The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-01-02
MADAM BUTTERFLY
PROVES DELIGHTFUL
Large Audiences Greet the Two
Performances
ONLY WORDS OF PRAISE
Puccini's Opera Is a Brilliant Success
From Viewpoint of Voice Quality,
Dramatic Action, Stage Setting
and Musical Finish.
ONLY WORDS OF PRAISE


strictly speaking, music drama, Mad
am Butterfly" was presented by Henry
SaNage's company at the Jefferson the
atre yesterday afternoon and again last
night, and more delighted audiences
were perhaps never assembled in this
city than those which greeted this ar
tistic production. 1t was the third
visit of Mr.. Savages excellent company
TO Birmingham but no previous per
Torrance it had given here was any
thing like equal. whether in point of
voice quality. dramatic action, stage
setting or musical finish to Madam
Butterfly"
There was large audience in the
afternoon and still larger audience
a night, and it is note worthy fact
that many musicians and discrminat-
ing music lovers who attended the first
performance went to see and enjoy the
opera the second time. The company
carries many principals, and Birming-
ham had the pleasure of hearing two
sets, consisting, between them, of the
flower of the troupe.
was cast as Madam Butterhy"-Cho
Cho-San; Miss Harriet Behnee as
Suzuki, Cho- Cho-San's servant; Will
liam st. Willis as Lieutenant Pnker-
ton, U. S. navy, and Ottley Cranston
Is Sharpless. the United States consol
al Nagasaki In the second perform
ance the cast included Miss Rena
wi In, "a
Ethel Du Ere Houston, formerly of Biz
mingham, as Madam Butterflys maid;
William SCHUYLER, as the lieutenant, and
l. d. Richards as the American consul.
Other principals were Rudolph Koch,
who had the comedy part-Goro, a mar
rage broker; George A. Natanson as
Prince Yamadori; Carl Ganvoort, taxi
ing the role of Mac dam Butternys"
uncle. and little Corinne Malvern, who
al "Butterhy's" 3-year-old boy, capt-
Waited the audience. The chorus was
not large but it was we'll balanced and
adequate And the orch estra, num-
bering about 40 musicians, was wholly
in keeping with the rest of the COM
pany.
The story as unfolded in the libretto
is simple but full of romance, emotion
and pathos, and it ends in tragedy. The
naval lieutenant weds Cho-San the
match having been hastily and artfully
arranged by the marriage broker The
hero does his wooing after the marriage.
The first act reaches its finale in pas
sionate love scene and a duet between
the lieutenant and his bride.
The naval officer returns with his ship
to the United States. The second act is
three years later. The lieutenant has
married an American lady. but Madam
Butterfly" innocent of his faithless con-
duct, is true to her marriage VOWS and
pines for her husband to come back to
her. She hopes but her hope is tinged
with foreboding. The consul receives
letter from the husband, telling of his
fresh matrimonial alliance in America.
The former calls on Madam Butter
fly to prepare her for the painful dis
closure An American man-of-war is
sighted. Butterfly, all expectant,
watches from her cottage window the
ships approach. Lieutenant Pinkerton is
on board and with him his second wife.
In the third and last act the consul ap-
prises Butterfly of the lieutenant's
American marriage whereupon the heart
broken woman resolves to take her
life. Death with honor, rather
than life with dishonor,' she sings
The lieutenant visits her cottage,
but leaves before seeing her. The
American wife is seen walking up and
| +i,a
fly catches a glimpse of her. The tragic
action of the drama is then swift But
terfly takes a loving and sorrowfu fare
we'll of her child; puts toys in its lap and
little American flag that she had treas
ured into the child's right hand Sne
then blindfolds the boy and ends her
life by suicide. AS she dies the lieuten-
ant rushes on the scene, but the tragedy
is ended
AS all the principals measured Nup to
high standard, it would be difficult
to judge between those heard in the af-
ternoon and those heard at night. Miss
Wolff was not only very beautiful but
she was singular magnetic. Her voice
was clear and musical But Miss Vivi-
enne who assumed the title role at night
had even a finer voice and her intonation
and vocalization were perfect. In the
maids part, while the principal cast for
the afternoon was in every way accept
able Miss Houston at the night perform
ance was far superior. Being a Birming
ham woman great interest, of course, was
felt in her, appearance. Her personal
friends in the audience greeted her with
applause, but so artistic was her work
and with such grace and modesty did she
acquit herself that she as well as the
prima donna, received an ovation in the
last act. Miss Houston was a good sing
er when she lived in Birmingham. She is
no wan accomplished artist both in act
ing and singing. She has a strong, rich
contralto voice and her notes are deliv-
cred according to faultless method.
The opera was elegantly staged and the
picturesque scenes were telling. Birming-
ham had the flowery kingdom almost as
it appears in reality. Puccini's music as
whole is of the highest class of modern
composition 1t is of the Wagnerian
school, with its left-motifs and rich col
ored thematic treatment. The regret was
generally expressed that the Savage COM
pany was not billed for a longer engage
ment.