Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-02-24

es8N roofs for every performance. Now
in Chicago at the Auditorium Nordica and
Alice Nelson, together with the new Span
ish tenor, are delighting large audiences.
We are TO have very minute season here
In Omaha, on April "a A matinee and
evening performance will be given, (Coureid
company La Bohelne" with Caruso and
Sembrich, and another opera yet be be
chosen. A good deal has been said about
a production of "Salome," but unless
am vastly mistaken this work will not be
put on again in this country until a few
changes have been made in its vivid color.
ing. The real hard-pan truth OF the matter
is that Olive Fremstad out-Salomes Salome
The people who heard and saw her would
gladly. like Herod. have hung themselves
over the backs of their chairs, with their
cloaks about their heads. One can read
the Oscar Wilde text without undue ex-
element; neither would the music of
Strauss be overdistressng, but the two
together, with the volcanic temperament,
and the physical beauty OF Fremstad to
illumine the whole, form a sensation not
often vouchsafed TO weary mortals. 1t is
good to have gone through once. That is
enough. Fremstad says, II play the part
without compromise" and she does indeed.
The only wonder in my mind is how either
Parsifal or John The Baptist ever escaped
with their moral scalp locks.
-
Tho music of "salome" is like a great
impressionist picture; the paint laid on in
splashes with a palate. Viewed closely
many parts are ugly, but at a distance,
with the whole blended together, the eff
feet is acutely interesting and in spots
very beautiful. At any rate this decadent
phase of our modern life is one to be
reckoned with. Many good things develop
through evil Strauss is yet a young man.
His genius seems TO be seethlng. Ugliness
is not immortal. Through all this tenn
pestuousness he may at last come to his own.
He is now at work on another opera, for
which the musical world is waiting with
\ bated breath. VIII it be a monstroslty OF
a work of genuine beauty?
It is laughable TO read in the papers and
music journals what a great big man Ham
| merstein is and how he and his opera
house are the bowling success OF the New
| York season 1t Is true they have been
| successful. The operas at the Manhattan
are beautifully put on, and several of the
singers are very fine. but the venture has
affected the patronage and business success
| Of the Metropolitan not one iota. II sails
along its conservative way, a blue-blooded
aristocrat, in no need OF sensational ad-
vertising. The atmosphere Of the tive
houses is most amazingly different
Tho Manhattan is a gaIdy, overdecOra ted
! place, filled with strange, fat be-diainoned
women. fresh from the marcele-wave ar
lists; and also many dark, foreign looking
men. However, one forgets them ali wher
Bonci comes out. Here is an artist, su-
preme, almost without flaw. I heard 3
special presentation OF "Rigoletto." II
this role he did the most exquisite work
Melba was the Gildu. but her star paleC
beside this tenor. She is the same Ole
Melba. She cut the last act because she
wouldn't be carried on the stage in a bal
to be discovered and mourned over by hel
father. Poor AncOna sang his lament e
a very palpable sack OF straw at the from
OF the stage. Nellie had gone homs-wai
not present TO receive any recalls. On tina
evening. however. 600 carriages radiated fo
blocks about the Manhattan. Her draw
ing power u stiu potent