Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1912-11-15
BRATTLEBOR0 LOCAL
GRAND OPERA LAST NIGHT.
Madame Butterfly Immensely Enjoyed, but
Rain Kept Many Away-company Well
Balanced and Very Capable.

Grand opera of high quality that
pleased the music lovers of this locality
was given last evening in the Audito-
rum by the Aborn English Grand Opera
company. Unfortunately the weather was
not propitious for a crowded house ana
Is minutes after the curtain went up
there were between $50 and 200 seats
empty in the theatre. Those who braved
the storm sat during the progress OF
Madame Butterfly" utterly oblivious to
the rain and listened eagerly to the rich
vocal treat given by company remark
ably well balanced and consisting of ar
lists with rare vocal ability and excellent
dramatic powers.
The libretto of Madame Butterfly
is based on the drama. Lieut. Benjamin
Franklin Pinkerton of the United States
navy contracts temporary Japanese
marriage with charming little native
named Cho- Cho- San Madame Butter
n.y." They are established for year
in a picturesque little Japanese house
on hill overlooking the harbor of
Nagasaki, and then he is ordered away,
promising to return when the robins
nest again" A baby boy is born to her,
and in keeping with her husbands style
of American humor, she names the
child Trouble" When three years have
passed Pinkerton's ship returns and
Butterfly jubilantly decorates the house
with flowers, dresses in her bridal dress
and awaits his coming. She remains on
watch all night. In the morning Kate
Pinkerton, the lieutenants American
wife, comes to Butterhys house, hav-
ing learned of the baby which she
wishes to adopt, and Butterfly learns
the truth. After Kate has gone, Butter
fly places the baby in the window with
an American flag and with the sword
of her father commits suicide. PinkertoD
comes at last, to find the consequences
of his heartlessness.
From the rise of the curtain on the first
act it was apparent that a musical treat
was in store for the audience. The voices
on the stage were enhanced by an or
chestra that had been trained for grand
opera, and through every beat and meas
ure the musicians and the singers were
in perfect harmony. The opening lines
of Madame Butterfly" served to intro
duce the rich contralto voice of Marie
Louise Biggers as Suzuki Cho- Cho- Sans
servant The fine tenor of Henry Barron
as Lieut.. b. f. Pinkerton, L. S. navy,
was heard in the first act and it was
recognized Immediately that the singers
voice was of unusual beauty and strength.
His duet with Louis D'Angelo who was
cast as Sharpless, T. S. consul at Maya
sagi, was enthusiastically received and
the basso and tenor were recipients of
continued applause.
In the title role Aida Hemmi sustain
ed the heavy and eXactng musical re-
quirements called for with a voice of
adequate power, exceptionally well han
died and always responsive and express
sive to the dram tic demands made upon
it. Her duet with Mr. Barron was one of
the best offerings in the presentation of
the opera. Other gems that received the
conspicuous favor of the audience were
the stars solo as she entred in the first
act and the wonderfully effective close of
the second act, when the orchestra, which
was under the direction of Arturo Papal-
ardo. achieved marvellous music. The
tenor solo by the lieutenant in the last
act was generously applauded and at the
final curtain there was enthusia site ap
plause
The supporting members of the COM
pany were very pleasing and Brattleboro
was fortunate in having the opera pre-
sented in such capable manner and by
singers who from the principals through
the chorus. gave evidence that their
hearts were in their efforts to make a
company second to none in English gra nd
opera.