The Washington herald., 1910-01-09
THE OPERA.
BeIascO Theater 20 he Scene of Bril-
liant Performances.

liant Performances.
If the advance sale OF seats means
anything. Mr oscar Hammersteins
Manhattan Grand opera season this
week az the Belasco theater win be the
most brilliant operate season in Wash
ingtons musical and social history
Opening with Donizetti's Lucia" which
deals with the story Of Walter SCOTS
Bride Of Lammermoor, " Washington viii
on Monday evening hear for the first
time Nine. Tetrazzini. who has been de-
scribed as the worlds greatest coiora-
ture soprano" Her piece de resistance
in this opera is, OF course, THE Mad
Scene. in which her voealism and caden-
zas are said TO be nothing short OF mar
velous. In the cast with her will be the
popular young Irish tenor John Nccor-
mack, whom Mr.. Hsmmerstein brought
to America this season. and an admirable
young Italian barytone. Giovanni PoIese.
besides Henry Scott. a wen-known Amer
lean basso. whom Mr.. Hsmmerstein re-
Gently added to his forces. NJ Giuseppe
sturani viii conduct the opera
Miss Mary Garden, who although born
in Scotland. is a typical American girl.
having come to this country when a mere
tot VIII make her Washington debut IN
Massenet'sS beautiful opera. "Thais."
which was neglected By the American
impresariOs for years until Mr.. Ham
merstein, realizing its beauty. first pro-
duced It in America three years ago. OF
Miss Gardens genius as a singing act
ress,' Of her extraordinary dramatic
power, and Of her voice. over which there
has been so much discussion. Il seems
almost unnecessary to speak. -Thaisv IS
an opera cspitaily suited 70 introduce her
to new public. as It exploits both her
personal and artistic charms Il is the
story Of a monk OF the desert who sets
out to save the soul Of the most beautiful
and most notorious woman In Alexandra
He leads her into the pathway 10 saint
hood, but in so doing imperlls his own
salvation By breaking MS VOWS and sur
rendering his heart TO q human love.
The role Of the monk is assumed BY
another great singing actor" the emf
nent French barytone. Maurice Renaud.
The tenor viii be Charles Dalmores who
ranks as an artist with Miss Garden and
/ NJ Renaud, thus completing a cast which
could not be equaled in any opera house
In the world for this particular opera.
Nine. Tetrazzini viii have an oppor-
tunity on Wednesday afternoon Of show
| ing not only her beautiful voice. but her
unusual power Of emotional expression.
as the heroine In Verdrs 'Traviata." In
Il Nine. Tetrazzini demonstrates how a
great artist, with a great heart Ike hers
can 'act with her voice" Mr. McCor-
mack viii be the lover. Alfredo and that
gracious Italian gentleman and superb
barytone Mario Sammarco, viii be the
father.
\ rare treat is in store for those who
attend the performance on Wednesday
evening. when Miss Garden viii appear
in the title role Of Aiassenet's exquisite
operate miracle play, lie Jongleur de
Notre Dame" C"The Juggler OF Our
Lady," or as IT Is more popularity called,
THE Little Juggler''j. Here Miss Gar
den personates the pathetic figure Of A
little wandering mountebank Of the Mid
die Ages. The character Of the monas-
terry cook, the most human and tender
hearted Of the brethren. viii be taken by
another eminent French barytone. Hec-
tor Dufranne, whose singing Of the
Legend Of the Sage Bush is a notable
feature Of the opera The prior will be
the French basso, N. Huberdeau.
The Tales of Hoffman," a fantastic
opera and the only serious one left by
Ofenbach. based upon three love stories
/ by z 7. A. Hoffman,, who lived in the
early part of the last century and has
been called the Edgar Allan Poe Of Ger
many, VIII be given on Thursday even
ing. This will present 10 Washington
the beautiful Lima Cavalier, who viii
| appear as Giulietts, the Venetian light
o'-love, with whom the poet Hoffman,.
who viii be personated BY n. DaImores.
had one OF his IuckIess amorous adveu-
/ lures Dainty little Nile. Trentini. one or
I the most popular members OF the Man
haitian Opera Company, will be Olympia.
| the mechanical doll, in the first tale. and
Antonio. the consumptive maiden, in the
third tale. The great Renaud will have
the triple role in which Hoffmann's evil
genius appears: first Of all, an AIsatian
peddler: second, an Italian aristocrat.
and lastly. witch doctor. Another dis
tinguished artist in this cast viii be
Charles Gilbert, who is already well
known in Washington.
The operate season will close on Fri
day evening with a double bilI-Donizet-
it's Daughter of the Regiment" fol-
/ lowed by Leoncavallo's "Pagiiacci." the
former old, the latter modern. Nine.
Tetrazzini will be the central figure Of
the Donizetu work, with its story Of the
young vivandiere The peasant lover
Will be Mr.. Mccormack who appears
in the last act as a general TO claim his
sweetheart.
In "Pagiiacci" Washington will hear
for the first time the so-called new
Tama gno." Nicola Zerola, an Italian ten
/ or with a trumpet voice. NJ. Sammarco.
the Tonic Of the opera, is said TO sing
the prologue better than any other Oper-
atic barytOne to-day on the stage. while
NJ. ZerOla's rendering Of the aria Rid
Pasliaceio" usually stirs his fenow-coun-
| trymen to frenzied enthusiasm.
The evening performances are ANNOUNCE
ed for S O'Clock. and the matinee for 2
O'Clock. Mr.. Hammerstein hopes that the
audience will be in their seats promptly
so that music lovers may not be dis
turbed by the arrival Of late corners.