Omaha daily bee., 1914-12-12
&2R(raH &Mu.cfcl

"Lucia AZ BammermoOr- at the
Auditorium.
The san carlo Opera company IN Lucia
III Iammermoor," an opera IN tour
acts and six scenes, by Gaetano DON'T
Henry Ashton OF Lammermoor go,
......................... Antoia
Lucia. HE sister,. bdvige Nacoari
i''er o' i,a'e"s"C salvatore sciaretti
Norman, Follower Of Henry ..;...;..'-;.
ynond ';i;;biap1iain.... 'NStaIe csrv
Alice, an Attendant.... "a. Sedelmayer
Lord Arthur Bucklaw. Luciano Hoeetni
Chevalier Giuseppe Angelini. musicai
director.
A very large audience waited very
patiently at the Auditorium Thursday for
fully an hour for the rising OF the curtain
on the opening chorus OF Lucia di Lam
mermoor." IL was explained that the
train on which the songbirds OF the san
Carlo company came from Kansas City
was delayed four hours beyond It's
promised time for arrival In Omaha.
Patience was rewarded by remarkably
satisfying presentation OF the opera.
Donizettrs masterpiece holds lie place
In the list OF popular operas because OF
the brilliant quality OF its music. The
theme is not one to allure. nor does the
sentiment in which II is carried out tend
TO increase the JOY of life; that. however
IL quality common to most grsnd
operas-the most wondrously beautiful
music has been woven around incidents
of deception and death, funereal In their
every aspect. II ls very hard for a
healthy mind 10 fix itself on the glorious
sounds Of the musicians when familiar
with the score. and aware that the lowell
est OF concord merely screens the per-
petrstfon Of some despicable act, the
betrayal Of lover. the murder OF a man.
the breaking of plighted trotb. or some
similar disappointment. So Donizetti set
the sad and depressing tale OF Lucy
Ashton TO music that IL immortal and
keeps the world still weeping over the
death OF the Bride OF Lammermoor. who
had been forgotten ere now, had she only
depended on the tale told by Scott TO
preserve her for posterity.
Madame Edvige Vaccarl was recon-
mended 20 us as a second Tetrazini. %
Maybe she ia; but after listening TO her,
one would much rather think OF her as
the first Vaecsri. and let some other fol-
low with n claim 10 the honor Of beina
second. She is tall. well built. and q
figure to flll the eye, but without over
flowing, smile that lights up her face
with a glow OF pathetic warmth. and
blessed with power Of acting that would
make her Interpretation Of the role OF
Lucia OF interest II she did not sing q
note. When she sings. one forgets q
ask II she can act; notes clear and pure
full and round and vibrant with life
come from her throat with such ease oi
utteranees such absolute control Of sx.
preston as TO suggest perfection in thS
art OF singing. Her coiorature work q
marvellous, and her head tones are beau.
| tiful, the highest notes taken without Of.
fort and with no apparent diInlnution oI
volume. while her pianissirno Is i'm.
peccable. vaccari will not be heard agasr
during the engagement. and those who
werp not at the Auditorium last night
may rest assured they have missed one
OF tha real features of the engagement
signor Sciaretti is fiery. dashina
Edgar. carrying his role with vigor thai
fairly met the zeal Of vaecari as Lucia
and singing perfectly. HIS splendid tenor
voice the exact complement OF her brigh,
soprano. 30 that In the duet OF the secont