Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-03-12
WEARING WILL
SING THAT'S
TONIGHT
=
Massenet'S Famous 0pera to
Be Produced with Stellar
Cast

All OpSIditS HOlSlly VIII uS HHtut1s
ed by Impressario Lambardi's singers
OF the Opera House tonight when Mas
senet's famous opera, That's. with
Nine. Vicarino in the title role. win
be sung. The opera, originally writ
ten by the lamented composer for
Sybil Sanderson at the time she was
the rage in Paris, Is considered Mas
senet's greatest work. 1t has proven
the sensation of many importan. opera
seasons in the large eastern cities,
and after Miss Sanderson's death. Miss
Garden chose the piece as one where
in she could display both her vocal
and natural attainments as great
artist. San Francisco heard the opera
last season, it having been given its
Pacific Coast premiere by the Lam.
bardi singers.
That's" pronounced Ty-eesl. has
created more or less OF fnror6 ever
since 1t was written. Lena Cayaleri,
the noted singer and beauty, selected
1t as a ready vehicle to fame, and IL
vas more Eecently put into dramatic
form with Constance Collier as the
alluring lady, That's. Its presentation
here this evening will unquestioaably
be the occasion. for an unusual social
outpouring, as curiosity is away above
normal to see and hear, first-hand. just
what the much-discnssed opera and
play is all about.
Massenet has written some beauti
full lyrics. The opera, like Faust
and Others. is iRtended TO teasn a
moral. The action takes place in
Egypt, during the latter days of the
grandeur Of Rome, the first scene be.
ing laid in the desert, where group
OF. Cenobite monks Is assembled.
Among these is Athanael, who in a
vision sees himself ordained by God
to. journey to Alexandria, there to save
That's. famous courtesan.
The second scene takes place at the
house of Nicias, wealthy Alexan-
0rian, whose home is rendezvous for
the gay and beautiful o. the city.
Athanael tells him he Is come to save
That's, and lead her into the teachings
of the true faith, That's moeks aim,
and defies him to follow her
The second act. in the honsa of
That's, finds her gazing into a mirror,
wondering what will happen 70 her
when her beauty begins to fade.
Athanael enters, and That's, though
scoffng at the monk, is In a more re-
ccptive frame. OF mind. The words Of
the holy monk impress her and she
finally follows him to the convent
where he places her.
The third act shows That's and Atha.
nael making their way In the desert
toward the convent of the White Sis
tiers.
Athanael returns to his brothers in
the desert, but finds, alas, that, in
converting That's, he has himself
learned to love her. He again seeks
her out at the convent, but That's. now
Upon her deathbed within. is now the
one strong in faith. AS she dies she
tells Athanael that what he taught her
was true. Athanael, meanwhile, hav
ing renounced the thoughts Of holy
things, has been denying that what
he taught her was true, and ATTEMPTS
to dissuade her from the very faith
that he himself has taught her. Thus,
with this strange paracox, the drama
ends.
As the music runs very high for the
soprano, Nine Viearino's beautiful
high register will render the presenta-
ton of the sensational opera one OF
the ost attractive events of the
present grand opera season.
Between the first and second scenes