The San Francisco call., 1909-01-28
BIRDLIKE SOPRANO
CHARMS IN LUCIA
Crowd of Music Lovers Unable
TO Obtain Seats in the
Central Theater
Nine. Zavash Greeted With
Thunders of Applause on
WarbIing in Mad Scene
CAST OF CHARACTER
In Donizetti's Opera.
Lucia di Lan1mermOOr"
By Walter Anthony

The Central theater was no place Tot
criticism last night when Lambardts s
stars sang DOnizetti's Lucia. string
of ticket buyers stretched from the box
Office out TO the curb stone and then
around on Eighth street at $3.50 o'clock.
and in the line were dresssuited
gentlemen and Italian garbage people.
Numbers Of all classes were turned re-
actantly away by Proprietor Howell,
and Wept over by Manager Sparks Ber-
ry because there was no place inside TO
give them hospitality. Yet DOniZettis
Lucia" is about three-quarters Of 3
century old; il is beautifully out Of
date and lyric with ancient melody.
Perhaps the starlit night had some
thing 10 do with the influence that led
the thrOng against the Central theater
doors. or perhaps il was the fact that
everybody was concerned about Cecilia
Tamanti Zavaski. the soprano who was
going 10 trill the mad scene. At any
rate il is certain that the Central was
crammed TO the doors. while the i'm
patient line outside struggled against
the inevitable and Corporal L. A Fon-
tana
CROWD PLEASES LAMBARDI
mention the officer because I was
asked 10 do so by impresaria Mario
Lambardi who regarded the crush at
the portals of the Central with un-
disguised JOY, and wondered what pre-
vented a riot. The crowd that tried
10 gain admission to the theater re-
minded me of nothing so much as the
waiting throng on any safety station
trying 10 board a belated car home.
Any mob not impelled by the claims of
music. as was that which pressed
against the Central theater doors last
night would have inspired a riot call
and no less than three patrol wagons.
Meantime Lucia was being warbled
inside At the end of the second act
an enthusiastic Latin listener seated
in q box, started the cry, viva rItalia,
viva Lambardi"' The audience took up
the shout and brought Lambardi him
self on the stage before quiet was re
stored
Cecilia Tamenti Zavaski, the coiora-
tura soprano. is a wonderful little per-
sonality. with a beautiful and birdlike
voice. Her duet with the flute was a
5Oint success in the mad scene, which
brought a thunder OF applause from the
immense audience.
FLUTE PLAYER EUPHONIOUS
For those who would like to know
The name Of the man who accompanied
her SO delightfully."- on the flute under
Agide Jsccia, it should be said that he
IS UJcola Giulii- His playing is as eu-
phOuious as his name.
Madame Zavaskis voice is as birdlike
as it is flexible; she can do anything
she chooses with il, and she created a
sensation with her vocal magic She
is not q Tetraz zzini. but she is a splen-
cid artist and is one Of the best Lucias
you or j viii ever hear.
Battain as Edgardo was infinitely
better vocally than be was in either
'Csvalleria" or FPagliacci." and head
ing the sextette was frreproachabIe as
10 time, tempo and pitch.
The performance of the Donizetti
opera was, in short, a beautiful one.
Modesti was a fine Henry Ashton;
Msuceri was a dignified and robust
Raymond and the minor characters
were well taken care of. The orchestra
was kept we'll in hand throughout by
Jacchias and the production as a whole
would merit the enthusiasm Of even a
calm and sane reviewer.