The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1908-01-17
turufen."

Carmen"
I'm French
Nine Jane Aofis- Carmen
AIme. Ally Bramonia. AIcaela
Nine q. march,. Mercedes
Nine A. FTasluita
Mon Florenco Constantine .............. Don jose
Mon, 4. dc SgrOia Escamillo
Men. q. Ni,iani .Capan0
Mon. A. p1lcni Morales
Mon. f.. GaerGne. Remendado
Non. A. Doncairo
OPERA ~ FOUR ACTS.
By Bizet
SYNOPSIS OF SCENERY:
Act IA square IN Seville
Act 2-1he tavern Of Lillas Pasta.
Act "A rocky pass
Act "A square In Seville The arena
advertisement by corp Of ballet.
Conductor A, CONT.
The excellent impression made by the
San Carolo Grand opera Company in the
preceding bills of the week, together with
the announcement of Nine. Jane NorIa's
first appearance during the engagement
and the great popularity OF Bzets Car
men, served as a combined magnet 10
draw large audience 10 the Belasco
Theater last night.
Carmen" is probably the most strictly
popular Of all grand operas. although it
i7 practically I'm a class by itself from a
musical standpoint There IS none other
that appeals so peculiarly 10 the taste for
airs and ensembles, rather than grand
recitatives and solos. Musicaly IT is a
brilliant work. so cohesive and atmos-
Pheric as to be almost vulgar in motives
yet withal sensuous and intoxicating
perfect example Of inspirational compost
ton.
story Of the Opera.
The story. based upon Prosper Meri-
mee's novel-or is it vice versa2-is a
familiar one. Don Jose. a brlgader Of
the guard engaged to Micaela. pure and
devoted maiden. is with his regiment
called upon 20 quell miniature riot. in
which some girls in a cigarette factory
are concerned, one Of them. Carmen, be-
ing arrested for stabbing another.
Jose is inyrusted with the custody Of
Carmen, who makes love 10 him IN her
most violent gypsy fashion. He succumbs
to her Establishments. and having drawn
his sword against his superior officers
fees with Carmen TO the mountain TO join
q band of smugglers. forgetful of Mioaela
and his duty. Carmen, who has already
been attracted To EscamillO, a toreador
! flOuts Jose I'm favor OF the bull-dghter
Having lost MiCaela. and being Tilted By
Carmen, the maddened Jose comes TO
Seville, and while Carmen is waiting for
EscamillO TO come 20 her after his tri-
umph IN the bun ring stabs ser and
/ himself
The fierce elemental passions Of the
gypsy cigarette sirl offer "A fruitful field
for the dramatic soprano. Carmen is the
very devil incanate in feminine guise
and her interpreters have always allowed
themselves free rein in gesture and ap-
pearance.
a Great Carmen.
Nine Noria is a great Carmen. She is q
beautiful woman, in the full bloom Of her
powers as an actress and singer. Her
eyes are wonderfully expressive, and fash
out Garments every mood with remark
able fidelity 20 the character. Her voice
is rich and admirably controlled, and, I'm
the difficult, highly colored passages with
which the score is replete, came out
grandly. Even above the great choruses
it rose clear and distinct which is a
severe test. as the concerted numbers
are often almost blatant. so much brass
is evident in the orchestra.
Constantine. as was 20 be expected.
was a magnificent Jose So beautiful did
he sing To Carmen I'm that fine solo of
the second act when he relinquishes all
10 follow his gypsy siren that the house
demanded a repetition, which was a tax
on his superb voice that no one should
expect. II showed that Constantino's
voice is attracting the attention Il de
serves, Sand he is one Of the greatest
teEols OF the age.
The Minor Roles.
The Escamillo of NJ. de Segurola. while
conventional, was well received, and he
was obliged to repeat the Toreador's song
in act . Nine Bramonia sang Micaela.
and showed herself capable of singing the
beautiful music allotted that role, al
though In the great aria of the third act
her failure to keep up with the conductor
was noticeable. The good voices Of
Mines. march, and PeTego gave Nine.
Noria splendid support IN the card song.
Due, no doubt, to the fact that Car
men is the only opera the company is
singing in French this week. the rest of
the bill being in Italian. the prompter
was very much in evidence, something
that was not at all necessary in the more
familiar Italian bills NJ Constantine was
the greatest offender in this line, but the
excellent directing Of Mr.. Cont gave him
confidence. and he and the others ac-
quilted themselves SO we'll that most Of
the hesitatiOns were successfully passed
over.
Tie chorus was again pleasurablv IN
evidence, as one Of the best aggregations
Of ensepl BILE singers heard in Washing
ton for a long time. and the work of the
orchestra nothing less than mastery. The
harp was particularly we'll handled during
NJ. COnstantino's best solo.
Tonight Nine. Alice Nelson, who
charmed those who heard her as Gilda
Tuesday evening will sing her favorite
role OF Violetta in La Traviata." in
which NJ. DAM and NJ. Blanchard will
also appear. At the matinee Saturday
Aida will be repeated, and for Satur-
day evening Mr. Russell announces a gala
performance, at which all of the artists
Faust" 'Rigoletto," and II Trovatore"
viii be sung. presenting an unusually at
tractive and diversified bill
TRULY A LEAP-YEAR BRIDE.
Obtains FfconSa N4-t,fTa H. n