The Detroit times., 1915-10-20
LvcEuM.


or the many memorable perform
ances OF Garment. which Detroit
opera lovers have witnessed, per.
haps none will be recorded In the
musical and theatrical history OF
the city as having equalled that giv~
IN Tuesday evening. in the Lyceum
theater. by the Boston Grand Opera
company and the Pavlowa Ballet
Russo. with as fine a cast as ever
interpreted the opera on any stage.
Maria Gay. the Spanish contralto.
aud her husband. Giovanni Zenatel-
Ia. the Italian tenor, were the Car.
men and the Don Jose, with George
Baklanoff. the Russian baritone. as
EsCamillo, while the other principal
roles were sung by artists worthy OF
the artistic company OF the trio
mentioned.
IirGzenly imrudent. frankly AMI.
NAL, coarscly passionate, fearless
and primal, Maria Gay made the
cigarette girl OF many loves, She
presented the character OF Carmen
as no other singing actress has ever
attempted TO do. There Is no re-
fncment. no subtlety. no tenderness.
not even in her love, In the Gay Car.
men Unlicensed rein TO primal In.
stinct for prey marks this artists
Carmen. A native OF the vicinity OF
Seville, Nine. Gay may be credited
with knowing something of the
oh Ia ri hA a ~ httf aa
the race TO which Carmen belonged.
As an actress, she has evidently
closely the role and developed It's
possibilities until she makes II one
az the most intense. dramatic and
vital OF characteriZations. The Gay
Carmen Is wanton and vixen
with "A temper that brooks no leash
and n wild spirit that refuses to be
tanned II Is a strong picture OF a
voluptuous, heartless and defiant
creature.
Vocally, Nine. Gay was superb.
Her voice is contralto OF such rich
ness and hexibility as TO cause con
slant wonder and delight as It's
beauty. color aud vibrancy are re-
vealed. More beautiful singing OF
the music could not be asked.
Zenatcllo. despite the fact that he
had sung the exacting role Of Nassau
niello IN tho The Dumb Girl OF
Portici," Monday evening stepped
into the part of Don Jose at the
final moment to help out Ricardo
Martin, who was unable to appear
because OF bad throat Like his
wife. Zenatello presented a new Don
Jose on the acting side and vocal
" perfect one. He made Don Jose
man, weak may b. in his subjuga.
ton TO the INSCRIPTIONS Carmen.
out still man, passion-torn and
bereft % balance and reason In his
mad love for the woman who fioutcd
him after she had caioled him, and
enraged him with her brazen
coquetfy with the Toreador The
scenes between Nine. Gay and Zena-
tcllo were remarkable for their vo-
cal perfection and dramatic effec-
tiycnesS.
In Ballanon the local Stage saw
new Escamillo also. a fine. big
fellow. with luscious baritone
voice and the same sure dramatic
inrtinc, possessed By Gay and Zena-
felIo Eaklanoff made the Toreador
a vcrto.Gc.corgottsn portrait. The
Famous Torea ior number actually
hal gewness and an originality
tlat ou. would scarcely believe pos
..bie In view Of the use II has had In
~ ars OF popular life
1lay Schneider an American sing
or. t,lo.rd q GOOD soprano as
H4a,u and Belle Gouschalk and
Feiy Clement, also American girls.
we've unusually GOOD As Mercedes
aud rrasCuita. Alfred kaufman as
Iuniga. Giorgio PGlitl as Morales,
PaOloa Nnanian a. III Dancairo and
Pietro Audisio as FL Remendado,
proved excellent artists.
The opera was rorgeously staged
and the big orchestra under Roberto
Moran,oni gave the score--the orig
inai and complete one-stirring life.
Nile Anna Pavlowa, Alexandra
Volinire. Mile. Stasla Kuhn and
Nile. Stephanie Plaskorietzka and
the Ballet Russo gave the dances OF
Spain with the vim, the sinuousness.
the grace and the gorgeousness or
dressing that marks all their ef.
forts. Nile. Psvlowa and her asso-
GATES were wildly applauded, the
audience. which packed the theater.
seeming not TO he. able to expend IT.
self in enthusiastic tribute 10 these
artists who have won so solid ana
enduring a place in the affections OF
the local public.
The complete ballet. which Bizet