The Washington herald., 1907-03-31
GRAND OPERA CLOSES
Washington Patrons Keenly
Regret Short Season.
LIKE FAUST AND AIDA
Nine. Eames in Fine voice-M. Plan-
con strikInEIy Good-caruso, as
Radames in "Aida," Has Part that
suits the Temperament OF the
Artist-BriIiant Audiences.

/ The highly successful short season OF
grand opera at the Belasee Theater closed
last night in d burst of glory, with world
. famous soloists, brilliant ensembles. gor-
geous costumes, lavish and artistic scenic
effects. and an audience truly representa-
tive Of the best society in Washington.
There were two performances yesterday,
J and many of the most prominent people
in Washington attended both In the af
ternoon GOunod's Faust" was the attrac
! ton. The book is by Jules Barber and
Michel Carre. AMI the sololsts were Mines.
Emma Eames. Jacoby. and Poehlmann,
and NM Duppel Plane0n, Seotti. and
Begue. It was a finely artistic performs
ance Of Faust" conducted by Mr.. S.
! Bovy, who under Herr Conried's direc-
ton, conducts all the operas in French.
Gounod's music is so well known that If
grand opera music may ever be said 10 be
= popular, Il would be his. The solo work
was. of course. the especial feature. but
this opera allows scope for magnificent
chorus effect. and the Metropolitan opera
/ Company has taken admirable advantage
! of this.
The most magnificent scene was the sec
oad OF the third act, where the soldiers
] and Valentine have returned from the
| wars Here the chorus did some amaz-
ingly clever work and won enthusiastic
applause, while the ballet was markedly
beautiful.
Mime. Eames In Faust
The part Of Marguerite suits admirably
the exquisite voice of Nine. Emma Eames
but it allows small chance for dramatic ef-
, ftct The tine results Nine. Eames attains.
she reaches with little apparent effort,
Il her gestures are few and simple, and her
method of singing entirely natural; it is
never strained or forced. The result IS
that her work at times seems cold, not
D TO say lifeess. Her best work was done
e. in the prison scene OF Act ~, where her
D work with Mephistopheles (M Plancon)
e was Of a very high order.
AT the close of this scene, a nasty
r accident was narrowly ayerted. The
D scene closes with Marguerite falling I'm .
4 swoon. Nine Eames fell so close 20 the
footlights that the descending curtain.
coming down with considerable force.
would have struck her in the face had
D not. fortunately. n. Plancon seen the
= danger. lie pushed the heavy roller Of
? the curtain away just in the nick of time.
n. PlaacOn Is Good.
p The work OF NJ Plancon was strikingly
r good as Mephistopheles. He has. a deep
= bsrytone voice of great power and volume
( and he is "a master Of dramatic art. He
b sings with great spirit and acts with
K fer,or. and well deserved the torrents OF
o applause that fell TO his share. The Faust
: Of N. Dippel was a disappointment His
!, work lacked force and color ne is not q
graceful figure on the stage nor 90 the
. eve. fitting lover for 50 charming a
: Marguerite.
But in spite of all drawbacks. the per-
/, fornance was an eminently fine one, and
was greatly appreciated by the large
matinee audience.
! aida" Well Received.
q The performance last night was by far
s the most brilliant and entertaining OF the
b three operas that were given. Aida" the
book by Antonio Ghislanzoni. is less
: well known than other operas Its set
\ ting is Egypt. at a period when the
Pharaohs ruled. Aida is the daughter Of
1 Amonasro, King of Ethiopia. She has
o fallen prisoner TO the Egyptians and has
t become the slave to Amneris. daughter of
/, the Egyptian king. Amneris is in love
: with Radames, a captain Of her father 5
guard. but he falls in love with the slave
and she with him.
In new war with Ethiopia, Radames.
appointed leader Of the army, defeats the
. Ethiopians and brings back as prisoner
the father of Aida.
Through the iHteTcession of Radames.
f. the prisoners are freed. except Aida S
father, who is held captive but as a re-
d ward for his great victories. Radames is
= granted the hand OF the Egyptian prin-
= cess,
Amonasro. Aida's father, succeeds in
> getting Radames accused of treason, and
t. the captain Of the guard is condemned by
e the sacred council to be buried alive.
4 Amneris offers him pardon If he will re-
C nounce Aida forever. He refuses. and is
= walled w alive in a tomb beneath the
q temple. and Aida dies with him.
Opera Full of Weird Color.
s The opera is fun of weird color, majestic
+ beauty barbaric richness of scene and
I costume. The ballets were splendidly
l. done; the music is thrilling and inspiring.
and it was sung last night with wonderful
effect.
The part Of Aida was played by Nine.
Rappold an operate artist of great taste
. and feeling. She has a nice dramatic
sense. and her acting was graphic and
: realistic Nine Homer. soprano whose
: voice 5 of rare quality and richness, sang
the part of AmneTis for the first time last
night and won great applause for her
, excellent rendition. She is a great artist
=. in many ways.
= Sig, Caruso as Radames has part that
= suits his temperament his physique. and
his Voice. Tie savage, almost barbaric
3 love of the captain of the guard for the
"a Ethiopian slave was wonderfully por-
trayed by Csruso, and in the closing
scenes he displayed a depth of feeling
that added vastly to the appreciation OF
the beautiful music.
= Much Applause Accorded.
t, NJ. Stracciarf as Amonasro did Lis par,
q with great skill, and NJ. Gourmet as
: Ramphis, the high priest, came in for
g much applause.
n None Of the three operas given by the
company exceeded this in the pleasure it
N gave the audience. The theater was
er packed 10 the very doors, and encores
|. were frequent during the evening.
N The grand opera season was all too
t short; it has been delightful treat to
Il Washington music-l0rers.
IS The audiences at both the matinee and
SC night performances were most brilliant.
= and in the afternoon. especially, there was
/. a fine display Of new Easter gowns
t. Prominent People in Boxes.
The box-holders were Postmaster Cen
: eral and Mrs. G. Won Meyer; the German
| Ambassador and Baroness Won Stern
burg; AR and Mrs Wadsworth. Mrs.