Omaha daily bee., 1909-01-18
Music
ItaIian erana opera 81 the noyd

n Rar
The king Of Egypt, .........sig q. Dragona
Amneris, his daughter
Tho MIL Georgianna e strS aus
Soldiers. priests, Etiopian slaves. etc.
The above cast in the masterpiece of
Verdi, entitled Aida" pleased the good
audience which good-naturedly swallowed
It's disappointment in not hearing La Gio-
conda." which had been billed.
Mr.. Abramson announced in the press
yesterday that by request Of the musical
people of Omaha" the opera Aida" would
be given as the farewell performance by
his company. instead OF la Gtoconda."
This was very strange news, indeed. as on
Thursday night Mr.. Abramson asked the
musical critics OF the World-Herald and
of The Bee for their advice as to chang
ing from La Gioconda" to Fedora" Both
critics in unison declared against any
change whatever. citing reasons, and II Is
to be supposed that they can reflect the
musical opinion Of local operagoers quite
as we'll as Mr.. AbrRmson.
Last season Mr.. Abramson's advance mar
promised "Otello" and when the company
came they gave Omaha I'll Trovatore" In
stead. Managers should not advertise new
operas which they do not subsequently,
produce, and Omaha critics will be very
careful in promising things on behalf OF
the Ivan Abramson italian Opara company
In future.
The opera Aida" which. by the W a
was given last year by this company, is
always interesting. II has oriental color
which is always attractive. and It gives
good opportunity to "dress" the parts and
to present handsome and striking pictures,
From the first rising of the curtain the
a-A 1nah
and many good things were done.
Nine. Helene TheIry in the name part
did some very superior work. both vocally
and histrionically. The latter noticeably so,
Amanosra was played by Pacini with
vigor and he sang with an understanding
of the part. He is a splendid artist.
As Radames, Signor Bari captured the
audience. His singing of Celeste Aida"
which every tenor aspires to. was marked
by much temperament and fine resonant
to~ne-quality. He is also a great artist.
The king was safe in the hands of Signor
Dragona.
Mile. Georgiana Strauss sang the part
of Amneris with convincing fidelity.
At the high priest, Signor Gravina showed
more 'wobble'' in his tones than he did
in Mephisto.
The chorus and orchestra did unusually
merftorious work. and especially in the
temple scene Of the first act.
The scenes in the third act between Aida
and Amanosra and Aida and Radames, and
the scene with the three participating,
were overwhelmingly strong. The house
was simply wild with enthusiasm
In the afternoon the double bill. Caval-
leria Rusticana" and Il Pagliacci," drew
a good house. Nine. Rosa Duce-Merola,
- IL Lao
musician, who is a lover of opera, knew
the lady when she, at that time "Fraulein
Duce," was one OF the numerous "Elsas, -
"Elizabeths' and Donna Annas'' Of the
German operate stage, and says that 1t is
easily to be recognized that since that
time she has been working hard on the
proper development of her dramtic and
vocal powers.
Another bright spot of the performance
was Mile. G.. Strauss. who sang the small
but important episode of Lola. This singer
is to be admired for the Wide range OF her
repertoire, which includes such pronounced
contralto parts as "Amnerts' and "Azu-
cena," while she at the same time is a
delightful interpreter of soubrette roles
like Lola" and "Siebel." Her Flower
Song" was exquisitely done, and at the
same time her acting in the scene In front
OF the cathedral was splendid.
In this scene Signor Tore seemed some
what "blase," but later warmed up" and
sang excellently his "Brindieri," or drinking
song, and showed great temperament and
dramatic power in his farewell to Mothel
Lucia.
Signor cara as Alto and Mile. Bossi q!
Lucia splendidly completed the ensemble
and sang and acted with their usual skill.
While the present writer does not believ,
in concentrating the attention of the audi
ence in one or two favorite lyric gems o
an opera, especially In works where the dra
matte rather than the lyric character pre-
walls, as is the case In the two operas pre-
sented yesterday afternoon. it is impossible
to speak OF II Pagliaeci" without mention
ing the Prologue" and that great teno
aria "Ridi Pagliacci." But aside from
these two features of Leoncavallo's work
which were both splendidly done by the tw,
respective member of the company, Their
were still many interesting points in yes
terday's performance. The sudden an
nouncement Of the Aida" performance 70
last night made necessary several change
in the cast, since Signor Bari and Signo
cara both have important parts in aida.
signor Tore took the part OF Signor Bal
! IN DOLn ODtTdS III lWG dANEIAlOOlt w
Sggnor Frascona took Zara's part 1
II Pagliacci." Miss Allen. who was an
nounced for Media" did not appear, an
her part was taken by Mile. d. Bonner.
Signor Tore, as Canio, strongly re
, minds one OF caruso in looks and car
rage But to go further, he succeeded /
initiating the great SenoTs interpretatio
t of the Aridso. where he easily eonnecte
the e and G without taking a space 10
breathing. "a liberty which is granted tn
respective "Canio' by Leoncavallo him
l self, and ne also brought out beautiful
t the "Cedenso' required by the compose
on the "Ridi del Duol," sung on F shar1
He moreover kept in very good voice u
TO the closing Of the part which is sayin
a great deal. after two such heavy rolei
AS his acting also was excellent. he di
by far the best yesterday he has ever don
here.
! signor Pacini as Tonic was yocSll
excellent and his rendition Of the proloEu
: aroused much enthusiasm. and not unit
he repeated the last part OF this aria di
the applause stop.
Mile. Bonner as Media and slgno
; Frascona as "Silveo'' took their parts &
| short notice and, perhaps. on this accour
seemed nervous and uncertain. The lady
voice was by no means up to the require
ments of the part. and her acting Iacke
: individuality. signor Paoloni sang Beppe'
, sersnsde.
A word remains to be said about III
n.ohaatra Owing IN a auddan danarfpy