The San Francisco call., 1909-01-26
CAST OF CHARACTERS
IN THE LYRIC DRAMA,
LA Boheme'
Music by Giacomo Pucoini; book by Illica
and Giccosa.
By Walter Anthony

The wind and the rain conspired pitt
lessly against Impresario Mario Lam
bardi last night No farmer, ruefully
regarding his storm swept crops ever
had occasion to swear at the weather
bureau more than has this courageous
gatherer of Italian singers and pur-
veyor of good grand opera. NeVerthe-
less the Central theater was nearly
filled last night. crowd which occu-
pied all the seats in the rear of the
house was there and only bare
sprinkling of empty chairs down front
betokened, with empty boxes, the fact
that there should have been, but for the
rain, about $1,000 more in the box once.
1t was a splendid La Boheme' that
was presented. Ester Ferrabini as poor
forlorn Mimi. made her first appear
ance this season. Such tenderness and
Dathos; such vocal eXpressivenesS and
pantomime as she exhibited placed her
at once in a class by herself. She was
worth the venturing of any storm TO
hear.
The tenor. Garardi Graziani, was more
popular with the audience in the role
Of Rudo1fo and merited the approval
he received; only Ferrabini merlted
more. Graziani has high, vibrant and
oolorful voice. with a reedy character
that mars its fulness and complete
beauly His skyrocket tones seem high
er than they are, and his audience went
wild over them. In acting he is the
best Rodolfo | have seen. OF course, he
turns. after the fashion of Italian opera
singers. and declares his passion TO the
audience instead of to the idol of his
top notes but the audience gets the
advantage in directly delivered tone
waves. and last night Numbered an ap-
proval to him that stopped the action of
the drama and caused Director Jaechia
to tear his hair at the ruination
wrought to the continuity of Puccinis
wonderful orchestral score.
MoDESTI DOES WE'LL
Marcello introduced to US Alessan-
dro Modesti. barytone. He will stand
comparison with any OF the Marcelios
we have heard. His voice is agree
able and strong and he is an excellent
actor His quarreling with Musetta in
the third act was exquisitely done,
and Musetta- who was sung feebly by
Signorina Giana, was a we'll acted role.
The third act, which largely belongs
TO Musetta was weakened tonany by
the singer but was triumphantly vocal
at the close, and Director Jacchia. who
had held his singers and players wen
together in that act had to appear
with his stars on the stage before the
audience would have enough. The
whole finale had TO be reSung, so
splendidly was it done. Giovanni Mar
tino sang his song of the coat well and
throughout was a good Colline. Pom
pero Elena who sang Schaunard. was
equal to the acting necessities of his
role and sang we'll The ensemble of
the voices was always powerful and
compelling.
MIMI Is THRILLING
But when the company has gone and
the short season is over, memory will
revert to Ester F'errabini. who por-
trayed Mimi correctly, eloquently and
thrilIingly. She even dressed the role
properly. In the last act. instead of
appearing, as | have always seen here
tofore, in the cheap black garb of the
seemstress, she comes into the barren
attic of the bohemians garbed as one
who might. as Musetta has said, have
formed an alliance with a wealthy
nobleman. She has no need to dress
in sable hue to make the last scene
sember She has the effect in her
vocal expressiveness. The way she
gasped the first few lines of Che gelida
Mamma" which was the song Rudolfo
sang to her when their hands first met
in the dark of his room hunting for
her lost key. the way she intoned those
few notes was a superb bit of lyric
acting
from Rudolfo with the words, "Addio
senza rancor. was full of the deepest
meaning. Farewell. but without an
GER meant to every consciousness in
the audience all the weight of heart
ache that the words implied Ester
Ferrabini's artistry has broadened and
bettered since she was here before. and
it would be flying in the face of dis
aster to say where she will stop in her
upward fight In art.
The orchestra in the tremendous diff
culties that Puccini's music entails, was
mainly successful under Jacchia. 1t
was always effective though lapses ap-
peared here and there, noticeable main
ly TO those acquainted with the score.
1t was never obtrusive. and the viva
cious. spirited orchestration of the third
act was excellently brought forth.
There has been some discussion
whether the company will remain long
er than week. The Lambardi opera
company is booked for next Monday
night in Portland, and will leave this
city. more's the pity, next Sunday
morning at o'clock on a special train.
MURDERER