Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-04-09
Enthusiastic Audience Hears Well
Balanced Performance by the
Metropolitan Company
RIGOLETTO
Opera by Giuseppi Verdi
THE CAST

Another great masterpiece of melodic com e.
position, the ever popular "Rigoletto. at
tracted vast throng of people 10 the Metro
politan Opera House last evening to hear
r well balanced but not particularly bril-
liant presentation of the opera. The cordial
reception of the work and its performance
goes to show that Verdi and his lovely mcIo =
dies are fixture on the operate stage for
many years to come.
Perhaps the greatest interest in tho opera
to the opcragocr lay in the "RigolcttO' of
De Luca. This fine singer has repeatedly
shown his great ability 10 act in comic parts.
in which he has no superior and only one
real competitor on the American operate
stage. Much interest was shown in his per
formancc of Don Carlos in la Fora del
Destino.'' but owing to the cxigcnces of
time, his tragic scenes in this opera were
omitted. Last evening. therefore. was really
the first time this year that n Philadelphia
audience had the opportunity to sec him in a
role of real tragedy.
1t is no reflection on Mr.. de Lucas his
tronic art to say that he is better in comedy
than in the more serious characters, al
though he acted his Riaolctto with con
viction and a thorough knowledge of the
part but he could not always RESTRAIN that
twinkle of the eye that proved go fascinating
and convincing in the The Barber and
''Gianni Scicchi." Nocally. his rendition Of
the part, exacting as it is. left nothing to be
desired.
Maria Barrientos was excellent as Gilda.
Her voice is of light texture. and did not
always prove equal to the orchestration. but
her ability to sing in perfect tune and her
high register, as well as the manner in which
she carried out the intense emotional re-
duircmerNts of the part. both vocaly and in
her acting. aided her in making n decided
success. She has not wholly conquered her
habit of facial distortion. and obviously
prepares for the high notes but the fact
that she always 'cts them is perhaps only a
vindcation of the adage that 'the end JUS
tiies the means"
The third of the principal characters. that
OF the Duke. was taken by Mr.. Lazaro. He
sang well as whole. although there was
here and there a tendency to force the
extreme notes resulting more than once in
singing them little sharp. He was not
especially convincing in his acting. although
ability may be responsible for this. Sophie
Braslau gave fine presentation of Mad
dalena, charming in appearance. resonant in
her hne voice and gypsy like in action. OF
the minor parts De Segurola as Sparafucile
and Rossi as Monterone were the best, the
latter being especially impressive as the
outraged parent. his acting in the delivery
OF the "Alalediction" and his vocal work
throughout being the best that a local audi
cnce has seen for a long time.
Inc opera is full of popular numbers and
they were all well given. The dramatic in
tensity of the curse of Monterope was ono
OF the high spots of the opera. as was tho
scene between Gilda and the Duke in tbe
second act Madame Barrentos gave prob.
ably her best rendition of the evening in
the Caro- Nome" which calls not only for
delicacy of vocalization. but also for bril-.
liant coloratura, dcman ndng great range md