The San Francisco call., 1907-03-23
NIELSEN a CHARMING MIMI

For several reasons Miss Nielsen was
the main subject Of interest. We saw
her rise from the chorus TO the head or
p light opera company. and we heard
of her retirement to study for loftler
work When sho returned TO US, about
TWO wears ago. we thronsed the Ilfoi
10 hear her sing IN Don Pasquale, and
her performance assured us that we
would soon see her in still more ambi-
tious roles So the announcement that
she was to appear as Mimi last evening
fattered our sense OF perspicuitN- Be
sides we had heard Constantine and
the other male singers in ''Gioconda'
The previous night.
nielsen was charming Mimi. Her
voice. clear. limpid and evenly balanced,
was fully equal to the demands OF the
part and she was sweet and fair 10
look upon. All the Minis we had pre-
z-iouslN seen were healthy. robust dam
sells whose personality belied the char
acter Of the frail. consumptive grisette.
And she also dressed the part with ap-
prOpriate simplicity. which was more
than the best Of her predecessors, Mel
ba did ] have seen Melba's fingers
aglitter with costly gems while she was
apparently suffering from life's necessa-
ries and the Bohemians were pawnins
things TO obtain the price or medicine
in accord with Minis station in life.
Recurring 10 her voice. ii has ac-
ouircd power since her last visit here
but a. is not yet a large voice and
probably never viii he. II has carry
ing force. however. sufficient TO enable
fts plan ssimo tones 10 be distinctly
audible "a the front door Of the Chutes
Theater. She sang with ease above
puccirfs light orchestrstion and held
her own in the concerted numbers. even
against the robust tenor Of Constantine
Her acting TOO. was discreeuy con-
Quoted. What the unnitiated may have
regarded as lack OF emotional warmth
was really fne dramatic treatment OF
r character that had struggled and SUI
fered All her scenes were carried
with an intelligent appreciation OF
their requirements.
DEYRENE WINS HoNORs
But there was another woman In the
cast who won high honors both by her
singing and acting. Deyrene gave us
= Musetta that charmed in every way
Her waltz song in the second act COM
pelled q spontaneous demand for repe-
.rftion. and her share Of the accompany
ing comedy scene was never more CO
.ouettishly sustained. Her voice is a
soprano Of volume and fiexibility, and
she is richly blessed with dramatic
fnTnneTc rnfnI. " men Siit CANRS Nol =
men" tomorrow night treat is as
sured.
Constsntinf confirmed the impression
II true artistry created by his opening
performance. Puccini's flowing music
afforded him more grateful opportuni-
ties than he was given in 'Giaconde,'
and he made the most OF them. At
the end OF the first act he and Nielsen
sscended 20 high { simultaneously and
smoothly and dispensed with the pro-
Ionged final shout used by all other
artists have heard in the duo.
Fornari as Msrcello was the least
satisfactory Of the male quartet Sc
Eurola sang better than he did In
.Csiaconds." and Pulcinfs singing and
acting OF Schsunard was excellent.
The orchestra gave impressive ac-
count OF the Puccini score. and the
staging was preservative OF the In
tended atmosphere, the second and
third acts being beautifully mounted.
Faust is billed for this afternoon
with Nordica as Marguerite, and to-
night q double bill. Barber Of Seville"
and ''Pagliscci" will be sung, with Mel
sen. Deyrene. Constantine, FornaTi and
Gslperini in evidence.