Evening journal., 1908-01-09
ALICE NIELSEN
SINGSLATRAVIATA
Adds Fresh LaureIS to Her
Successes at Grand Opera
House Here
THE CAST.


Nine Alice Nielsen violetta
Mme Guglielmina march, ..........Anina
Nine Annita PeregO Flora
Mon. Carlo DAM ........ ....... Alfredo
Mon. Ramon Blanchart ..........Germont
Mon. Oreste Villani ............n Dottore
Mon. Attilio Pulcini So. .......... .Barone
Mon. AttiliO Franzini ............ .Marchese
Musieally. and artistically. Nine. Alice
Nielsen added fresh laurels to her long
bow Of successes last night as Violetta
in verdrs La Traviata," sung by the
San Carlo Opera Company at the Grand
Opera House. Society was out In force,
along with hundreds of others for whom
art was the centre Of attraction. Especi-
ally was this true of the large number Of
Italians who occupied seats in the bal
cony and applauded the arias and Choir
uses. The story of the opera Is founded
on Mon. Dumas Dame AtSP Camelias,"
a play that Clara Morris made famous in
this country. The plot deals with the frail
Violetta's deep and sincere admiration for
Alfredo. who attends a gay party at her
house; their quiet period Of love in
rustic cottage; her self abnegation in
leaving Alfredo free at his fathers de-
sire; Alfredo's resentment at her sup
posed faithlessness when he meets her ~
a Paris ball: and his remorse when ne
learns the truth and finds her dying.
Whatever the story, whatever the music
Of La Traviata" it still lives as an opera
and is among the best of its class. This
is due to the quality Of the music, not to
the nature Of the story. The opera con-
tains much Of that warm, emotional
melodlc profuseness which the public
likes and which It demands. The popular
nature of the music, its freedom from
technical and theatrical perplexities
which the public at large is glad to be
without. its ever changing color. varity
and expression-al these contribute to the
vitality Of la Traviata"
Nine. Nielsen was the centre Of attrac-
tion; in a word she was the entire opera
in all its embodiment. 1t was hard to
realize that this woman. who only a few
years ago was singing Victor Herbert to
fame in the Singing Girl" and "rhe
Fortune Teller''-medlo operas with grand
opera leanings, was one and the same
person. Encore after encore greeted her
every aria and it was applause well
earned and well placed. It was a charac-
terization, powerful, striking and subtly
psychologist and she brought from the
part all the infinite pathos Of despair.
She was ip superb voice last night and
she sang herself into the hearts of her
auditors with that freedom and accuracy
that became a feature of the evening s
enjoyment. Violetta's well-known aria
"Ah, Fois' e Lui" was superbiy rendered.
Nine. Nielsen does not make the char
acter as hideous as some do. but she
must. as do all who assume the part be
criticised for coughing pianissimo and
singing fortissimo-but Verdi too, must
be censured for drawing such heart rend-
ering notes from a woman in the last
stages of consumption and whose frail
self is merely kept alive by oDiates and
love
signor DAM, Alfredo. tas rather dis
appointing. His intonations are musical;
his voice is good and its timbre excellent
but he is not the robusto tenor for which
the opera calls. His high notes were
strained, but at times he measured up 10
expectations. Signor Blanchart as Ger
mont was good. His singing of "Di Pro-
venza IL Mar" when he tempts his son
back to the comforts Of his home. was
splendidly executed. The ballet corp was
not as important as It could have been
The erohestra was OF ample proportions
and Conductor Cont managed his forces
with great skill and with musical insight
A great deal Of the opera was cut, but all
grand operas are when the performers are
In hurry to get out OF one-night stands.