Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-02-02

SERIES of brilliant casts has
been named by Henry w. Saw
IA age for the five performances Oh
Puccinfs Madam Butterfly" which
los Angeles is to hear for the first
time at the Mason opera house. De-
SHINING tomorrow night. Among the
array of English singing songplrds
oonoine to Los Angeles are all the IA
eoi,is ortists that recently appeared
in New York. and all are on the pro
cram for at least one of the perform
anCes in this city. $50, lin ta
Four charming prima dohne WIN pe
heard in the dainty title role OF Inls
widely beralded grand opera, ana tour
IremStic tenors will take the part OF
the handsome navy lieutenant tne
role which Caruso declares is one Oh
his faVoriteS. ,4orna toe
r,here are at least three alterhates
for the other principal roies III en Is
onera and three skilled CONDUCTORS
Who NAV be depended upon to give an
authoritative reading OF ruoo ons+s
fiowerv music. Three distinct casts
will be heard at the first three per
fornances, the minor roles pellls sun3
by the same vocallsts tlaI ap ppfor, ~
al the recent first New York perform
ance. =, Tho coast
during the past few years NUMBER
of superb operate organizations, pul
from all eastern reports ne mas S I1',.
us nothing to compare Win ms En d5
Ush grand opera forces that were es-
pecially organized to produce Maudin
butterfly in this country. MOI oniy
have the leading Vocallsts pe1n
praised as artists of the hlghese IdilA'
but the orchestra of nearly MY
lected musicians under the sA f.a'Ii
direction of Walter RothWel from
Vienna has been highly praised by
musical critics wherever 1t has peeh
heard. c,,ooo,,,o
This latest masterpiece by Giacome
Puccini contains fifteen roles III I'LL
but 1t is only for the half dozen pill 1.n,is
cipal characters that alternate singers
must be employed. This is necessary
because eight performances OIL the
opera are given each week, ana tne
leading roles can be taken only wv
or three times each week by the sallle
singer without losing that freshness
and brilliance of voice required Vi
every grand opera artist. A.
The singers to be heard IN Los An
geles in the title role of Madam But
terfly" will include the talentea
Phoebe Strakosch, gifted niece OF
Adelina Patti, and woman Whose
repertoire during the past seven years
abroad Includes all the dramatic SO
prano roles taken by leading artists III
the various European opera houses
Miss StrakoSch Will be followed Wy
dainty Betty Wolff, a German prima
donna, whose release from the grand
opera at Mainz is said to have cost
Mr. Savage a tidy sum. Then we are
to hear Rena Vivienne, the only
American girl in the company, who
sings Madam Butterfly and whose IN
Simultaneous success in the role last
year was quickly heralded over the
country.
The fourth Butterfly will be the
French prima donna, Dora de Philippe
who, With Miss Strakosch and Miss
Wolff, enjoyed the coaching of Puc.
cni durins the Paris rehearsaIs.
For the leading contralto role, that
of the pathetic Suzuki, the Japanese
maid, we are TO have Harriet Behnee
from the Royal opera in Berlin. and
Eethel Nufre Houston, whom Mr.. Saw
age brought from Paris three wears
ago, and both of whom sang the same
role throughout last season.
The tenors include Vernon stiles,
who sang with Miss Strakosch at the
opening New York performance; Herr
Kurt I.onheh. who recently arrived
from Berlin and joined the company
In New Orleans; William st. Willis,
who has been widely praised for the