The Washington herald., 1908-04-17

The brief season of grand opera by the
Metropolitan Opera Company under the
direction OF Mr. Heinrich Conried, opened
at the New National Theater last night.
The opera was Giacomo Puccinis La
| Boheme," the Italian libretto by G.
| Giacosa and L. Ilica Although this
opera is always we'll received, it falls far
short OF the popularity or the esteem
among music-lovers in which more pre-
| tenrious operas are held, but this fact did
not prevent Washington society turning
out in full force last night, 50 that one of
/ the most brilliant theater gatherings Of
| the season was there. All Of the boxes
were taken by notable parties. and in an
upper box the famous singer. ~ Caruso.
with a party of fellow-artists, attracted
deal of attention
It was. too, evidently an audience Of
music-lovers. for the opera throughout
| received the most earnest attention and
at times evoked applause which was sup
| plemented by "bravas' from The en-
/ thusiastic.
It was known early In the day that
Nine. Cavalieri, who had been adver-
used to appear in the leading feminine
role OF Mimi. would not sing, as the
I newspapers had announced her sailing for
1 Europe in the morning, but this fact had
| little effect. evidently. on the attenda1ee
| Ii did cause a ripple Of laughter, however
when the audience found a slip Of paper
inserted in the programmes which de-
clared that owing to the sudden illness
of Nine Cavaiieri the role Of Mimi viii
| be sung by Miss Bessie Abott who has
appeared repeatedly in the role at the
Metropolitan Opera House, New York"
If any I'm the audience We're inclined 20
be disappointed at the substitution OF
! Miss Abott for Nine. Cavalier they must
have soon recovered from It when they
heard Miss Abott sing She has voice
OF wonderful clarity and pUreness Of tone;
voice that is capable Of expressing in
| the fullest degree the varying shades Of
emotion which touch the life of poor
/ ldimi. the loved and the abandoned.
/ la Bobeme" is an opera made out of
few scattered incidents in that master
piece Of Bohemian literature, ia Vie de
| Boheme." By Henri Murger. The -Four
NIusketeers." as they were wont to call
themseIves-Custave CoIline. the philo-
sopher; Marcel the painter, Rudolph,
the poet. and schaunard the musician
were the heroes of many adventures with
women but the authors of the libretto of
la Boheme" have chosen to use as their
central theme the love of Rudolph the
poet, for Mimi. the little milliner Listen
TO how Murger described her:
| Mimi was a charming girl, specially apt to appeal
I TO Rudolph, the poet and dreamer. aged twenty
two she was slight and graceful Her face re
minded one Of some sketch Of a high-born beauty;
/ its features had marvellous refinement; the hot, i'm
petuous blood of youth cGursed through her veins,
giving rosy hue 20 her clear complexion that mad
the white Yelvety bloom Of the cameiia. This fraii
beauty aIlured Rudolph But shat wholly served
to enchaut him were Minis tiny hands. that. de-
/ spite her household duties she c0ntTived 20 keep
whittier even than the Goddess Of Ease.
The first act shows the -four mus
keteers" in their poor studio, with Marcel
working at his famous picture Of The
! Red Sea- which is doomed TO become a
tavern sign. When they all leave but
Rudolph, Mimi makes her appearance
poor child. she is cold and hungry, and
she drops her key. and as she and Ru-
dolph grope on the darkened floor for it.
their hands meet and love comes to each
of them.
The duet that follows gives the two
roles of Mimi and Rudolph their most
striking opportunity that the opera af-
fords. Here for the first time indeed,
/ practically for the one time during the
evening. NJ. Bonci. who played Rodolfo
| (as the role is called In the Italian) had
la chance to display the qualities of a
voice that is heaTt-rendlng in the glorious
tone-quality and expressiyeness. His song
beginning
o soare fanculla O dolce yiso--
and ending with Z claim this kiss of
love- literally brought down the house"
and the singer had to bow again and
again to the tumults Of applause
! Hardly less fervent was the approba-
ton showered upon Miss Abott for the
song which Immediately follows. 1t is
sheer music almost when spoken, in
Italian. but the English rendering will
give some idea Of the range of express
sion and emotion It allows:
Ab Love. thou only art commander.
Pleasant ard sweet DER my heart
DO the words melodious wander
Thou art commander, Love-
! This really was the high mark of the
opera. There are other bits here and
there that seem as fun of promise that
are marked by greater histrionism, but
none IN which Puccinis music reaches
| such heights.
| The remaining acts tell incidentally, of
the love of Marcel for Musette; show how
Rudolph tires of Mimi because "she IS
| sick and always ailing. and how both
| he and Marcel get rid of their sweet
hearts. The last act is back at the studio
again. Both men are trying to work-in
vain. The thoughts OF Mimi and .Musette
will intrude themselves, and when they
are in she midst Of an attempt at gayety
Musette breaks into the studio. bringing
Mimi. who through illness and exposure.
| is nearly dead
F.! There Is an affecting scene of farewell
the love which was dormant springs into
| fame again, bat all too late. for she falls
On the pillow and dies. and the curtain
falls on Rudolph IN a passion of despair,
sobbing out her name
| There Is little chance in LA Boheme"
| for any but the two principal roles, ana
these. as We have already indicated, were
most excellently sung. The character Of