Newark evening star and Newark advertiser., 1915-11-01
Opera Stars in
Concert af the
Newark 7heafer
4 Notable Event in the Mu-
sic Annals of the
City.

In simple beauty and appeal, the
operate concert held last night IN
the Newark Theater excelled any re-
Gently held in this city. The presence
of Senior Andreas de Segurola, the
great Spanish basso; Luca Botta,
tenor, and the new priina donna So
prano, Mile. Anna Fdtziu, and several
others of the Metropolitan opera
forces, attracted an audience that
comfortably filed the theater. But
the hero of the occasion was Arnaldo
Conte, formerly of the La Scala, and
now conductor Of the Boston Opera
Company. Under his ba on an or
chestra of twenty men worked
wonders. Though small, this band Of
men had been chosen from the forces
of the Boston Opera Company with
the utmost care. And, m addition, the
conductor exercised all of his wiz
ardry in producing the best that was
in 1t.
The concert was in two parts. The
first part embraced q general pro-
gram, while the second was made up
of the first act of Puccini's LA Bo-
beme." Before this Director Conte led
his men N mastery manner in a rem
dition of the prelude to III Pagliacci,y
this number not being in the printed
program.
The presentation of La Boheme.'
employed Botta, de Segnrola. Ange-
limo Fornari, Antonio Vaiente and
Mile. Anna Fitziu, who assumed the
role of Mimi" This was produced
with the regular setting representing
the darkened artists garnet. The
artists entered heart and soul into the
spirit of the scene faithfully and with
consummate art carrying out, their
dolfo" were beautifully voiced by
Mile. Fitziu and by Botta, and
brought a genuine expression of de-
light from the audience. II anything,
the audience was too responsive.
breaking in upon the final notes of the
solos and sadly interfering with the
continuous action of the opera.
The number that pleased the big
audience most was Schubert's Ave
Maria" sung by Miss Olive Mar
SHALL This soloist's voice possesses q
virginal quality seldom known in cen
cert soloists of like breadth. This
quality, coupled with purity of tone
and a considerable range. allowed her
to invest the hymn with exquisite
beauty. In no little measure was this
effect aided by the accompaniment of
Director Conte. He presided at the
piano for each of the solos, and by
his beauty in phrasing and express
sion, added to the loveliness of the
numbers. Responding to an encore,
Miss Marshall sang the old ballad,
My Gypsy Sweetheart"
Antola was in his element in all of
the numbers assigned to him. He was
compelled to repeat the prologue to
I'll Pagliacci," and was hardly per-
mitted to leave the stage after that
Thfc aH ts, x.rt,o
Marshall, Miss Anna Haeseler and
Umberto Baroni, he took part in the
final number of the first part of the
concert, the quartet from "Rigoletto."
Signor Antola is perhaps best known
as the clown in "Rigoletto,'' and this
number has been sung by him count
less times.
Miss Anna Haeseler, before appear
ing in the quartet. sang an old Eng
lish song, displaying a very sweet
mezzo soprano. She sang with splen-
did art and grace, and amply earned
the expressions of approval following
her song. In response she sang, "A
Little Bit OF Heaven"
Signor Baronl sang "Una Furtive
Lagrime," by Donizetti, acceptably.
Though very light, Signor Baroni's
voice is true tenor of high register
and considerable grace. Singing in
the "Rigoletto" quartet, he found it
rather difficult to sustain his part
when the audience demanded a repe-
tition, but he stuck it out manfully,
and acquitted himself most credit
ably.
Before the presentation of the opera
Father Ernest A. d'Aquila, pastor of
the Church of Our Lady of Mount
Carmel. for which the concert was
given, appeared on the stage and Of
fered his thanks to the artists, the
committee and all who had contrib
nted to the success of the entertain
ment. He then announced that he
had souvenirs to present to the three
people who had sold the most tickets
and asked them to come forward.
They were Mrs. Joseph Rose, Miss
Mary Rose Kearns, daughter of Will
liam j. Kearns, chairman of the COM
mittee in charge of the concert, and
James II. Grant, who is also a mem
Der of the committee. These three
people disposed Of total of $1,421
worth of tickets.
At the conclusion of the concert the
contributing artists were literally
showered with wreaths and floral tok-
ems The ovation that accompanied
these gave rise to situation causing
a considerable amount of fun. The
men in charge of the curtain appar-
emily was unfamiliar with the habits
of opera and concert audiences, and
persisted in ringing down while flow
ers were being passed across the foot
| lights. But Senior de Segurela would
| have none of this, and caught the bot
tom of the curtain, holding it up. He
was Immediately joined by the other
men soloists, and the curtain man,
realizing that he had made a mistake,
lifted the curtain again.
| After the concert the artists and
members of the committee were en-
tertained by Father d'Aquila in Ach-
tel-Stetter's. Responding on behalf of
| his fellow artists, Senior de Segurola
declared that 1t had been a distinct
pleasure to them to assist Father
d'Aquila in his work.
ANNA HELD IN THE MOVIES.
|