The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1909-10-15

"FEDORA,"

Never in this city was grand opera
more nobly presented than in Fedora
at the Colonial last night 1t was an
evening of rare musical excellence en-
GENTLY large audience for the merits of
the performance. This thoroughly mod
ern and realistic lyric drama appeals to
the popular taste as well as to that of
the cultivated musician and perhaps need
ed only a better understanding of its
character and knowledge of the great eX-
ceilence of the singers to have had a
packed house. When il is generally
known how experienced and well trained
are the musicians of the international
Grand Opera company lovers of music in
TINS city Will heartily avail themselves of
this unusual opportunity.
In the principals of the cast there are
at least three great artists. Others of no
mean quality take the minor parts and
the troupe as a whole is worthy of the
highest praise. Madame Therry is a fine
dramatic soprano whose voice possesses
those clear round qualities which espec-
tally suit II TO operate work. She is an
actress OF considerable dramatic ability
and presence and. though not wholly
graceful, is convincing in her gestures
and attitudes. Colombini gives to the role
of the lover, IpanOff, an ardent and Vi
Vaclous Interpretation that aids his pow
erful voice wonderfully, At times he is
wholly the great artist in his abandon
and intensity of feeling. Mile Bonner is
charmingly youthful and has a lyric So
prano voice of sweet and silvery tones.
She is not, however. an experienced act
ress and aside from the pleasing voice
and presence is not remarkable.
The principal roles were taken as fol-
lows:
FEDORA ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. Nine. Therry
Countess Olga ................ Mile. Bonner
Ivan IpanOff .,...... Monsieur Colombini
DE Siriex ............. Monsieur Arcangeli
b0roV.... .............. Monsieur FrascOn9
the story upon which the text of "Fe-
dora is based is that of Sardou's great
drama 1t is peculiarly Slavic in its
ihOtlI, running a swift gamut of love-
Jealousy, vengeance and death. a melO-
drama OF passionate and tragic sort
amid scenes of luxury and splendor
The overture though short presents the
main theme of the opera, which is the old
i lqI OF vengeance bringing a curse upon
the aVenSer. The curtain rising dsclOses
a room IN the house of Count Vladimir
VINO is the betrOthed of the Princess Fe-
cora dora In wonderfully sweet song.
Eyes of Shining Faith,' she extolls her
lover and in Speak, Courage, Speak"
swears vengeance upon his murderers.
Inc flrSt act ends in song of grief with
FEDORA at the bedside of her dead lover
Inc second act diSclOSes the intention of
Fedora who suspects Ipanoff of the muir
ger, 10 make him her lover thus leading
MN 70 betray himself. In great scene,
ig2a4nOII recltes his sorrow beginning with
My Mother, Ny Old Mother" and here
the music is charged with woe unutter-
able. In a duet, See, I Weep." and
Leave Me to Weep Alone" these two
artlSts reach their greatest height of dra-
matte intensity. The act ends with a mn
tual confession of love in very beauti-
full music
The third act is notable for the song
OF the mountaineer, a song by Olga. COM
mencing When Love Inspires" and the
death scene when Fedora kills herself he
cause of the woe she has brought Unon
lpanoff. She drinks the "cup of ease
ment' md dies in her lovers arms. Her
last song, "All Darkens" is wonderful i'm
Its sad intensity.
The orchestratiOn Of this opera is mar
Ucularly remarkable being as noteyvorth1,
a feature as are the lyric parts. Stumbled
by an orchestra of great excelIence in
Whcn the cello and harp parts are es-
PeclaHy pleasing, the music is superb
i, hat II IS a fitting accompaniment for
the operate work of the stars is perhaps
the pest that can be said of it.
A number Of box parties were given last
hlsnl, among those entertaining with box
parties being Mayor and Mrs. Bransford
AT. and Mrs. H. G. Whitney. Mr.. and
mrs D. 5. Spencer, Q. a. Kirkham. MIR
ana Mrs, A. P. Kesler and Mr.. and Mrs.
x. A. Grant. Among those seen in the
boxes were Mr.. and Mrs A. z. Green
WOOD, MI and Mrs. e. T Harvey. Mr.
ana Mrs John d. Spencer Mr.. and Mrs
George u. Piper. Mr.. and Mrs I
reeves, Mr.. and Mrs. A z. Hutchinson
Mrs. Joseph F. Smith, Miss Emily smith
,N drs- Jane kesler, A. p. Kesler. Mr.. and
mrs. Farley Wright Of Ogden MIR and
MIS- I, A. Henry and lie Grand Cannon