Omaha daily bee., 1919-03-27
OPERAS
GIVEN BY SAN
CARLO SINGERS
Double Bill of Matinee at
Boyd Followed by "Rigo-
Ietto" at Night With
Great Cast.
BY HENRIETTA M. REEFS.

formance of the San Carlo opera
company. This was the second per
Torrance of the series given at the
Boyd theater by this popular com
pany and the two operas presented
were given with singing artists in
the cast who ably interpreted their
roles.
The Secret of Suzzane" is one
of the most refreshing of the small
er modern operas. The music is
melodious. full of color and pic.
turesquely dramatic when the stu
alton requires. Throughout the
score there is daintiness and
humor which is never lost, even in
the dramatic moments.
The story is merely a Whit OF
cigarct smoke which the jealous
husband smells and thinks is caused
by secret bver, but who eventu-
ally discovers that it is only SUI
zanne herself who has learned to
smoke, AM everything ends hap.
PLY.
This opei = was sung in English
and the audience was able to fol
low the words without difficulty
which added greatly to the enjoy.
mert.
Miss Elizabeth Amsden is re-
membered from last year as So
prano of mere than ordinary ability
Her voice is sweet and powerful and
she uses II with dramatic effect. As
Suzanne she renewed the excellent
impression she had previously
made. Her singing and acting OF
the part made her succeed in putting
the character across in spite of her
unbecoming costume. In her duets
with the count, aud in her solo work
the beauty of her voice was display
ed to excellent advantage, and her
English was readily understandable.
Josef Roger, baritone, made the
role of Count Gil. the jealous hus-
band, both realistic and humorous.
His voice is of splendid quality. and
he also proved himself capable OF
achieving convincing dramatic eff
fccts.
Natalie Cervi again proved his
value to the company in the part OF
the dumb servant.
"I'Pagliacci."
In direct contrast to the light,
sparkling charm of the Secret of
Suzanne" was "T'Pagliacci," by Leon
cavallo, a play in which not the
tints but the strong colors OF life
are dealt with. This was played in
Italian. The music is consistent,
intense, passionate and dramatic, as
it follows the exciting incidents of
the plot, ....
The story deals with a play with
in a play. The attractive Media,
wife of Canio, repulses Tonic, the
clown, who, when he hears her
plan to elope with another, brings
her husband, Canio, to the scene, but
he is just too late to apprehend the
lover. Insane with jealousy, he
tries to stab her, when the harle-
quin reminds him that it is time for
the play to begin.
The play is a duplicate of the
real situation, and Canio finally an
grily demands the name of Medals
lover. She calls upon Silvio to save
her, and Canio stabs both.
Estelle Wentworth sang the role
of Media with great beauty of voice
and dramatic feeling, and acted the
part excellently. Josef Roger proved
his versatility by presenting Tonic,
a very different role from Count Gil,
in splendid manner. Manuel Sal
azar repeated his success of last
year as Canio. He has tenor voice
of rich quality and he is constant
delight both vocally and histrion-
ically. His Canio was fiery in the
extreme The Prologue" by Tonic.
the Lament" of Canio. Medals ca
vatina. Harlequin's "Serenade" be-
hind the scenes (Which gave Luciano
Rossini all opportunity for some
splendid singing), the beautiful
chorus in Act |, and the orchestral
beauties all thrilled the audience aud
reflected the greatest credit upon
the company.
"Rigoletto.'
"Rigoletto" in the evening brought
even more interest and still other
stars to scintillate before the Omaha
public. And scintillate they GER
tainly did, with such resultant en-
thusiasm from the audience that the
applause several times interrupted
the action and encores, if permitted,
would have been welcomed. "Rigo-
letto" is one of the Verdi MASTER
pieces. which. in spite of its sordid
and improbable plot, by the lavish
wealth of the music, holds an unas-
sailable place in the affections Of the
public.
"Rigoletto" is the story of the viii
famous buffoon, upon whom a curse
is pronounced. This works out in
the KIDNAPPING of his daughter, who
is loved by the faithless duke, and in
her eventual murder in place of the
duke at the instance of Rigoletto.
In this opera are to be found the
well beloved 'Caro Nome, so dear
to the heart of all coloratura So
pranos; the tenor solo, La Donna e
Mocile," known the world over, and
the famous Quartet.
Cast Excellent.
In all of these we'll known favor
ties and in many other equally ford
and beautiful gems of music to be
found in this opera the cast chosen
was credit to the company.
Queena Mario, the new coloratura
soprano. by the fuency of her beau
tiful voice, and by her grace and
charm, amply justified her choice.
She was a constant joy to hear, as
was also Romeo Boscacci, the new
Italian tenor. who took the part of
the duke. Their separate arias, as
well as the duet in the first oct, were
exquisitely sung.
Romeo Boscacci is remembered