Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1916-07-16
FARRAR AS CARMEN
IS A RARE TREAT
Her Interpretation of DIFF
ficult Role Has Been
Talk of the World.
WILL BE SEEN HERE
To Be Presented at Conven-
ton Hall October 80 by
Ellis Company.

There was 4 time. twenty years
Carmen Immediately evoked in
ones mind the picture OF that re-
mSrFable French woman. Emma
Calve, who seemed to be the first to
reveal to us an adequate meaning of
tho Spanish-Gyp who has capti-
waited. one might almost say. the en-
tire world Years passed. Calve
gradually drifted from view. and
with her the vogue of Biset's most
beautiful opera decreased. First one
singer after anothcr essayed the part,
the best of them with only mediocre
success.
Finally. two years ago. it was an
nounced that Geraldine Farrar. that
most fascinating OF American singers,
had decided to attempt the role. and
excitement in operate circles ran
high. This most talented woman had
never in her comparatively short ca
reeI discovered the meaning of cail-
ure. In the great classic parts she
sarg, she had success, and her vivid
powers of characterization. her beau
tiful and dramatic singing. gave sue
cess 10 more than one opera which
otherwise would have disappeared
after one performance.
Immense Audience.
Miss Farrar gave her first per-
foImancc OF Carmen" in the Metro
politan opera house, New York No
vcmber 10, 1914. The house was
packed from pit to dome, spectators
receiving outrageous prices for seats.
The attitude of the audience was one
Of keenest expectancy. The feeling
was that Farrar would succeed. but
there was always the latent doubt
about her success when those present
remembered the many talented art
lists who since Calves day lad strug-
gled with the role q few times and
then laid away the costumes In law
erdcr
That first performance of Car
men" by Gers ldine F'arrar has he
come historic in the annals of New
York. She conquered rs she had
never conquered in any role that she
rad undertaken before. From her
first entrance. when abe :an down
the flight of steps from the bridge
into the square of Seville. she held
the audience, so 70 say, in the palm
Of / er hand, and throughout the per-
fo'mance swayed them hither and
thither as she wished. II was pro-
claimed far and wide the next morn
ing that the world had another great
Carmen. Furthermore. II was pro-
claimed that II was a Carmen re-
created, for Farrar differed radically
from the traditions OF the part and
built up character entirely on lines
OF her own.
Hot Originality.
The repetitions followed. There was
heated discussion over her interpre-
tation, hut this discussion was limited
chiefly to details. for all agreed that
she had wrought out of the character
a logical creation filled with a high
quality of imagination and at the
same time one which ran along close |
lv to the lines indicated by Prosper
Merimee in his romance on which |
BiZeta opera was founded. Miss
Farrar's Carmen today may be said |
already to have established n new
tradition Of the part. II is, in sense |
golden mean in art. for Miss Farrar |
on the one hand. does not indulge in |
the violence and vulgarities OF the |
solo oil established, for example, by |
Puuhne Lucca nor does she make |
Carmen a simpering school girl, as
mere thar one OF her predecessors
have done.
Since Miss Farrar began to sing |
Carmen the opera has resumed its
place as the most popular in the cur
rent repertoire. In two seasons she |
sang 1t with the Metropolitan Opera
company of New York no less than
10 times, and of these one was in
Brooklyn, one in Philadelphia, one in
Altar ia and two in Boston During
her FIVE weeks engagement with the
Chicago Opera company last year she
serg IL six times. and II is significant
that every one Of these 25 "Carmons'
has been sold out. and in a majority
Of cages the Jrices Of seats have run
to largo premiums in the hands Of
speculators.
II is especially fortunate that Mr.
Elis has been able to secure the serv-
Ices Of this remarkable singing ac-
tress for the Ellis Opera company,
and the performance of Carmen"
with her as a heroine promises to be
notable events
Miss Farrar will be seen in Car
mon" at Tulsa Convention hall Octo-
ner so. supported by a company
IF 175.