Omaha daily bee., 1907-02-10


e*S.se% Juliette" that they all wanted to
represent. Whether they were young or
old, fat or thin. tall or short, they sighed
to sing Gounod's amorous setting of 1.-THE
diluted Shakespearean phrases
Some OF them learned the part at a very
mature age, one prima donna, after she
had triumphed as Brunnhilde and Isolde,
spent 5000 in costumes for the part of
Juliette in the hope that M. Grau would let
her appear as the girlish daughter of the
Capulets That wise impresario, however.
persuaded her that the public interest in
the opera had been satisfied and that It
would be best TO let it drop from the roper
toire for season. So narrow was New
Yorks escape from 2O0-pound Juliette.
Suddenly the enthusiasm of these operatic
women to appear as Julette came to an
end. The number OF Juliettes diminished
until 1t was with difficulty that one could
be found.
One prima donna had forgotten TO have
her Julette costumes packed up when she
came here. Another found the music no
longer suited to her voice. Another called
the attention OF the impresario TO the fact
that Julette no longer figured In the list of
roles she was required to sing Thus
the overplentiful supply OF Juliettes at the
metropolitan taQed away.
What caused the loss OF interest In part
that was once go alluring? Why did the
women grow weary OF this roller Jean de
Reszke ceased TO sing in the opera In that
fact lies the explanation OF the end Of
Juliette as. popular heroine.
Adelina Patti used to sing JuIiette with
her husband, Nioolini, and Italo Campanini
had the part OF Romeo In his repertoire
nh he H..
Enrieo Caruso is today. But that did not
gain popularity for the opera 1t became a
managerial tradition that Romeo ct JUL
cite could never be made popular in New
, York.
When Jean de Reszke came and appeared
} as Romeo the tradition was smashed and
: the opera suddenly became one Of the most
! popular in the repertoire. The woman who
sang In 1t with NJ. de Reszke was sure OF
a appearing before a crowded house. she
5 would share In the triumph OF the evening
and was certain of the applause OF the
7 audience.
Q When the Polish tenor abandoned the
a opera for the Wagner roles or removed tc
: Europe to rest for a season no effort could
n galvanize the work into public favor As
$ one of the great attractions OF the season
: Romeo ct Juliette" has disappeared with
t NJ de Reszke.
8 NJ, salfza was able TO do more than any
a other singer. The opera languished In spit,
II OF the ofices OF NM Alvarez. Rousselier,
n and Naval NJ. Soubeyran met with ship
wreck In the work.
Il Mr. Grau never had less than half a dozeI
y Juliettes in his company. The part OF TN
% heroine has been sung during the last ter
$. years by Mines. sembrieh. Eames. Melba
ID Saville. Suzanne Adams, Marie Engle, Ain
a. Aekte. Bessie ABBOTT. Camille seygard an
d sibyl sandersOn This list excludes fev
a recent sopranos outside the Wagneria
D. class.
II Now 1t IL Mimi in Ia Boheme" that IN
ct women OF the operate world all want I
ID sing. They have no such excuse as the &C
I'd operation OF a popular tenor for this desir'
g because they are all willing to sing Min
A. with any tenor. The role must be symps
Z thetic 10 them and suit the voice, as ther
a. is no other apparent explanation for the
70 infatuatioR,
or There is mo opportunity for attractiy
@Ostumine. Ths dresses OF Mini must