Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-01-18
De FOLCO COMPANYkSCORES REAL
TRIUMPH AT OPENING OF SEASON
Verdi's Aida. Presented at
Opera House BY Best Com
pany Honolulu Has Ever
Had: KriStoffy, De FoICo,
Holmes and GaIazzi Stars
on First Night
iBy HALLETT E. ABEND)

Old as is the adage that the third
time is the charm."'it seems true of
! Honolulu's third season of grand OPP
lera, which bids fair to far outclass
/ the two previous operate seasons
which this city has known. il the De
ielco Company maintains the stand
ard set last night at the opening of
| the season with Verdi's Aida" -
The popular verdict last evening,
which has ample critical Justification,
is that the De FolcO aggregation OF
musicians constitutes a company we'll
balanced and above the average, and
| that the stars of the company are
really stars. ...s..
The coed impression made last
night was achieved in spite of all
manner of adverse circumstances
| The weather was very bad. but even
though scores of people telephoned
and Cancelled their reservations. the
Opera house was nearly full Aida"
| is admittedly difficult opera both
| for the orchestra, principals and
chorus, and demands lavish costum.
ing and scenery; as well as several
ensembles which crowd the stage un.
comfortably, but in spite of all these
obstacles satisfying performance
vas given. !. .@s.~=>.
kristoffy Real Sensation. H.. II. Il
Last night was undoubtedly johann
Ia Kristoffy's night The young Aus
trian prima donna was the most
talked of member of the company,
and it was generally conceded that
she is not only an exceptional sopra.
no, but also an actress of more than
ordinary ability. Kristoffy had the
rather extraordinary experience of
making her entrance in the title role
and receiving absolutely no applause
when she first appeared on the stage.
Nisibly, then, she set about to win
the approval of her audience, and sub
sequent applause proved that she sue
ceeded -. 80. -. ... ... -.
The centering of interest in the pri-
ma donna last evening did not indi.
cate any indifference to Eugenio de
Fo1co, Whose abilities as a singer and
whose singing have admittedly i'm
proved since he sang here two years
ago with the Lambardi Company, and
made himself general favorite. |
Aida" is woman's opera, and Kris. |
toffy was new and a surprise, but de |
Folco's performance was fully appre'
ciated nevertheless.
The worlds tenors will never for.
give Verdi for having written Celeste |
Aida" so early in the score, for that |
famous aria is one of the most diff |
cult tenor solos in grand opera and |
must be sung with what is called "a
cold throat" but de Folco handled it
admirably nevertheless His voice was
also heard to exceptional advantage in
act three when, as Rhadames, he finds
that he has unwittingly betrayed the
military secrets of Egypt's king. J.
Holmes as "Amneris." ...><
Bernice Holmes, the r:eZZo sopra-I
no who sang "Amneris," daughter of
the Egyptian king, is already known
to Honolulu audiences. and was
V armly received. Her acting, as al
ways, was good, and her singing of
the difficult role was admirable Few
iii the audience would have guessed
that her speaking voice was husky,
for all of her notes seemed to come
without effort. -.- .. B.. F.. /
Another surprise for local music
lovers was furnished by Galazzi, whose
name by some oversight did not APP
pear on the program. Galazzi sang
'sAmonasro," the captured Ethiopian
king, and his two big scenes with
Aida were among the most effective
in the opera Wanrell, the basso, sang
"Ramfis," the high priest, though
billed on the program as Amonasro
His share of the score afforded OPP. L
portunity for little but chanting, but
his performance gave promise of what
he can do in more cOngenial parts.
Another error in the program listed
Revere for the part of the king-a
Part sung by Marti, and very accept
ably. :.:....-. ....
Cello Well Handled.
Chevalier di Roccia was conductor
last evening, and the orchestra was
entirely adequate. Comparison of the
company with the Lambardi company
was inevitable by those who were in
Honolulu during the first opera sea
son, and last night opinion was divid
ed as to which organization had the
better orchestra. Di Roccia is espe-
cially happy in his use of the cello
and the piccolo: The first impression
during the brief overture, that the Or
was little thin was
soon overcome. ...@.. .. ~ -.
The one big adverse criticism. of the
performance last evening is that the
waits between the acts were ineXcuse-
ably long 1t was 1855 before the
performance was over. and one inter
val was of exactly 90 minutes dura-
ton. 49, F.. $685.. ~
The scenery used last evening de-
serves special mention. being far
more adequate than anything usually !,
brought to Honolulu If the De Folc0t /
,omrany sets and costumes all OF its
operas as well as Aida" was put or Z
asst evening, a new record will have
,een set here. -.. 49,. ....
5afIet and Danseuse. F.. {
The corps. de ballet are shapely.B
graceful dancers. Emilia Costanza.
premiere danseuse, has yet to win the
aVor of the audiences here for last {