Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-02-19
"Madan,a Butterfly
Opera by Ciacomo Puccini
CAST

Geraldine Farrar returned to her own full
measure of artistry last evening in the pro-
duction of "Madama Butterfly" at the Metro
politan Opera House The pathetic work OF
Pucclni, a "one-part" opera If ever there was
one. had a convincing If somewhat uneven
rendition, in which Miss Farrar was easily
the star. Always one Of her best parts. she
sang last night in excellent voice, while her
acting was all that could be desired
Miss Farrar was at her best vocally in the
strongly dramatic situations The part Is
intensely difficult to sing and makes very
severe demands upon the dramatic ability
OF the principal female character as we'll
probably the finest number musically Is the
duet at the close of the first act, Dolce notte,
quante stelle," which was splendidly given,
as was the love duet which precedes 1t. Miss
Farrar also appeared to the best advantage
In the lament in the second act and in her
closing aria in the third, the last being
especially full of pathos
Too much can hardly be said of her acting
OF the part. 1t calls for the display Of al
most every human emotion except that of
Jealousy, and In all Miss Farrar fulfilled the
exacting demands of the character to the
utmost. The theme of the opera is not a
pleasant one. and the close Is decidedly in
the nature Of an antl-climax, but she carried
off well the many dramatic requirements Of
the part.
The new Spanish tenor of the Metro
poitan Opera Company, Hipolito Lazaro,
took the part of Pinkerton. Mr. Lazaro
has light tenor voice of pleasing quail
ity, but of no great range and of little
power. He appeared at his best in the ell
semble numbers rather than in the solo
parts. 1t must be borne in mind however,
that the part Of Pinkerton is one with which
the audience is always out of sympathy and
1t Is virtually the instance In opera
where the hero is also the villain"
The third principal part that of the Consul
Sharpless was well taken by Luigi Monies
anto. Dressed in civilian clothes. Mr..
Montesanto revealed a splendid stage pres
ence and sang his part well although it IS
little more than rectative. For so important
a character In the action and the general
scheme of the opera, the part is singuarly
thsnkless vocaly and calls for restrained
and conservative action all of which Mr..
Montesanto gave. The part of the pessimis-
tic servant maid Suzuki was also very well
done by Rita Fornia. her scene in the sec
ond act with Miss Farrar being one of the
best OF the performance.
The minor parts of the Goro, taken "
Angelo Bada and Kate Pinkerton. taken by
Minnie Eeener, were also well done, while
CAL Schleoel made an excellent Uncle
Priest, imposing in his wrath when Cio-Cio-
San discards the faith Of her fathers and
equally effective in his humility when cowed
by the American lieutenant.
Throughout the entire opera the orches-
ira was too loud. in many instances totally
drowning out the voices even in the en-
semble numbers 1t is true that the work Is
very heavily scored. especially for the brass
and the strings and that much of it is
marked forte by the composer. To con-
ductor like Mr. Moranzoni, keenly sensitive
to dramatic musical values and knowing the
very important part which the orchestra
plays in the opera-a part more importan
than in any of the other Puccini operas ano
as important as in any of the Wagner operas
the inclination to let the orchestra 'oyer
| play must be almost irresistible, but tn,
| effect on the audience was that in places the
| vocal parts could not be heard
The performance generally was hiebl,
satisfactory but uneven. although the sombe,
| theme and traeic ending may have hat
| something to do with this At times 4
| reached great heights Of artistry both voca
and dramatic. but this level was not main
tained throughout the whole work