The Washington herald., 1913-05-20

of life in the Latin quarter of Paris,
as told in song and instrumental effects
by the greatest of the living Italian
composers. assured the genuine spirit
of student life in La Boheme" as well
as smoothness and eXcellency OF vocal
skill
Salvatore Sciarretti, in the role OF
poet Rudolph. wove into tenor melody
the essence of gayPty, when alone with
his boon companions. which changed to
haunting tenderness in the recital OF his
love for Mimi. and again to pathos and
tragedy when the grim hand of death
snuffed out the pickering life candle of
his tubercuIar sweetheart. The transit
ton from the scene of the care-free
fun Of student life to that Of tender
love making was effected by Mr..
Sciarretti with an artistry which com
PEELED him to respond to the enthusiasm
of a large audience by partial repeti-
ton, in the first act, of his impassioned
love song. II seemed to make not the
slightest bit of difference with his audi
tors that the tenor alone of the cast
failed to fulfil the promise Of the very
title Of the Aborn Company. sdhering to
the liquid language Of Italy.
Singing opposite Mr. ScIarretti, In the
prima donna soprano role. was Miss
Phoebe Crosby. whose Mimi was n fss-
cinating portrayal. Miss Crosby is an
actress OF much charm OF personality
and the possessor OF a high soprano
voice whose every note had a sterling
ring last night. Her voice IL of wide
range and rare sweetness In both her
solo work and her numbers with Mr..
Sciarretti she achieved high artistic sue
cess. which was received with marked
enthusiasm.
James Stevens as Marcel the painter
friend Of the poet chap. had the barry
tone honors of the evening. which he
turned TO excellent account, particularly
in duet with Mr.. Sciarretti.
OF less volume and less sweetness than
Miss CroSby's soprano was the voice of
Miss Gladys Chandler, whose brunette
piquancy and scarlet attire in the role
of Muzetta made an admirable foil for
Minis pale loneliness.
Bertram Peacock, bassO. as ChaUnard,
the musician: Sol Solomon, bufTo, as
Eenoit. the landlord. and later as Al
cindoro. councillor of state, and
Frederick Ayres, the philosopher friend
of poet Rudolph. were adequate in their
respective roles. which cannot be said
Of the chorus, which was heard only in
the second act, street scene in the
Latin Quarter of Paris, to which moth
ing Of attractive consequence was
added by the aimIess restiveness of the
throng.
Small demand is made. however.
upon the chorus in La /Boheme," so
that it's work becomes but a minor de-
tail. and was last night soon forgotten
In following the tragic love tale of
Mimi and her poet sweetheart, to
which theme Puccini has adjusted both
voice and orchestration with consum-
mate skill and gripping appeal
Ralph Lyford deserves that one
should not linger too long in praise Of
the popular opera founded on Murger's
novel. "LaVie de Boheme," nor dwell !
too persistently on the admirable cast |
of principals who last night interpret
ed the work of Puccini, lest one quite |
overlook the sympathy with which he !
the orchestra, which formed !
no mean part of the success of the !
production.
Tomorrow evening Pilade Sinagra |
will sing the tenor role. Miss Clay Dill |
lon will be the MiAi. and Thomas |
Hardie will be heard in the role Of |
Marcel. the painter, which was so ad-
sung by Mr.. Stevens last night !
. 81 J. e. MANI