The San Francisco call., 1907-01-02
By James Crawford


They sang PuccinFs la Boheme"
yesterday afternoon and Verdfs I'll
Trovatore" last evening at the Central
highly creditable to all concerned.
Patti, the recently imported tenor.
failed to appear as Rodolfo in the
Puccini opera, but his place was ade-
ouately filled by Signor Salvaneschi.
An fnhamed throat was the box-office
explanation of Signor PATHS absence.
San Francisco is somewhat fnicky in
its demands as to how La Boheme"
should be presented, for the opera was
given it's first American production
here in the middle nineties by the Del
Conte Company, and so keenly did we
relish the unique melodies of it's music
and the heart interest Of its simple
story that it broke the record of grand
opera runs in the United States by
scoring twenty-eight consecutive per-
formances. Since then we have had it
more elaborately staged and more pre-
teptiously cast, but never more atmos-
pherically correct So TO state that its
presentation yesterday was reminiscent
Of that homely production at the Cali
fornia Theater may obviate necessity
of going into descriptive details.
While the chief charm of the opera
consists in its ensemble work, we know
that without a tenor of exceptional
lyric quality the entire performance
misgiving that we awaited Sal
vaneschis singing of Rodolfo's love
confession to Mimi in the opening act.
In the gamut Of opera there is no solo
better adapted to bring out whatever
melodious beauty the singer may have
at his command. Its tones are the
acme of soulful appeal Considerable
vaneschi-whose bleaty method has
been criticised-sang it with a smooth
ness throughout the register that held
the feminine portion of his audience
entranced. Gloves were ruined by per-
sistent demand that he sing it all over
again.
Signorina Giorgi's voice made more
OF the sympathy breathing music al
lotted to Mimi than with the Gounod
score last week, and Signorina Nunez
was a charming coquette as Musetta,
especially In her first scene. That sec
ond act finale, by the way, developed
such excellence of team work that 1t
had to be repeated, and then the octet
of principals was called and recalled
Signor Cannetti sang Colline's song OF
the coat with encore-compelling artis-
try, and Signor Pacini was quite an at
tractive Marcello. The remainder of
the cast was up to standard.
Guerrieri conducted, and sometimes
managed to curb rne brasses when
their blare would have been injurious
10 harmony. The string contingent is
steadily improving In quality, and with
a little greater quantity it would effect
a better balanced orchestra
II Trovatore" introduced a new
baritone, Signor Scifoni, who quickly
proved himself entitled to first place
in the division OF male mezzo singers.
His voice is more matured and broader,
but less flexible and eolorful, than that
of Antola, and he has a most facile
technique, which was beautifully dis
played in his aria in the second act,
III Balen del Suo." But he lacks the
dramatic force that is such a strong
feature Of the younger artists work.
There were three other pronounced
personal successes In the production.
Adaberto sang the most difficult arias
OF Leonora with a rcpose and ease of
control that was no less remarkable
than her strenuous vocalism as Aida.
Campofori was the most impressive
Acuzena we have had since Collama-
rini showed US how the character
should be sung and acted. In that long
and energy taxing scene in the second
act she was wonderful figure, the
charm OF her work consisting as much
Of her personality and partomime as of
her singing, and she has never sung
better on that stage. Then We had
D'Ottavi even more pleasing-because
he had a role more in accord with his
histrionic limitations-than he was as
Radanes Cannetti was programmed
for Fernando, but Marina sang the
part, and did it quite acceptably, too.
All the famous numbers that have
made "Trovatore" familiar through
barrel-organ Interpretation were done
ample justice to, and the size and en-
thusiasm Of the audience warrant pre-
diction that repeat performances viii
be well attended. II was the biggest
and most boisterous congregation the
Lambardis have faced in San Francisco
the kind. Of audience that inspires
the artists to earnest endeavor.
Faust is to be sung this evening.
and the management announces that
Signor Patti will appear in the title
part II his physician should offer no
objection. In justice TO himself, un-
less he is a mighty fine tenor, Signor
Patti should stay out of the Gounod
opera, for Basso Lambardi's Mephisto
is not easily to be equaled in the
cast. 1t has impressed as a stupend-
ously overshadowing effort.
vIoLoNCELLO RECITAL
Anton Hekking. violoncellist. who
will give recital this evening at Lyric
Hall, appeared here about fifteen years
ago as a 'soloist with the Mendelssohn
Quintet Of Boston, and since then has
won international fame as a master of
this evening includes Variations SYM