy nesting.
strikes Note of Tragedy.
But the third act, which finds her still
watching, as she watched through the
dreary night - and before that many
weary nlghts-for him 20 come. strikes
the grim note Of tragedy. Here the music
portends the dire fate that Is to befail
her It is grim. austere, the wood instru-
meuts seen 10 shrek their notes OF warn
ing: like the thunders Of Jove. the ket-
tledrums and the brasses take up the
refrain. and above It all comes the clear.
shriII voice OF little Cio-Cio-San. And
the child comes in. and the little, tired,
broken-hearted mother bandages its tiny
eyes. SO that it may not see the awful
sight She places a little silken fiag-an
American flag for the honor fits so
honorable father-in its hands. and then.
behind the scene, with the knife Of her
Samaurai ancestors, she commits hBra-
kiri. and her nfeless body rolls at her
baby's feet.
The art OF Miss Farrar made this fine
story OF love and self-saerifce wonder
fully real and genuine. She is a eOnsum-
mate artist; her talent Is expressed IN
many ways-in gesture, IN facial express
sion. In her grace, and above all, IN her
clarion soprano voice which, as its high
est notes scared Tar above the roar of
the hugely augmented orchestra, thrilled
the vast audience, and brought back an
echo Of spontaneous applause.
The part OF Pinkerton was taken, OF