Los Angeles herald., 1910-11-03
'RIGOLETTO'DRAWS BIC
CROWD TO AUDITORIUM
BY FLORENCE BosARD LAWRENCE

BY FLORENCE BOSARD LAWRENCE
Another tremendous audience greeted
the Bevani opera company last night
at the Auditorium. The patronage
which has been accorded these singers
is most encouraging. The Auditorium
has proved its value as the home OF
opera and the prevalent popular prices
have made it possible for everyone to
take advantage of this season. The
principals of the company are excel
lent the staging and coStuming Tar
ahead of visiting companies of the past
and the orchestra, adequate in num-
bers and we'll directed. The repertoii g
of the company is to be sure the usual
old list of operas and it is understood
that in Los Angeles Martha" and
Love Tales of Hoffman" are to be
the only works sung which have not
been given repeatedly here, and Mar
tha" becomes a novelty by reason OF
the long period of Indifference mani
tested toward 1t.
The success of "RigCletto" last night,
however, seems sufficient to warrant
the management in repeating the IA
miliar works and perhaps until the city
affords its regular season of opera,
patronage will demand familiar rather
! than newer compositions.
| Z Achille Alberti played the court 1eS-
Ter upon whom fate plays two tragic
| 'jokes." This artist, man of un-
questioned standing in his profession
sang and acted with splendid comedy
and convincing passion. He received
well deserved applause, for while his
voice has lost something of the fresh
ness of youth 1t is used with such art
that the effect is the BEST and histri-
onically he was completely satfsfac-
tory.
VOICE HIGH AND POWERFUL
Guidetta Francini appeared as Gilda.
Decidedly nervous in her opening
scenes, this beautiful young singer i'm
proved noticeabl.- in the last act and in
the quartet and recitatives which form
so important a feature of this opera,
showed to advantage Vocally and dem
onstrated throughout her impersona-
tion an unusual dramatic ability which
is greatly in her favor.
Her voice, which is high and pow
erful, especially in the upper register,
is of good qualit.r, but showed dis
position to lose pitch in her first work,
feature which disappeared in later
appearances, however. Madame Fran
cini is we'll endowed with charms OF
personal beauty and her success with
her audience is thus doubly assured.
Eugene Battain, dependable in voice
ate success as the duke, a role in
which he has already delighted many
Los Angeles listeners and which Of
fers him solo numbers and concerted
as well that is particularly beautiful.
| The famous Donna e Mobile popular
alike with singers and listeners, as
usual elected many eacores and the
fourth act quartet was another of thS
many delightfully."- sung numbers that
pleased the audience highly.
Edmee de DreuX as the young for
tune teller, Maddelina, was quite as
picturesque as the role demanded and
sang her part of the quartet with
spirit and charm.
Alexandra Bevani appeared as Spar
afucile and other members of the COM
pany who sang the smaller roles were
Joseph Florian, r. Cernusco, William
Giulani, Albert Napoleone and Estelle
Burgess.
For tonight the last time of "Lu-
cia," a slight change has been made
in the cast. Umberti Sacchetti sings
the role of Edgardo, Vicarino as Lucia
Newcomb the role of Alice, Giuliana as
Arthur, Alberti as Sir Henry Ashton,
Bevani as "Bide the Best"