Omaha daily bee., 1907-04-28

~ seems to be that the double Dill
Of "Pagliacci' and "Haensel and Greter'
was splendid in every way and all that an
exacting public could ask for. Farrar,
Belle Alien, Scott and Goritz, did wonder
fully good work. Alas for la Boheme"
in the evening. The first sight Of Mimi
gave the audience shock from which it
has not yet recovered. There is no word
in the English language to fifty express
the utter and complete banality of her
impersonation. The clothes she wore were
desperately ugly; the makeup of her face
and hair was equally bad. The whole fail
ure in attractive makeup was absolutely
unnecessary. All Minis wear the same
clothes and dress their hair with the three
little curls. but there are ways and ways
of doing the self-exact thing. Nine. Ga
perelli would probably take a heavenly
dozen of beautiful roses and pin them on
her ample bosom. upside down, with the
stems sticking over her shoulder. They
would look like the ID.
1t is little wonder that Caruso found it
hard to poke his feelings into flame for
this burlesque sweetheart. His voice, how
ever can never change. He poured 1t out
in the same open, prodigal way to the great
Joy of his listeners.
Bella Alien did the most faithful work
AS Musetta, she was a continual delight
The opera as a whole was pretty tame
Whew! How they rushed i'll Two acts
before 9 o'clock! In one way It was a
relief. We could get the sooner of those
double back action, sea-going chairs.
have arrived at the point now where /
shamelessly carry two cushions to the
auditorium bearing with joyfulness the
boots Of my friends. This time knowing
that l would sit for some six hours, 1 had
a canvas chair lugged as far as the gate,
when l was discovered and sat sternly
upon by my family. who are all built after
a much prouder and more conventional
pattern than am. Being one against many
and the weaker member, I got the worst
OF It; my nice comfortable chair remained
on the porch To it my spirit made
various excursions. While I'm about it, I
speak not TO die on an unfeeling springless
bed like MINIS I'm the studio. What lack
of poetry, romance and every exalted feel
ing In that death scenel
%
The Conried La Boheme," didn't COM
pare in any way with the Savage produc-
ton. AS Caruso walked through his part
Monday night. I would much rather hear
Joseph Sheeans Rudolphos. The whole
atmosphere of the Savage production was
artistic and fanciful. The settings were
much finer. Gertrude Rennpore was an
ideal Mimi, beautiful, fragile, like some
rare, exotic flower; her voice was exquisite
Well, there's no use repining only
I'm glad didn't get my first impression OF
of Boheme through the Conried people
II was too bad the house was not packed
so we could count on brief season OF
grand opera every spring. If we turned
out better audiences we could count on
more seriousness and respect from some a
the great singers. hear that Caruso was
deeply incensed because the newspapers
did not interview him 10 his usual column
extent At first he declared he would not
sing at all-this was in the morning after
local sheet had referred briefly to him
as "CarusO OF monkey-house fame" On
top Of everything else Mr.. Goelitz lost a
roll OF bills amounting TO 500 from his
pocket. Sometimes It is a hard worldl
Anyway. we sing the Doxology and give
thanks for the magnificent afternoon per-
formances
The next big thing on the musical slate
is the May music festival. Three concerts
will be given May S and at Boyd's thea
ter. Robert Cuscaden Is in charge OF the
orchestra OF fifty. Mr.. Ira B. Pennimau
is conductor and leader OF the chorus OF
$50. The sOloists from away are all well
known, Claude Cunningham, baritone, wh1
will sing in the Elijah" has splendid
press notices from all over the country.
He IL In the height Of his career as an
artist and will be the big card OF the festi-
val IN Omaha.
Lillian French Reed. soprano has sung
with many Of the musical Organizations Of
the country. Her work is said 10 be very
good
Uliss Wirthlin and Mr. John b. Miller
also come with fine notices. Carlo Fischer's
first three years after returning TO this
country were spent at the first desk OF
the Pittsburg Symphony orchestra with
Victor Herbert the director. This wai
/ FnHr. ~ 49,. a.