Los Angeles herald., 1908-12-31
LA BOHEME' IS GIVEN
CHARMING RENDITION
LAMBARDI OPERA COMPANY AT
ITS BEST
Esther Ferrabini Is Greeted with
Much AppIause-Entire Perform
ance Rouses Audience to
Great Enthusiasm
BY FLORENCE BosARD LAWRENCE

| BY EI4UhENOh ROSAhD La fN1A%-FCAS
The appearance of Ferrabini last night
in the part of Mimi at the Mason may
be regarded as one of the most bril-
| liant events in the Lambardi operate
season. This delightful singer was
one of the most popular soloists here
last year with this company, and re-
ceiVed a most cordial welcome from
her audience.
la Boheme" is a favorite opera In
the repertoire of this company, and
with the brilliant cast of singers which
| Signor Lambardi presented last night
was assuredly the best bill offered this
week. The soloists have caught the
spirit of the story, and impress 1t upon
the beholder, and the Bohemian at
mosphere was we'll maintained through
| out the presentation.
The Lambardi chorus appears to far
better advantage in the guise of art
| lists. peasants and townfolk than when
habited in the. costumes of ladies and
gentlemen of the court. Consequently
the scene in the Latin quarter, with
| the Christmas festivities, was quite
| convincing.
The applause which greeted Ferra-
bini's first appearance was repeated
with enthusiasm at the close of delight
| full duos and solos which end the 1rst
act. 1t is not until the third act OF
this opera that the really difficult WORK
for the soprano is introduced. There,
after Mimi and Rodolfo have been
separated for some time, comes a
beautiful scene wherein tenor and So
prano pour out the wealth of their
vocal perfection. Here Ferrabini was
at her best. She gave the most SYM
pathetic nuance in tenderly greeting
her Jealous lover and her voice
throughout the scene was pure and
| beautiful. She received her full NEED
of applause at the close of the act.
Spirited Interpretation
Graziana gave a spirited interpreta-
ton to the role of Rodolfo. His acting
was quite intense enough to typify the
Latin spirit and made a strong appeal
to his audience, while his singing was
generally brilliant. His voice is dra-
matte in quality and sufficiently heavy.
He is particularly we'll fitted physically
to enact the role of the poet lover, and
has a magnetic personality, which
makes a strong appeal across the foot
! lights.
Zavaski made her second local APP
pearance in the part Of Musetta. Her
voice was heard to much better ad-
vantage than in her premier, and she
played the affected, luxury loving girl
settle with spirit. She appeared, in fact
pestuous outbursts of the part, but her
voice, which is still too shrill for beauty
in solo work, was heard to advantage
| in the quartet at the close of the sec
| ond act
Modesti was musically and dramat-
ically good as Marcel, fairly dividing
honors with Graziani in the duet OF the
deserted lovers, which opens the fourth
act. Martina, who is to sing Mephis-
topheles in Faust" made the most OF
his little coat song, and was given an
encore.
Applause was frequent throughout
the evening, and the finale of each act
was repeated. After the second act
Jaccai, the conductor, was called out
and appeared with the soloist TO receive
the acclaim Of the audience.
The bill tonight is Carmen" with
Dolores Frau in the title role and An
tola, a popular favorite Of last year,
as Escamello.