The San Francisco call., 1910-07-17
FAMOUS SINGERS
Will BE heard
Bevani's Splendid Company to
Present the Classic Operas
at Popular Prices

Grand opera by famous singers and
at popular prices is the attraction OF
fered by the Idora park, Oakland, man
agement during the four weeks en-
gagement of the Bevani opera company,
which opens today with Gounod's
Faust" The company is booked for
summer 'enga cement, during which the
favorite grand operas will be presented.
Faust will be sung during the first
week with Eugepio Battain, the tenor
who won great popularity here when
he appeared with the Lambardi COM
pany, and Umberto Sacchetti. who al
ternated at the Metropolitan opera
house, New York. with Caruso and
Bonci, appearing in the title role al
ternately.
Bevani has. selected competent COM
pany of singers and will stage the pro-
ductions we'll. The prima donnas will
be Regina Vicarino of the Manhattan
opera and Guiditta. Francini. we'll
known in New York and abroad. Mile
de Dreux and Estelle du Vivier will be
the contraltos.s Ettore Campana, who
has sung leading barytone roles at the
Metropolitan in New York, and Achille
Alberti will sing the barytone roles.
The bassos will be Alexander Bevani
and Joseph Florian.y Roberto Fran
cini will be conductor of the company.
Faust one of the favorite grand
operas, tells a tale that is known in all
lands The opera is founded on the
drama by Goethe. 1t is the story of
Faust an aged German student, de-
spairing of ever achieving the fame as
a student which he covets and realizing
his youth passed and lost in study,
ynxx n vii
to be young and handsome again.
Mephisto appears and offers youth
and love in exchange for the students
soul. He shows Faust vision of the
lovely Marguerite, a village maiden OF
surprising beauty, for whom the re-
juvenated Faust conceives desperate
passion Mephisto, true to the terms
of his bargain, aids Faust in winning
the love and confidence of the girl, who
discards her country lover when she
sees the rare jewels which Faust, with
the aid of Mephisto. lays at her feet.
Faust betrays the girl and kills her
brother, Valentine, when he coming
home from the wars, learns or the
plight in which his sister has fallen
and challenges the lover to duel.
. Marguerite, in despair, goes insane
and kills her child. She dies in prison
and her soul is transported to heaven,
while Mephisto, his obligation ended,
claims the soul of Faust and drags 1t
to perdition.
The music of the opera is wonderful
Charles Francois Gounod. the composer,
though a F'renchman, caught the Ger
man spirit in the music of Faust.
On Sunday matinee, Monday, Wednes-
day. Friday and Saturday evening, the
cast will be as follows: Marguerite,
Guiditta F,rancini; Siebel, Edmee de
Dreux; Martha, l.. Struvini; Faust, Eu-
genio Battain; Valentine, Ettore Cam
pana;. Wa gner, Joseph Flor1an, and Me-
phistopheles, Alexander Bevani.
Sunday evening, Tuesday, Thursday
and Sunday matinee-Marguer Re-
gina vicarino; Siebel. Edmee de Dreux;
Martha. l.. Struvini; Faust, Umberto
Sacchetti; Valentine, Achille Alberti;
Wagner, Joseph Florian, and Mephisto-
phe1es, Alexander Bevani.
San Francisco patrons should take
the Key route Claremont train direct
to Idora Tickets are on sale one week
in advance at the park, Piedmont 2164,
and at Sherman, Clay & Co.'S Oakland
store. The bill for the second week
will be Martha" on Sunday, Monday,
Tuesday and Wednesday and "Rigolet-
to- on Thursday, Friday and saturday.
The prices which will be charged are
exceedingly low, no seat being over 81.
including admission to the park. Or
ehestra chairs will be soc, 75c and 81,
while the balcony seats will be 35c, soc
and 75c.
John C. Weber's American band is
still the main free attraction at the
amusement park, and will continue for
some time. The grand opera in the
theater will in no way interfere with
the band concerts. For today the band
will number among it's selections ex-
cernts from 1.-The Chocolate Soldier"
"DolIar Princess" Bright Eyes and
other new musical comedies, selections
from .Iohengrin,' "Tannhauser" over
ture. LA Boheme,'' I'll Guarany" and
many others Miss Mehaffey will sing
Breil's Song of the Soul' and 'Exul-
tation,' by owen. A number of instru-
mental solos also will be rendered.