Omaha daily bee., 1909-01-10

MARHN1sI son of grand opera was being
- presented at the Boyd theater
by a company which was practically nm
known offered many surprises. Since that
time the company, which is now known
as the Ivan Abramson Italian Grand
Opera company" has visited many cities
and made many friends. The companv
was playing in New York late last season.
MIR. Abramson announces that he has
more enjoyment for the music lovers than
ever before, and so there will be a short
season of grand opera at the Boyd theater
beginning on Thursday night OF this week.
when Faust" will be sung. Nine. Therry
will sing Marguerite.
On Friday evening Lucia" will be pre-
scented, with Miss Julia Allen, an American
colorature soprano, in the title role. Mr..
Tore, who sang here last season, will be
the Edgardo and Mr.. lara, also a favorite
last year, will be Henry Ashton Cor En-
rico).
On Saturday afternoon there will be a
double bill, which, needless to say. will be
'Cavalleria Rusticana" and 'IPagliacci."
In the casts will be Nine.
Mile. Georgiana Strauss, both of whom
were heard last season.; Mile. Madelena
Bossl, Signor Barri and MN. cara, Pucclni
and Paoloni.
On Saturday night the beautiful opera
La Gioconda, 4" by Ponchielli, pronounced
Pon-kee-ellie) will be given.
AS this opera is not as we'll known as
the others. and as 1t will be offered for
the first time in Omaha, the following
mention of it may not be superfluous:
The composer was born in 1884 and died
In 1886. The opera was first produced at
La Scala in 1876 and in New York in 1889.
The time OF the opera is the seventeenth
century. The place, Venice. The text is
by Bolto, and Is based on a drama by
Victor Hugo, The leading Characters are
Gioconda, a ballad singer; La Cieca. her
blind mother; Laura. wife Of Advise: Enxo
a Genoese noble; Barnaba, a SOY of the
inquisition; Advise, a head OF the state in
QUESTION,
On the rise OF the curtain one sees the
court yard Of the ducal palace In festive
attire. After the opening chorus OF this
act (which act is called the Lions
Mouth') and the departure of the people
who have sung the regatta clfOrus, Bar
naba sings a number In which he makes
apparent the fact that he Is in love with
Gioconda Here Is introduced a 'motiff'
which appears frequently and which il
after the manner of Wagner. as, in fact.
- AAb hA1SAN1A lhiLA " QNAlUn OK the
piece. La GiOcOnda appears with her
mother, who is blind, and who is being led
to her favorite seat in the church by
Gioconda.
Gloconda goes to find EMO whom she
loves. and Barnaba intercepts her, making
violent love to her. On being rejected. he
determines u have revenge Cafter the true
manner OF Italian opera and so he tries
10 pDnNinpa Zlan4 fha lagap Of tha ,.r,.,,
that he was defeated by the spells" of
Giocondas blind mother! This gentle inslnu-
alton has the charming effect Of rousing
the pOpulace to demand the death of Ciaca.
the mother, VINO, OF a surety, must be a
witch.
A DEPRESSION; People are always ready to
hang an innocent witch" but they have
not a word of denunciation for the insinu-
ating reptile who starts a defamatory re-
port about a persons character or reputa-
ton.
Well, OF course, EMO. arrives just in time
to save the day and there comes, also upon
the scene, Aloise, one of the chiefs Of the
Inquisition, and his wife, Laura. Quiet is
restored by this triple Interference. and in
gratitude Cisca gives her rosary to Laura.
.
Now the trouble begins. Observe il.
Gioconds is in love with EMO, who, she
supPOses, is a captain of a merchant vessel
Laura recognises in EMO a former lover,
and despite her marriage TO Aloise TOR
Alvise) she still loves EMO. Now Bamaba
wants 10 get EMO away so that he can
have a chanve 10 win Gioconda for him
self. So he whispers to EMO that Laura
will be ON his ship "Hecate" at nightfaIl.
Barnaba then. with due tact aud kindness.
informs Laura's husband Aloise that she.
Laura, intends to el0pe with Emo. Clio