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About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 29, 1909)
THE SUNDAY OREGOXIAX. PORTLAND, AUGUST 29, 1909. GRAND OPERA WEEK PROMISES MUSICAL TREAT Great Stars in International Company to Sing World's Masterpieces, .J m 11 n s, ,rV :K-y 1 i ' 4Kt? K J S ; h 1 ! X v 1- w w i i v xyA ' SAC SO r . M i V 7 t ..; 7 a.v.'-vo;.4 : v., " - .1;, B, .rn-Tl. .35 If v. r. vst, t aim 1 V-ff. TUB opening of the grand opera sea son will come early, as the Inter national Grand Opera Company will commence the regular season at the Bun galow Theater, funday. September E. when It will present Verdi's magnificent opera, "Aida," in four acts, with a com-v plete scenic and costumed production, that Italian companies do not generally carry. It is Manager Edwards' intention to give the public not only the best of artist, but to place the operas before them )n a satisfactory manner aa to scen ery and costumes, that will compare favorably with any first-class dramatic company. And to do this he carriee a complete production for 12 operas, re quiring the service of two 60-foot baggage cars. On Sunday "Aida" will be the opera. This is one that demands the full etrength of the company, and will show the singing ability of the artist. . The title role will be sung by Mme. Llna Ber tossi, and will mark the reappearance of this fine young artist here, as she was a member of the Milan Grand Opera on its last visit to Portland. The Tenor part of Radames-will allow Samoloff to make his flnst appearance here. This artist was enraged from the Royal Opera Company, of Rome, where he was under a flve-xear contract. " He Is said to have sang Man ricl In "Trovatore" 13 times In one month so successful was he in the part. In Miss Georgiana Strauss the eirnipany h.is a rneio-Boprano of great worth. The Pin Francisco press raved about her vom-p as well as her acting ability. She will be the. Princess Amneris, and a very capable one. The Kthiopian King is one of Arcangeli's best creations. n Monday night the opera "'Lucia" will introduce an artist that has some reputation as a great concert singer in Portland, Mme. Jennie Norclli, who will essay the titl role of Lucia. She lias been most successful in this role in the large Eastern cities. M. Bart will be the tenor Edgardo. The others In the cast will be Zara, Otcri, Giuliano, Williams and Frascona. Repertoire for This 'eek. ."Fedora." the four-act opera by Gior dino.i will have the acting duo of artists, Tlierry and Colomblni. Not only does this opera call for singers of vocal altility, it demands that they shall be equally, as good as actors. The end of the second act is marked with the strongest acting ever attempted on any dramatic stage by Therry and Colomblni. Countess Olga will be personated by Mile. Donner and the father Germont in the hands of Zara. Arcangeli, Oteri, 3iuliano, Frascona and Williams will make tip a strong cast. At the Wednesday matinee the favorite opera "II Trovatore" will be produced with a very strong cast, composed of. Bertosst. Samoloff. Strauss. Zara. Gra vina, Oteri and others. At right Mme. Xorelli will make her second appearance in "Rigoletto" with Arcangeli in the title role. This is said to be one of his best. Among the artists who will be In the cast are Bari, Oteri, Gravina, Frascona, Will lams and Zara. "Cavallerla Rusticana" and "II Pag liacci" will be the double bill for Thurs day evening. This will present a doiblo set of tenors and sopranos. On account of the extensive repertoire of 15 operas this company carries - a triple set of tenors and sopranos. Bertossl and Co lombini will be seen in "Rusticana"; Samoloff and Donner in "Fagliacci." Friday the popular opera of "Carmen" will be presented, with Therry In her great representation of the fascinating cigar girl Carmen. This is one of the parts that Therry has a reputation In. She was considered in Paris as being the "Carmen of the French" at the Opera Comique. Colomblni will be the love crazed soldier Don Jose. The opera "La Traviata," with Mme. Norelli as Violleta, will be the Saturday matinee bill, with a full cast of artists in support. At night the farewell per formance will constitute a composite bill with all the artists appearing, the one act opera "Rimticana" ; second act of "L'Amico Fritz" and "Pagllacei." witli the entire company. The box office for the sale of seats will open tomorrow. Monday, for purchasers wishing seats for more than three operas. The individual sale will open next Wednesday, Septem ber 1. Sketches of the Players. Following are sketches of some of the principals: Mme. Helene Therry is late of the Opera Comique Paris. She will appear on Tuesday evening In "Fedora." She was born in La Cruien, France. She studied in Lyons and Paris, where she was awarded the grand prize for song, under the direction of Duvverroy and Iuigini. Her debut was made at Liege, Belgium. She afterwards appeared in Marseilles, Bordeaux," and remained two years in Nice. Her performance as Car men gained distinction for her at that time. Fedora, it is said, she had th honor of creating the part in France. Massenet praised Mme. Therry's Char lotte in "Werther" as well as her per formance of Anita in "Navarralse." At the engagement of this company in .New York, in the finale of the second act of "Fedora." Mme. Therry and Colombini had to respond to nine curtain calls. Madame Norelli. one of the principal artists of the company, is of Swedish birth. She made her London debut in Marguerite at Covent Garden. Previous- 1 7L W V J Ma 4 1 . v n 1 V; ly she had boen filling engagements in concerts in Paris and Swedish cities. ' After touring the continent in concerts. ' she madn her American debut at the Metropolitan i.peia-house and sang with Caruso, and all the great artists. Nor elli resided in Portland for some time and is looking forward with delight that she will have this opportunity to renew ac quaintances with her many friends here. Mme. Norelli has been rernsnlzed by all the musical critics, being pronounced as a worthy successor ot Melha and Sem brich. Her Portland debut will bo 111 the title role of "Lucia," on Monday even ing. M. L'ro Colombini in a pure son of Italy. He studied with all the masters of opera, as he said, to get a thorough knowledge of the different styles of sing ing. He made his debut in "Faust" In Genoa. Italy. Afterward he played a year In the Italian cities. He appeared four times in Russia, where he sang in the Imperial Theaters in St. Petershuig and Moscow. Six months ago he came to America under an engagement with Ham merstcin. but a difference, over the roles he was to play decided him to resigniud he was with the International all sea son. Colombini is the actor artist, as Ills acting Is a very strong point In his fa vor. The parts of Ivan Ipanoff. San Jose, Turiddu. Fritz, he revels in. Colom bini has such good manners and such excellent taste in everything lie docs that he is an adornment to any presntation. Young-, but of Wide Kxpcricnce. Miss Gorgianna Strauss, the mezzo-soprano of the company, is a very young American girl, who claims the State of Pennsylvania as her birthplace. Her parents are of Gernjan and Spanish de sent. She has never studied out of her native land. She is a pronounced bru nette with a glorious rich contralto voice. She will open here in "Aida." singing the part of the Princess Amneris. The part of the old Gypsy Azucena In "11 Trovatore," she says, she loves best, be cause it was the one that gave her the. position she occupies in her profession.. One of New York's great conductors asked her if she could slug it for a char itable entertainment. She said "I can try," and on that she studied the part in eight days, rehearsed it and was so successful that it got her an engagement. Miss Strauss has been two seasons with (Concluded on Tage 80
