Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-10-25
CARMEN BRINGS
RECORD CROWDS
Ellis Company Presents Great
Work in Fashion Worthy
of the Piece.
STARS AND ALL ARE GOOD
By HENRIETTA M. REEFS.


was presented to the misv-loving pub
lie OF Omaha Monday evening, wher
the second season Of the Omaha Re.
tailers course opened with the Ellis
Opera company in the ever melodious
music of Carmen" Bizet's master.
piece, and one Of the most popular Of
grand operas Of all time. The people
hereabouts know when the merchants
give an opening OF any sort it is we'll
worth attending and they flock to il
whenever and wherever it may be. II
was the same last year, for when the
merchants got together and gave a
series of concerts such as they spon-
sored, they, the people, were right
with them from the beginning, and
last night at the opening of their sec
ond series, it seemed as if everybody
was there, for the Auditorium was full
clear to the top row in the gallery,
with only here and there vacant
seat, while downstairs great many
extra seats were filled with people
way at the back Of the building.
Performance Exceeds Promise.
In the production OF Carmen" last
night the Ellis company proved that
its promises and glowing reports OF
the stars anG the presentation OF the
opera were based upon absolute fact,
the stars were all that had been
claimed for them, the chorus and or
chestra were far beyond any that have
formerly visited Omaha, and the cos
tunes and scenery were upon lavish
scale, both beautiful and artistic, and
added to the general effect.
The opera with its tragic story Is
well known. How Carmen the gypsy
after leading Don Jose to desert his
regiment and follow the life Of a
smugglers, for her, soon tires of him
and turns her interest to the toreador.
Jose meets her on the public square
before the circus where the bull fight
Is being held and in fit Of jealousy
kills her.
The soldiers the gypsies, the sweet
forgiving character OF Michaela, the
intense, selfish wilfullness OF Carmen,
and the exultant torcador furnish
many contrasts as they intertwine
with swift action with q dramatic
whole, and they give an opportunity
for music which is masterful, essen
tally Spanish in its rhythms, its rich
color and melody, true Ia the action
which 4 irltensi6es and portrays.
Farrar 4 Willful Gypsy.
vs. ~ ~. .seaIu .cIaia.ne rarra ~ N
c 81 iast yesl and VIZ knew mat
sls was = wonderful on I. singer But we
a'u nol khcW VIA, remarkable
aetIess sne was nntl We peneio ner
'ass esen'ns ~ ,hc i'tis Iolc; sne
presumed = v,Vid ana ioIceini Sar-
W. uo ;,s.;., Y ~.
s.'u 81 ~ ~ u'iss tler ara
IN faet I'll ~ TX ms s vocal s snd
lIistrionic feats that fcli Is her share
were given with the skill and sayoir
iaire 81 great artist.
Lucien Muratore az Don lose. was
II gnificent. His voice 4 81 excellent
quality and his acting was superb,
Repeated applause GREETED the scene
with Michaeiakn the first act, his dc-
livery Of the beautiful aria In act
two, and the tremendous climaxes 10
which he rose in the third and in the
hst act. The dramatic ostensity 81
the booklet quite took ones breath
away.
Helen Stanley displayed a lyric
soprano voice OF great purity and
sweetness as Michaeia aand charmed
by her beauty and ufiassuming man
ner as we'll. i
Clarence Whitehill, as Escamillo,
deserves his share Of the fame. He
made an excellent Toreador. He has
. big, opulent voice, and sings and
acts in 2 way that proves him well
worthy . place in such q galaxy of
stars.
Lesser Roles and Chorus Charm.
Thr ofher n;en,her. of II. cso,,,,.r,
,vcrr y;thnrt Sexrent;on sxceIl@nt K,
the smaller narts The ouintet II
which Alma Peterson. Geraldine
Farrar Rita Fornia, Constat;n
Nicolay. and Oetaya Qua took part
was admirable sung and awakened
great applause. Nor must the duet
with the cards pass unmentioned. IN
which Nine. Peterson and Fornia
took part.
The chorus 81 sixty, not only sang
the concerted parts. but sang them
we'll. The women's chorus before the
cigar factory. the great climax with