Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-10-22

4
sentation of Bizet's i'm
mortal opera Carmen" This will
formally usher int the musical season
in Omaha, and is to be followed on
Tuesday evening by al Trovatore,"
the wonderful musical drama on which
the fame of Verdi as a composer
would rest secure, had he written
nothing else.
These two operas are to be present
ed by special casts, the quality of
which can leave little to be desired.
The greatest Carmen OF her day. Ger
aldine Farrar, will be heard in role
in which she has no rival For Don
Jose, Lucien Muratore, tenor OF the
rarest ability, is scheduled, and Clar-
ence Whitehill, whose big voice is al
ready familiar to Omaha, is to be
heard in the booming music of the
Toreador Helen Stanley will sing
the splendid part Of Micaela, and Rita
Fornia, Alma Peterson, Octave Qua
and Constantin Nicolay are to have
the other principal roles
For I'll Trovatore" similarly opu-
lent arrangement is offered. Marie
Rappold, soprano OF established
name, is to sing Leonora in lieu of
Emmy Destinn, whom stern gov
eminent would not allow to leave her
native Austria to wander in the wilds
OF the u. S. A. To Leonora Morgan
Kingston will sing the love songs OF
Manrico, and Louise Homer, also
known her for her ravishingly beauti-
full contralto, will give to Azucena's
lament for her mountains and Wild
wood the tones that make it song
ever to- be remembered Giovanni
Polese, lusty and full of vigor, is to be
the Cont di Luna, and Leon Rothier,
Octave Qua, Desire Defrere and
Rocco Franzini will be heard in the
lesser roles.
Supporting these casts, whose
strength cannot be questioned, a
chorus Of sixty voices, especially Sc
lected because OF musical qualifica-
tons, will give the ensemble numbers.
and the ballet will be supplied by a
competent corps OF sixteen led by the
premiere dansuese, Albertina Rasch OF
the Royal Opera, Vienna. The orches-
ira of sixty-five competent musicians
completes the roster of the organiza-
ton.
Cleofonte Campanini, known to
fame hereabouts as conductor Of the
Chicago Opera, and at the Metropoli-
tan in New York, is both musical and
dramatic director OF the company, as
we'll as conductor, and more could not
be said for the care with which the
operas have been prepared for pre-
sentation.
So much for the prospectus The
company began its season at Toledo
on Monday night of last week, and
went from there to Milwaukee, and
then to ST. Paul, where it closed its
engagement last night. The Bee has
already published special dispatches
from Toledo, telling of the reception
given the organization there in the
operas that are to be sung here. 1t
may not be out Of place to insert right
here something OF what the local pa
pers Of those cities had to say regard
ing the, manner in which the great
works were presented:
Toledo Blade: What a treat to
have SO perfect rendition Of a great
operate work. Toledo evidently ap-
preciates it--witness the vast throns
present and the enthusiasm and in
telligence Of the applause. It would
be useless to mention especial points
in q rendition all SO good.
Geraldine Farrar is superb in her
histrionic and vocal ability. She gives
- consistent and well-rounded picture
OF Carmen. Her portrayal abounds in
deft and telling little touches Her