Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-02-05
AIDA" SUNG
LAST NIGHT
San Carlo Grand Opera
Company Gives Wonder
full Performance. q,
tBy George A. Bcnson.)

The San Carlo Opera company.
which. by going directly to music
lovers. is performing a greater serv-
ice than the famous Metropolitan
caro Opera company, opened its brief
Grand Forks season last night with a
wonderful performance of Verdi's
Aida" This afternoon the company
will sing Tales of Hoffman" and
tonight I'll Trovatore," another Verdi
opera, wilr be given.
1t is hard to realize that grand
opera, performed in a manner hat
would credit to the historic old boards
Of New York's Metropolitan, is being
carried into the provinces far from
the madding crowds" Of Fifth EN-
and Broadway; yet this is what the
San Carlo folk are doing, and the
praise, inadequate as it is, that they
find along their difficult path, must
its that nightly fall about Caruso,
Farrar and the rest of their ilk. They
are performing a wonderful service in
the world of music. and each night
must come the happy thought of a
mission we'll performed. 5@.
Twas a happy thought, this first
Mr.. w. w. Norton. who is doing so
much for music locally. must have
had a hand in this. He knows, as
does Mr.. Fortune Gallo, that a grapha-
phone performance is a poor substi-
tute at best.
Aida" which followed "Il Trova-
tore" and "Rigoletto,'' was written at
a time when Verdi. yielding perhaps
ersing a new field of expression.
Through it all, however, he chung ten
aciously to Italian characteristics, and
the result Is a wonderful treatment of
orchestra. Verdi always worked with
the human voice as the main spring,
and in Aida" he %religiously' observed
this plan. but he undertook a broader
orchestral field, revealing unlimited
resources in expression. As,
But pack to h stars! Manuel Sal
azar, who sang Radames. .displayed;a
voice of magnificent proportions He
shared honors in last years produc-
tons, but this eason Salazar reveals
a greater musicianship-a musician
ship that is ripening and broadening.
His %phrasing is delicate. and his tone
production smooth and Of delightful,
quality. His Interpretation Of "Ceies.
tie Aida was inspiring.
The Aida of Elizabeth Amsden was
remarkable. Vocally and histrionic-
ally. she was superb. Hers is a voice
of strength and vibrant quality, ana
her Interpretation is well studieu,
dramatic and convincing. 1t is a role
that taxes the physical OF
an artist. but Miss Amsden sang it
with an easy grace and fine restraint.
Her singing at all times was inspir-
ing. II.
Stella Demette. who sang Amneris,
lis another star of @purest water. There
LIS a distinction about her work that
is pleasing. Her voice, a warmly, tint
ed mezz0, is we'll adapted { o the role
OF the Egyptian princess and her
ttones,S like those of Salazar. are rtcn
and smooth. She. too, is a wonderful
actress, as she > %splendidiy revealed
lin the last act.
Joseph Roger added greatly to the
Interpretation. The singing OF ANON
asro waa.a4delightful bit OF work. He
sang with unusual power and beauty.
Pleasures 1,is, su1esn Of pI The evening" Dinas pie Piet 9esl s.
Blast as Ramfis; the high priest, ard
Natalie Cervi aststhes King Of Egypt,
added greatly "a the sproduction. They
revealed excellent voices and splendid
[interpretative power.