The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-02-15

1t was an enthusiastic audience that
congreGated In the Salt Lake theater on
Monday evening to hear the opera OF la
Gioconda," the opening offering OF the
there been nothing else than the mag
nlhcent orchestra and had the auditors
heard nothing else than THE Dance of
the Hour" rendered by the orchestra
between the second and third acts, they
would have been compensated for the
evening, For this alone was mag
nlicent rendition OF magnificent music.
There was harmony, there was blend
ing OF melody that one seldom hears and
the audience was cntranced and when
the music ceased there was an outburst
OF applause that was so prolonged that
the orchestra was compelled TO respond
and repeat Il portion OF the splendid
composition.
It was the first time that this opera
was ever presented in Salt Lake, and the
management made no mistake in Sc
Letting 1t for the opening. for IL gave
the company opportunity to show what
1t could do, The Lambardi company was
pany has been strengthened and now 1t
Is the strongest grand opera company
that tours the larger cities Of the coun-
try,
Is also romantic, and no company ever
attempts 10 sing 1t unless the singers
are of more than ordinary ability, for
1t must feature the best artistes al.
Gloconda first of all the great singers
in the United States at the Metropolitan
opera house in New York. That was
years ago. She was an ideal Gloconda,
When she sang the role Schalci sang the
part of La Cieca, the blind mother, Del
Pucnta the role of Barnaba the spy and
Stagne that of Enze, Since then Sem
brch. Gadski Destina and Nordica have
sung Gioconda and Caruso has had the
tenor role. Here Is the story of Gioconda
told In brief
ago Gioconda is a ballad singer, Bar
naba, the spy OF the Council OF Ten. Is
in love with her, but she loves Enze.
Now Enze was once betrothed to Lama:
of the council. The spy turns the crowd
against the blind mother OF Gioconda.
charging her with withcraft but her
life is saved by Laura and Enze, who
here meet by accident, and the old fame
is rekindled. Laura agrees TO meet Enze
on his vessel. She does so, but the spy
is watching. and catches her, So does
Gioconda The spy gets busy. He tells
Alvise, Laura's husband. That gentle
man makes Laura drink poison, but Clio
conda gives her n narcotic and she Is
only make-bclieve dead. Gioconda Is
noble" she takes the body to her own
apartment. wakes her up and lets her
go away with EnZe, her own beloved.
The, spy finds this, out and demands Gio7
,onda's hand or he will again 'tell all
he knows" Gioconda consents. appar-
emily, but after the lovers are safely
away she takes a dagger and staos her
self to the heart,
principals appear, where opportunity is
given them TO demonstrate the kind OF
voices they have and IL is in this act
that the audience Is given opportunity
10 pass judgment upon the artistes. This
Judgment upon Monday evening was that
al have more than good voices. power
ful and effective voices, and that those
voices were appreciated was demon
Str cd hy fle M than
plause,
The opera tested the merits of the big
company, for there are beautiful solos;
sextettes. Should one attend this opera
or others that Will be presented by the
Lamhardi company. for the purpose OF
seeing beautiful stage settings and ef-
fects they will be disappointed. These
can bs seen at any time. and more par
tcularly in musical plays or eNtrava-
ganzas where stage settings are absolute
ly necessary To Offset the mediocre voices
of principals. Signor Lambardi has ig-
nored fine scenic effects in gaudy scfn-
cry, although the stage settings are above
the average Instead, ne presents people
who sing. and that Is why people so
to the opera. They go to hear melody.
harmony and the blending of voices that
produce this. Handsome women can be
seen In most musical plays. beautiful fig
ures likewise. but voices, real voices. are
not always heard
Lambardi has the people who have the
voices. and while ''Gioconda" Is faulty in
its construction. and while the cbarac-
ters are a particularly unadmirable lot.
the music is most exquisite. There Is a
spontaneity. there is a freshness In 1t
that charms.
No finer orchestra was ever heard In
this city than the one at the Salt Lake
theater Monday night. There are fifty
pieces in the orchestra. and the rendi-
tion OF the opera by this orchestra un
der the direction OF Gulsenzlo Guerrierl
was the finest ever heard in Salt Lake
There are two leading soprano parts In
"Gioconda" one Gloconda. the ballad
singer. the title role; the other Laura,
wife OF Alvise. The first was enacted by
ElvIra Boestti. dramatic soprano whose
voice Is a marvel OF sweetness. 1t re- |
uulred no effort upon her part apparently. |
for there was no tax upon either register |