Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-04-21
Music and Musical Notes

MuOIN OlIN ~
IT oMoRRow afternoon and evening
at the Auditorium occurs the
greatest musical event Of the sea-
sft9ktNI son in Omaha. viz. the appear
- anoe Of the Conried grand opera
company from the Metropolitan opera
house, New York. Three performances will
be given. For the matinee a double bill.
"Haensel and Gretel." the fairy opera by
Humperdinck, which all the children who
can should hear. and "Pagliacci." OF all
the operas so far by the composers of
what is known as the Young Italian
school," the most tense, the most exciting.
the most thrilling, is unquestionably the
remarkable little work entitled 'Pagliacci"
otherwise 'MountebanksO Leoncavallo,
the man who composed "Pagliaccl," has
given us several other works, among them
an opera called "Zaza," and the "Rolando
di Berlino," which he wrote at the bidding
of the German emperor But not one has
been even nearly as successful as his first
achievement.
The plot Of that opera, or Emusic drama"
had done service, with various modiica-
tons, in several fine plays before 1t was
used as a Hbretto The action centers
about Canio. the hero. a jealous strolling
player, and his wife, Media. In certain
village where they stop Media falls in
love with a rich farmer. Silvio The in
trigue is betrayed to Canio by Tonic, whose
attentions have been rudely repulsed by
Media. Canio discovers Silvio and Media
just as their little play-actor performance
Is about to begin for the country people.
Very strangely the plot Of the performance
tallies exactly with what has just hap
pened Jealous husband, faithless wife and
ardent lover. Canio becomes so Infatuated
in accusing Media in the play that he
draws his knife and kills her When Silvio
rushes from the audience to defend her, he
also is stabbed, "Pagllacci' is a play
within play. Vastly exciting all the way
through.
Geraldine Farrar, the young American
girl who has created such a sensation this
season, will sing the role of Media. To
M. Bars win be entrusted the part OF
Carlo Scott will sing the clowns part,
Tonic. To him will fall the interpreting
of the familiar and famous prologue"
-
They tell funny story on Caruso this
season. The tenor. as is we'll known. is
very fond of the opera "Pagliacci," which
taken by Mr.. Reiss, who appears as Harle-
quin to steal Columbine, and as the signal
of his APPROACH he sings serenade behind
the scenes.
Caruso likes to sing this serenade ocoa-
sionally, and at the Baltimore performance
he INDUCED in this fancy. But nobody
knew that it was Caruso that was singing
and there was no applause
There" said Minetti, as he finished,
''you see that your voice amounts to moth
ing Your face is what the people applaud,
and nobody raises hand unless he sees
your face" -.
But the face that Caruso then made
would never have been applauded by any
body.
At the evening performance the attrac-
ton will be that most sparkling, yet most
pathetic, Of Puccinfs operas, La Bo-
heme." And in this case comes not only
the opportunity Of sleeping our souls in
the most ravishing music, but also OF
hearing and seeing that most talked OF
and glorious Of tenors, NJ. Caruso, as Ro-
dolfo. the Latin-quarter poet, besides NJ
strncciari a new and interesting baritone,
as Marcello. and NJ. Gourmet the favorite
basso, as Colline. The part OF the sprightly
ana WhyWdIu AluSelld WAL DC sung py MISS
Bella Alien, and Nine Ciaparellt a new
soprano, said to be a very charming ar
fist, win make her hrst bow to Omaha as
the unfortunate Mimi, whose sorrows have
brought tears TO so many eyes.
The story Of la Boheme" turns, as all
who have read the original sketches by
Henri Muerger are aware on the loves OF
two pairs Of sweethearts. one serious and
one gay. The serious and romantic couple
are Rodolfo the poet, and the winsome
Mint a grisette, VINO dies in the last act
like Camille. OF consumption. The gay
couple are MaIcello and Musetta- They
jangle, become reconclled. kiss, part and
come together again. forming most excel
lent foils 70 Mimi and Rodolfo, The mu-
sio to whiAh Puccini has set this tale Of
Bohemian Paris is worthy OF his genius
and well fitted to display the marvellous
voice OF Caruso. la Boheme" will be
performed under the direction Of Mr.. Ar
turo Yigns, who has had the advantage OF
the composers own counsel and inspira-
ton
For the benefit Of music lovers, who are
also students and wish to get the most
out OF their opportunities. would say that
Mr. Pryor ct Hospe's takes pains 20 keep
the scores OF operas and important works
performed In Omaha. You can't thor
oughly appreciate and enjoy performance
unless you are familiar with the music
and the action. Great performances In
Omaha are too rare for us too become
acquainted by repetition. AS in a good
many other directions, we must dig our
treasures out for ourselves.
Tuesday evening. April q. Mr.. LAndow
viii give the nth Of his piano recitals In