Omaha daily bee., 1907-03-29
TREAT FOR MUSIC LOVERS
Two Performances Of Madam Butterfly"
by Savage Grand Opera Company.
AUDIENCEs IN BOTR INSTANCES ARL LAReE
opera Given Excellent Interpretation
Both Musicauy and Dramatically,
Taken A. n whole, In Both
Instances.

The Savage English Grand Opera COM
pany gave its greatly looked forward to
performance Of Giacomo Puccini's Madame
Butterfly" Wednesday afternoon and even
ing at Boyds theater. To omaha's credit
be II said the audiences were very large
and most enthusiastic. There is nothing
abstruse about the great Italians music.
The tempt which the American company
use make Butterfly in spots more like a
light than a grand opera. When Puccinl
came to this country to direct his operas
he surprised everyone by saying Slower!
Much slowerv A great discussion was
precipitated. some liking not at all the
slow. dramatic interpretations Of la Bo-
heme" and Madame Butterfly" The work
of the Savage company leaves one perhaps
with a lighter heart in the end, because
much OF the Interpretation is crisp. There
were places where It undoubtedly lost In
beauty. The score was sung and played so
rapidly many Of the intervals and effects
we're blurred.
The production as a whole is wonderfully
beautiful, worthy in every way OF what we
have come to expect from the Savage man
agement. The setting of the stage; the
Japanese pictures-hrst, the Japanese house,
terrace and garden, with its outlook on
the Nagasaki harbor; then the interiors
Of Madame Butterfly's house were exquisite
in every detail. A fitting background for
the beautiful, tragic little figure who in
three short years, and by the time she was
Is tasted all that life has to offer Of Joy
and grief.
Miss EastOn Wins Applause.
Miss Florence Easton as Cho-Cho-san
was unusually effective. Her voice is high
and clear and absolutely true. The role Of
Butterfly is very high and sustained and
difficult to sing Miss Easton not only
sang WELL but her acting was exceptionally
good. She has a most sympathetic con-
ception Of the part; her personal beauty
and grace add TO the picture. Her transition
from a gay, careless little geisha in the
first act to a permanently saddened and
in the end hopeless woman was portrayed
by Miss Easton with subtleness and heart
breaking fidelity. In the second act where
Cho-Cho-San tells Suzuki that Pinkerton
will surely return and draws in magma
ton the manner Of their meeting Miss
Easton reached a dramatic and telling
climax in her singing for which she re-
ceived a very spontaneous outburst Of ap-
plause. Madame Butterfly" is really a
one-part opera-all the interest is centered
in the heroine--Miss Easton more than
commanded, delighted and absorbed atten-
Change IL DisapPOintinE.
Alas for some reason known to grand
opera annals, Mr.. sheean did not appear.
The part of 'Meester B. F. Pinkerton'
was taken by an understudy, one Mr.. Tay-
! Tor Of extreme youth, and sweet but
woody voice which absolutely refused to
carry over the footlights. The tenor part
OF the opera in the afternoon might al
| laff In
many, many places. Mr.. Taylor couldn't
be heard. Pinkerton's role is not long
one, but II is full of beautiful passages
that are necessary to harmonious whole
When one can only see that the tenor's
mouth is open 1t lie disappointing.
Miss Houston as Suzuki did some very
| good work. Her voice is heavy and OF a
pleasing quality. II failed to blend very
we'll with Miss ERston's in the flower duet
The two voices were absolutely unlike
The flower duet was, however, one OF the
gems of the afternoon, because Of the man.
ner OF the Interpretation. Miss Houston
was very sympathetic in her idea of hel
role. We all liked Suzuki and wished ir
her faithful love that she might have
helped Butterfly.
Some Delightful Music.
The intermezzo at the end OF the second
act was one Of the greatest delights OF
the performance. The women hummine
with closed lips sounded like some rare
instrument. The effect was ethereal and
fairy-like. Poor, lonesome little Butterfly
with her heartache watching all the night
in vain for her. faithless husband
AS Sharpless, Mr. Brownlow made a mos
favorable impression. He has a pleasing
personality and rich baritone voice, which
he uses TO good advantage.
Steven Jungman did full justice tc
the part Of the marriage broker.
Miss Ada Saecker did very we'll with
the ungrateful role OF Kate P1nkerton.
The chorus work. as usual with the Saw
age companies, was a delight
Evening Performances Better.
The evening performance. under Mr.
Rothwells direction, was far and ava,
better than the afternoon Interpretation
Mr.. Rothwen gave the score a slower ant
much more effective reading His climaxe
were stirring and his lighter work full
OF poetry and inspiration.
Mr.. Maclennan gave a very good ant