The Washington herald., 1918-03-28
VERDI'S OPERA
MAKES BIG HIT
AT BELASCO
|Rigoletto Is Admirably Sung
by the San Carlo
Company.

Rigoletto. an opera IN four acts.
by Verdi. was the offering OF the
San Carlo Opera Company last night
at the Beiasco Theater. This opera.
which tells the story of the gay and
unprincipled Duke OF Mantua and
his unfortunate victims, was first
produced in Venice on March II,
1851; In London at covent Garden
on May II. 1853; at the Italiens.
Paris, on January 10, 1857. The first
New York production took place on
November 2. 1851.
The duke Ia assisted in his crimes
by bis Jester. Rigoletto. a hunchback,
who has the title role, that OF a
barytene. and whose chief victim is
his own daughter. Gilda, the next Inn
portant role, that Of soprano.
The standards which have been es-
tablished by the great artists who
have sung these roles render their
undertaking q matter Of exceeding
difflculty, especially since the advent
OF Gaili-curci as Gilda. but the art
lists who sang them, Angelo Antola
and Edvige Vacarri, respectively. ac-
quilted themselves as Metropolitan
artists.
The title role was sung In impas-
stoned feeling and In splendid voice.
while the character Of Gilda was rep
resented with due simplicity. yet with
true passion when occasion called for
Il. as in the tuneful Caro- Nome"
when the girl in soliloquy dwells with
rapture on the name OF her lover.
The role Of the titled prohigatt
- -.
tine. who ls. besides. q splendid actor
He interpreted the role as q care
less devotee OF pleasure rather than
that Of a deliberate villain. as Is gen.
orally the custom among artists who
sing this role; The other roles were
also well rendered. that OF Sparafucile
the hired assassin. BY Pietro Dibiasi
Maddalena, his sister. by Stella
Demette; Count Ceprano. by A. Can
ova. and Count Montenerone by Ma.
tale CervL The tavorite numbers
OF the opera. as usual. were heartily
encored. The quartet was exceptional
ly well balanced.
The notable effort at adequate scenic
effects were admirably maintained
The presentations for tonight srt
Cavalleria Rusticans and / Pagliacci
in a dual bill
Nine. Ester Ferrabini in the title role
OF Georges Bizet's immortal Car
men, scored a notable success yester.
day afternoon with the San Carrie
Grand Opera Company at the Belascc
Theater. Nine. Ferrabini impaired q
charm 10 the role that easily explain.
ed her success as Carmen at the Opers
Comique in Paris. with the MfianC
Opera and more recently with th'
Montreal Opera Company.
Her acting OF the part semed to re-
call Geraldine Farrar's Carmen, anC
| paradoxical though It may seem Fer
rabini lent rare refinement and finesst
to the role while creating a supert
illusion OF the character of the fiery
| tickle cigarette girl. Nine. Ferrabin
was in perfect voice and her auditor,
| regretted that she is not to be hearC
again here this season.
Manuel SalaLar, the Spanish tenor
as Don Jose. shared honors with Nine
/ Ferrabini. combining a mellow, flexible
voice with emotional acting that easily
reached the colorful climaxes OF th'
opera. Senor SalaZar was especially
! effective in the dnal scene in which
the tragedy is enacted.
The audience did not respond to tho
! efforts Of the cast in the first act, bu
in the second Joseph Roger. the