Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1917-03-18
BY MRS. JAMES G. GREEN.

BY MRS. JAMES G. GREEN.
[ MuSic-loVing Boise, augmented in
numbers by music-lovers from a score
of surrounding towns, filled the Pin
ney theater last evening and voiced
| their appreciation of Verdi's majestic
music in Aida" by continuous recalls
and warm applause. 1t was a big,
splendid, representative audience, an
audience that responded with sympathy
and understanding to the interpreta-
| ton of Verdi's great opera by singers
who expressed emotionally every phase
of sentiment embodied in the produce
ton.
1t was an audience which did honor
to the occasion, too. Beautiful wom-
en-, beautifully gowned, bejeweled and
with a cosmopolitan air which might
have obtained in any city in the union,
were attended by escorts as faultless
in their conventionality of dress as II
transported directly from New York.
MANY FROM OUT OF TOWN.
Nor was the beauty of fair women
and elegant gowns confined to the city.
From other towns were lovely mat
rons and fair society maids in exquis-
lite creations, sparkling with jewels and
animated by the pleasure of the even
| ing.
1t was an evening of opera to be
remembered. a fullness Of musical ex-
preston to be recalled again and again
with varying feelings of delight in the
perfection of human voices.
Zenatello, to whom even Caruso's fer
vent admirers pay tribute as a tenor
who at all times has absolute mastery
of his work, thrilled his audience with
the power and beauty of a voice which
at no time was less than the highest
and most sympathetic Interpretation of
a theme which demanded the strongest
expression of the human heart.
Zenatello clearly dominated the
evening with the intensity and beauty
of noble voice.
IN THE TITLE ROLE.
Luisa VILLAIN as Aida, the enslaved
Ethiopian princess. interpreted the role
with an intensity of dramatic emotion
that carried her audience with a keen
sympathy from her first appearance to
her tragic death scene. The strong
resonant ttmbre of her voice was re-
markable, and 1t mellowed into a quail
ity of tenderness and pathos, vibrant1y
sweet. Another attribute of Tulsa VII
lani is her radiating personality which
enhances her Interpretation of the title
role of Aida"
Maria Gay, the Spanish artist, was
superb in the passionate love and vim
dictive hatred which consumed her by
} turns and presented the contrast Of
appealing affection with the fury II
} the woman scorned. Her voice, a meg
NJ FoI
! cadence as she was swayed by har
emotions, tender, soft, subtle, then deep
with tragic despair or the fury of dis
appointment, yet always musical, al
ways beautiful.
Paolo Ananian, as the king, was
majestic in his presentation of the role
or the Egyptian, and his deep, rich
basso was a volume of musical sound
which emanated power and authority
In every tone. A fine actor as we'll as
an accepted singer his part was es-
sentially good.
. Jose Mardones, as Ramphis the high
priest was the embodiment Of the mys-
terry and cruelty which enveloped the
fearful rites of the tribunal by which
Radames was condemned. and every
iota Of the cold, merciless dictum
which consigned the victim to his fate
was expressed in the full resonant
notes of the spaniard's rich bass.
The role OF Amonasro, the Ethiopian
king, was sung by Giorgio Puliti, In
place Of Graham Mari, and was adj
mirable in every respect.
ORCHESTRA THE BACKGROUND.
Under the sensitive baton of Con-
ductor Roberto Moranzoni the orches-
ira became the background of the
opera. With full understanding of
the individuality OF each character
they built up an atmosphere sugRes-
tive of each leading personality. Fol-
lowing the moods of the singers, they
were understandingly sympathetic
building up with the rising passions of
the scenes. The ensemble OF the sec
ond act was a thrilling climax of ac-
ton and sound, calling forth repeated
applause and encores.
Among the artists of the grand opera
company who accompanied the troupe
here was Madame Tamaki Miura- the
Japanese prima donna, who sang the
title role in Madame Butterfly In Boise
last year. Sitting In chair, a sweet
little figure in a rose silk Japanese
gown, Madame Miura told of how she
still loved America and the people.
She said many receptions were given
in her honor in San Francisco, Los
Angeles and Washington, d. C. She
said that her husband, DR.. Miura, was
engaged in research work in the chem
ical department of the Columbia uni
versity.
Hlccardo Martin, who also ap-
peared in Madame Butterfly last
year, was most disappointed that he
was unable to see again the friends he