Omaha daily bee., 1908-08-30

We had the unusual pleasure Of hearing
a distinguished amateur, a society woman,
make her debut in Faust" She used the
stage name Of Nine. Edvina. but her real
name is the Hon. Mrs. Cecil Edwards, a
sister OF Lord Kensington. She sang with
a lot OF style, which she doubtless received
from her teacher, Mr.. Jean de Reszke.
Her voice was very satisfactory and her
acting was far from uninteresting. The
Mephistopheles music was sung by Mr..
Nivette at very short notice and sung
devilishly well, actually and figuratively.
He was a very appropriate and orthodox
presentment OF the person of his satanic
lowness," judging from the slight acquaint-
ance we have with the gentlemen in ques-
tioN Mr.. Marcoux was the basso an
nouneed for the part and he is a great
favorite. We had an opportunity Of hear
ing him on a later date, OF which we were
very glad. OF the artist Sammarco I had
heard a great deal. and 1 expected a great
deal. Nor was 1 in the slightest degree
disappointed. Seldom have 1 heard u
lovely high rich baritone sounds. full-orbed
and glowing. His work marks him an In
t~elligent and upright singer.
In the nRme-part we had the delightful
Bonci. There is not the ripe. red luscious
highness or the purple-golden ray OF mel
lowness in the voice OF Bonci. but it is
an ideal tenor voice Of that silvery,
'piercing-sweet' quality (as Mrs. Brown
ing would call III which is delightful when
heard alone. and which through an ensem-
bic like a silver waterfall through noun
tain scenery, or like a crystal stream
through willow bordered meadows. Art
strikes the note when Bonci sings, He Is
s~ingfng-not for you, not for royalty. NOT
for the gallery-but he is singing to IL
illuminate, 20 unfold. to vitahze his part
He Is actually the character he plays.
was simply delighted at his interpreta-
ton OF the characteristics of this well
known part. When he opened the first act
I thought / should be disappointed. for the
voice sounded a trifle querulous. almost
approaching thinness. but thoroughly IT
keeping with the old man who found moth
ing In life after all his study. When Bone
emerged as the young Faust, leaving be
hind him the vesture and garb OF the ole
doctor, he left behind also the voice effecI
and henceforth his singing glowed and
cleaned, and IN the celebrated "salv'
DImorA" fervently wished that the musica
world might Just once listen to that gem o.
art. and then methought that only the few
would see Il anyhow. You see Bonci doe
not prepare the people. by much pantomImi,
suggestion. for the fact that he is going
to sing a high c. No, he merely happens
10 have a c Incidental to his aria. AND
he sings Il and leaves 1t when he has SUM
Il and goes on. and you are wont to tax
the darling little mastersinger in your arm
and hug him for his love OF art.
No, Bonci could never hold a high not
against a stop-vatch. striding down to tn
footlights meanwhile. with eyes riveted o.
the noisy gallery. Neyerl Because Bone
Is a patrician among singers. His art 1
artistic. Oh, why won't students and pro
fessionals take instruction from such a.
artist. Every time he sings he Is Eivin
the choirist instruction. Initiate his style
his smoothness, his lsgato, hts nuanees. hi
dlmlnuendo. Now I can hear some peopl
say. "oh. yesl n I only could study wit
him what 5oyl' Bosh! You wouldn't lear
a thing. Because. you can't be a Tin
cabinotmaker until you have first learne
carpentry. Learn to saw" straight lear
10 plane right and then we shall see
Now here. I win give away a great lessol
free TO every singer and would-be singe
and student Of singing IN Omaha. ! "a