Los Angeles herald., 1907-03-07
VERDI's OPERA A
SPLENDID TREAT
soLolSTs AND ENSEMBLE UN-
EoUALED IN LOS ANGELES
Nielsen Received by Her Own in Fren.
zied Fashion, Sings Divinely.
Constantine and Galpernl
Share in Triumph


"Rigoletto," which was the bill last
night. The choice was an exceedingly
wise one. The opera is fairly we'll
known here; it had an excellent rendi-
tion in the Auditorium recently, and it
affords scope for brilliant individual
and choral work. while its score calls
for some splendid Interpretation by the
orchestra. Lacking the gorgeosity,
wealth of color and obsession of melo-
die glory which La Gloconda" pos
sesses so markedly, yet 1t makes per-
haps even severer demands on COM
pany. That the San Carlos came
through the ordeal with a brilliantly
triumphant and marvelously beautiful
success is to put it mildly indeed.
"Rigoletto" is not an opera Of to-
day. There Is a marked difference be-
tween the old Italian school of opera
and the more modern writers. The lat
ter day composers have been awed by
Wagner. He speaks a language utter
ly foreign to them. They have deemed it
good policy to initiate his methods, but
in so doing they have become un-
natural and have degenerated into
mere imitators.
Verdi's music has the great virtue of
being perfectly natural and normal. 1t
Is a frank expression of the man HIM
self. He used his own natural method
of expression and the work is ever
fresh and vital because he never went
outside of his own idiom, but devoted
his energies to the development of the
melodic idea within his own form. His
melodies are beautiful.
One may quarrel with the form he
used, but one can never quarrel with
the material of his form. 1t is not
without force, although it sometimes
borders on the trivial.
Yet when it is sung and acted in the
fashion of last evenings performance
"Rigoletto" is still potent to charm.
Perhaps an explanation of the opera s
continued popularity is to be found in
the appealing and dramatically intense
story upon which it is based. Such in
cidents as are there narrated are true
to life; they are the outcome of pas
sions old as humanity itself.
And their Interpretation by the San
Carlo singers was so superb that a tri-
umph was simply a matter of course.
Interest last night centered largely
and naturally in the appearance of
Alice Nielsen who sang the role of
Gilda Miss Nielsen is in a measure
one of our own. she appeared here
often in her days as comic opera
queen and only last season she came
to us in Don Pasquale," semi-grand
opera, under Mr.. RusselpS direction.
But this was her local debut in the
genuine article" and the public was
eager to hear her, the more so, know
ing that Gilda is her favorite part No
wonder, then, that she was greeted
most lavishly.
And it may be said unqualifiedly
that last night was Alice Nielsen's S
triumph, too. Los Angeles has waited
long for just this event; doubtless she
has, also. She may even have been a
bit nervous over it, but ere the even
ing was past she certainly must have
lost any possible apprehensions in the
glory of her success, so deservedly and
completely won.
Don Pasquale," the present writer
ventured the assertion that, while she
was hardly destined to be another
Patti Sembrich or Melba, she yet was
wise to have deserted the opera
comique for the opera serious; that
though possibly never able to reach it's
sublimest heights, yet it held a place
for her of great power and promise.
This event proves the prediction. Her
voice has grown in volume and range
even since her last singing here; it's
clarity and. purity are such that it has
carrying power unusual to one so light,
and even in concerted numbers and
ensemble. The tonal quality, particu-
larly in the upper notes, is fine, and the
production is easy and free. Her voice
does not possess the timbre or volume
requisite to the most magnificent sing
ers, but 1t makes UP in freshness,
youth, sweetness and fieXlbility.
Her singing of Gilda's music was
marked by thorough understanding and
effect; even the famous but trying
''Caro Nome" being given with excel
lent taste and intelligence. 1t may not
have possessed the pyrotechnical brill
lance wit. which certain wondrous
soprani give il, but there was to it the
equally desirable artistry and an APP
preciation os it's dramatic significance,
1 which amply atoned
And IL is also necessary to add that
Miss Nielsen acted Gilda-something
few singers do-better than the writer
ever remembers seing it played. Her
youth and beauty her charm and her
girlishness, make her an ideal inn
personator of Rigolettos daughter, and
she plays the part continuously with
the attention and understanding of APP
preciative dramatic detail rare indeed
In any singer. The music Of the duet
with the duke in act / was excellently
done, and the duet with Rigoletto i'm
act was superb
II was in fine, Alice Nlelsen's night
IN deserved It than because she was
come back TO her own. She may never
be one of the miracles OF song, this
Alice Nielsen; the age brings miracles
but seldom. But she will be known as
one of the great singers within heI
own province She may not attempt all
roles, but the group of pure light lyric
heroines Is truly hers, and almost hers
alone; the world has fewer Nielsens
than Melbas, Nordicas or Sembrichs
When one comes to Constantino-the
duke--one's adjectives again plead
against working overtime. By his owr
choice and at Miss Nielsens request
he sang again last night-a great feat
IN itself after Tuesdays tremendous
work But his magnificent tenor
showed no signs Of strain; his tor
notes were given with the same clear
ness and ease his lyric qualities were
as grandy demonstrated and in his
dramatic moments he was even better
than on the occasion Of his debut here