Evening star., 1909-05-11
A N U S E N E N T S
Belasco.

| Those who can feel the thrill that
comes from the touch of masterpiece.
whether it depict a mural scene or
melody. will find in the splendid pro-
ductiol. of Madame Butterfly" by the
| English Opera Company at the Belasco.
| a theme for study and pleasure. tragic
though it be. To the poetic story OF
John Luther Long has been added the
art of BelaSco and the highest genius
of the Italian composer, Giacomo Puc-
| cini. while Baron Gustave w. Ronfort,
with an orchestra competent TO portray
the wonderful beauties of the score. en-
bellishes the rendition of the tragic poem
With an Interpretation at once maSterful
and true
The whole samut of human emotion is
| run in the story Of the opera and sung
and revealed in the music of the score
Love. JOY. hope. trust. fear. hate and de-
spair in their turn are unfolded in its
development. and. though the theme is
tragic and heart-racking. yet withal
there is that within it that holds the
interest and charms throughout. From
the unfolding of the latent love in the
youthful heart of the giddy little geisha
girl to the sacrifice of her life on the
altar of her mother love the story fas-
clnates. even though ii repels.
Victim of a pernicious custom of her
country and of the tickle passion of an
idle man who finally deserts her 10 marry
another, the little Butterfly, trustful in
| her love despite all influences against it
adorns her home with flowers and strews
| Its floors with blossoms as royal high
way for her recreant lover whose ship
| she sights as 1t comes into the harbor.
And then through the long lonely night
she watches through a broken pane in
the window for his coming, only to find
him another's. and that to that other she
must give up even the child who. mex.
to its father. is the idol of her poor little
loving. trusting heart: This is the whole
story. And the telling of the story
through three stages or acts is har-
| mony of words and wonderful music in
which the composer has caught the mean
ing of the author. and. with an art su-
perb. breathed it forth in melody. This
is all that needs be said The listener
will furnish his own criticism.
Miss Adelaide Norwood. the original
Cho-Cho-San. or Nine Butterfly, is splen-
didly gifted for the role. Not only has
she superb voice of wide range, rare
sweetness and fascinating flexibility but
she is dramatic artist as well and gives
to the part all the delicate Interpretation
needed in the rendition of the poem Of
the little Butterf1ys brief but tragic life.
Henry Taylor. as Lieut.. Pinkerton.
the recreant husband, whose contract
of marriage with her was much like
his contract for the rental of her house
also has clear. resonant tenor voice
that enables him to satisfactorily meet
the requirements of his trying role Ott-
sharpless. has but little opportunity to
display the beauties of his rich bari
tone. for the Butterfly and her recreant
husband share alone the opportunities
of the opera. Miss Ellen James as
Suzuki. the Butterf1y's maid has a fine
contralto. and gives an artistic rendi-
ton of her humble part Arthur Deane
as Goro. the Japanese marriage broker.
was thoroughly satisfying both in his
singing and acting. and Thomas T.
Conkey in the dual roles of Prince Ya-
modori. suitor for the hand of the But
terf1y. and as The Bonze, a Buddhist
priest and her uncle. who bans iler
marriage with Pinkerton, also gave q
meritorious performance.
The cast as a whole is strong one
gifted as well in dramatic art as in
the realm of music.
The opera is prettily mounted and
the lighting effects as a rule are good
although at times lacking a bit IN
delicacy and blend.