The Washington herald., 1911-11-25

When those two wizards Of the play
house and the opera, Giacomo Puccini
and David Belasco, join forces, the re-
suIt must assume International stature
in the world of art. Sucn a collabora-
ton is seen in THE Girl of the Golden
West" an American melodrama which
like Madam Butterfly" lent itself ad-
mirably to the purposes Of the distin-
guished Italian composer. The premier
Of the celebrated new opera was per-
formed at the Metropolitan opera House,
New York City, last January; an Eng
lish version of 1t was presented by Henry
w. Savage at the Belasco Theater last
evening before one Of the most brilliant
audiences of the season.
Let Il be said at the outset that the
potent hand of Belalsco is as visible In
the opera as in the play. Pucclnl ana MS
dazzling orchestral color provide scarcely
more than a superstructure for the de-
cisive theatric qualities which are pre-
served almost intact in the opera. Never
does the music dwarf the absorbing in
terest in the unfolding tale, a tale that
is told with all the true Belascan magic.
Scores in the audience last evening VINO
remembered the brilliant performances
of Blanche Bates and Frank keenan, In
the melodrama were once more enrap-
tured with the enactment Of the story
and the Puccini score provided only a
secondary interest The hundreds of mu-
sic lovers found abundant scope for their
interest however, in studying how the
Italian composer had COPIED with proo-
lem that was entirely new and strange
to him, and their verdict was, more or
less, a mixed one
Production Well Balanced.
Above all things, the presentation Of
the opera last evening was even and
well balanced; there were no rough spots
or touches of crudity. If the principals
failed to arouse any pronounced enthusi-
asm. it can at least be said that not one
Of them failed TO score. When il is re-
membered that the role of Johnson-mu-
sically speaking-WaS written for Enrico
Caruso. that The Girl was created last
wear by Emmy Destinn, that the Sheriff
Rance was played by the BARITONE Anna
TO- it will be seen that the Savage sing
crs at once were subjected to comparison
that was unfair to them Few tenors
could render the aria in the final act
adequately; il was obviously written Is a
hit of bravura work for CarUso. Numer
Gus other instances of this same point
could be cited throughout the opera.
Despite this lack OF metropolitan vocal
ism, however, The Girl of the Golden
West was exceIlently sung. Nine. Luisa
of attraction. She revealed the posses
sion of a full. robust soprano. always
crystalline, but frequently harsh in the
upper register. The dramatic element of
her singing was its marked feature. The
part is one of the most eXacting iSoCal
demands, also calling for real acting
ability. With fluid Italian art. she in
vested the part with real Californian dash
and brcC illness, and never once displayed
Indifference to the dramatic values of the
role.
Easily second in interest was the
splendid work of Carl GantvoOrt as Jack
Rance. His vocalsm in the second act
the famous scene where the road agent
< found in Minnies cabin-was superb.
His BARITONE is strong, clear. full of au-
.hority: every line rang out in dramatic
ntensit" The poker game was played
amid an eloquent silence which attested
he fact that the opera has preserved to
he full the dramatic values of the play
,'mbertO SaCchetti, singing the role of
Johnson, the road agent, was more or
.ess of a disappointment, due possibly to
his lack of familiarity with the English
language and the American temperament
His tenor, also, was somewhat throaty
and heavy, and some of the arias as
signed to him failed signally OF their
effect
SpIendidIy Mounted.
The opera is splendidly mounted, the
choral singing is excellent, and every
thing is reminiscent of the original Be-
lasco production. Col Savage has as
scmbIed an excellent company of sing
ers POSSIBLY the most admirable f';--
ture of his production, from the musical
point OF view, is the large and efficient
orchestra he has provided, under the
conductorship of Caesar fSodero and AL
herto Bimboni. 1t does full justice to
the Puccini score.
Nothing in the present production of
The Girl of the Golden West obscuTes
the fact that Puccini has partially failed
to catch the spirit of the Bret Harte
days. Indeed, 1t was hardly to be ex-
pected that he should. He has failed to
repeat the success of Madam BUTTERFLY
The rich and wondrous melody of that
delightful opera is not to be found in
The Girl of the Golden West" Indeed,
the new opera is not typically Puccini
In any sense of the word. 1t was an
experiment on the part of the distin-
Eushed Italian composer. 1t brought
him into neNa fields. He had long been
contemplating some holder effects in or
chestration, evidently impressed by the
success of Strauss and Debussey. He
seized upon the tale of the Belasco
drama as the moment of his opportunity.