The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1907-01-10
ANTOLA ACHIEVE
FINE SUCCESS
BY James Crawford

One thrill of exceeding intensity
was enjoyed by the. folk who crowded
the Central Theater last evening to
partake of the Lambardis' double Of
fering "Cavalleria Rusticana" and II
PaglIacci." 1t followed a somewhat
disappointing production of the Mas
cagni opera and was conveyed by An
tolas singing of the prologue to Leon
cavallo's work So entirely uneXpect-
ed was the treat that the audience sat
breathless until ii was finished. and
then Numbered such applause as never
before was heard within that structure.
Thrice the young artist sang the num-
ber and then he was recalled again
and again and still again, until his
admirers were tired of handclapping
and he was wearied with responding.
No such enthusiastic tribute has re-
warded any other member of the Lam
bardi organization, and this is assever-
ated without forgetting the opening
night and Adaberto's great personal
triumph in Aida.
"CavaIleria's" failure to satisfy was
due to several reasons In the first
place, Russo as Turridu was vocally
weak, owing either TO an unavoidable
impairment of his voice or his unwill-
ingness to give it unbridied compass.
In the second place. the female prin-
cipals were injudiciously cast. Giorgi
acted Santuzza with an air of dis
erection that was utterly at variance
with the popular conception of wom-
an conscience-racked and jealousy rid
den. and Million acted Lola with nam
bypambyism that could not be possibly
construed as the triumphant conduct of
a coquet Pacinis impersonation of
Alto was more than up to the require
ments, both vocally and dramatically,
but the roles limitations prevented his
redemption of the shortcomings men
toned The orchestra was very well
haRdled by Lebegotr, the intermezzo
winning a repeat, and the choruses did
not serve to compensate for the prin-
cipals' defects.
Antola sang the "Pagliacci" pro-
logue with all the power of his fresh
young voice, and never did he exercise
greater artistry. / have heard both
Scott and Campanari sing it on Mis-
sion street, and while each OF them
gave it correct phrasing, neither of
them had the organ to give it the eff
feet that this twenty four year old
boy attained Perhaps when he is less
youthful he will be as careful of his
voice as they were-and thereby de-
prive 1t of the charm that made him
the big figure in last nights perform
ance
Patti was the tenor and he acted
well and sang with the prudence that
Antola did not show. Blanca Nunez
was an inadequate Media, although
she sang her music acceptably.
Both operas were staged with due
regard to maintenance of the sim
plicitv of atmosphere demanded by the
scores. Thus far the Lambardis have
failed to fulfill the advance predic-
ton that their productions would be
insufficiently mounted and costumed.
How the town would flock to see
Adaberto either as Santuzza or Media,
She would have lifted the Mascagni
opera above mediocrity last night
and what a stagemate she would have
been for Antola in "Pagliacci"
This week will be rounded out with
repetitions of THE Barber La
Tosca" and the double bill. and 'Rigo-
letto" will be sung Sunday afternoon.