The Washington herald., 1913-02-15
TETRAZzINI CHARMS
CAPACITY AUDIENCE
Reaches the Climax of Her operate
Attachments As the Unhappy
Lucia.

One Of the largest and most brilliant
audiences of the season tested the ca
pacity of Chases Theater yesterday aft
ernoon to hear Nine. Luisa Tetrazzint
in the title role of Donizetti's Lucia di
Lammermoor. which represented the
second performance of the Chicago Grand
Opera Company in Washington this sea
son.
Every seat in the capacious new theater
was taken, while many enjoyed the opera
standing. extending to the distinguished
star a reception which left no doubt that
washingtonisns join in the general con-
sensus of opinion that Tetrazzini is the
greatest living coloratura soprano and
the most famous exponent of that style
Of opera which was in vogue fifty years
ago. before the advent OF Richard Wag-
ner who introduced the modern de-
clamatory, or dramatic manner, which
caused the old-fashioned opera tof which
there is no more notable example than
Donizettis Italian work. to fall into de-
cadence.
The irresistible melodies Of Lucia"
won quick fame for its composer when
il was first written, as well as for many
operate singers of a half century gone
by. including Nine. Patti and the later
Bariiis who created a flror among Eu-
ropean lovers OF dramatic music when
the work was first given.
The Hbretto OF Lucia is taken from
Sir Walter Scott's Bride of Lammer-
first produced in Naples in 1885. at a
time when musical art meant exquisite
melody, which was before Gounod had
contributed the Mephistophelian golden
calf or Wagner had created vogue for
screaming the unmusical airs OF The
Nibelungenled." The scenes OF Lucia
are laid on and near the Lammermoor
Castle. in Scotland, the period being the
seventeenth century. The castle is owned
by Sir Harry Ashton. who desires his
sister Lucy to marry the rich Sir Arthur
Bucklaw. which marriage will save the
Ashton family from financial ruin. I'm
fortunately for his wishes. Lucy loves
Edgar, the Lord of Ravenswood, who
reciprocates her affection. Despite Ash
tons commands that sne shall not see
Edgar. Lucy meets him and they enter
into a secret engagement.
The second act takes place in the cas-
tie, where Ashton, by trickery. convinces
Lucy that Edgar is faithless to her. and
while she is under this persuasion pre-
walls upon her to marry Sir Arthur. Just
after she has signed the marriage con-
tract Edgar returns, and the unhappy
Lucy finds that she has been duped, at
which climax the conflicting emotions OF
those most concerned are voiced in the
famous sextet, Chi Me Frena.'' the rem
dition of which by Nine. Tetrazzini and
her supporting principals set the audi
ence afiame with enthusiasm yesterday
afternoon.
In the last act Lucy loses her mind and
murders Sir Arthur, after which she
joins the wedding guests while they are
singing a song of rejoicing, enacting the
famous mad scene.'' in which Nine. Tet-
razzinl reaches the climax of her oper-
attic attainments. soaring higher and
higher, until, with a eliminating crcs-
cendo of vocality, the 'E'' in altissimo
rings out with marvellous clarity. For
beauty of timbre. surety of attack. and
value of tone II is a note which has
never been excelled by any cantratrice.
Sharing honors with Mime. Tetrazzini
yesterday was the young Italian tenor,
Aristodemo Giorgini. who gave a manly
portrayal OF Edgardo. the true and faith
full lover of the unhappy Lucia. His
lyric voice has a tonal tenderness which
made \ tremendous appeal to his audi
ence, scoring for him a distinct personal
success. and the complete harmony of
his work with TetrazZini was n delight
fuI feature of the performance.
In the supporting cast, George Mascal
won appreciable recognition In his por-
tr8yal Oh Asnton MINNIE ESeHer pfousnt
to the role of Alisa, the friend and con-
fidante of Lucia, a clear. sweet soprano
voice: Henri Scott, the Philadelphia
bassO, was Raimondo, the chaplain of
the old Scottish house; Emilio Venturini
was the Arturo, and Pierre Orsatti the
Normanno. Perosio, who directed last
weeks performance of ''Tosca." again
welded the baton yesterday afternoon
with a sympathy which brought out in
the orchestration qualities which carried
one back to the days when folk went
to the opera to hear the sort Of music
which stirs the soul to its foundation,
and which helped to make the occasion
of Tetrazzinis only appearance in WASH
ington this season the most distinguished
operatic event Of the year.
- C. MANI