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Show I "MADAM BUTTERFLY," Salt Lake City is soon to enjoy again tho elusive charm of tho Japanese fairyland that held in thrall even the restless soul of Lafcadio Heme; tho strange beauty of sotting suns that delights the least responsive Visitor to the land of laughing laugh-ing children and flowers; the waive of coquot-tishnoss coquot-tishnoss of tho dainty Japanose maiden are all in "Madam Butterfly," the now opera by Puccini, that is to be with us again. But there is tragedy, too. Real tragedy of the new world type, and through the music that breathes the happiness of tho Japanose girl and her American lover among tho palms and temples of the Orient, there wells continually a strain prophetic of the end. The call of tho man's blood for his own race, baee betrayal of his vows, desertion and the girl's refuge in the custom of her people, suicide. This is what the music tolls, and so wierdly and pathetically that it loaves an indelible impression. In the r r uisic contors of Europe it has been not onlv ud by eminent critics, but also enthusiastic , .scoivod by the people the final test of a great opera. It is the feature of the grand opera season this year in six different Hff countries. Unlike tho Wierd and gruesome "Sa- B lome" this operatic gem, "Madam Butterfly," is BW most human in its story, and music, and most H . satisfying in its presentation. The Queen Alex- 8B andrla, Consort of Edward, Rex, of England.hor- jjiB : salf, was so charmed that she occupied a box at JM every performance when tho opera first came "mm i t0 Lontlon' and American society queens occu- pied the boxes at every performance during its WmM ; memorable run in Now York. 1HB That Henry W. Savage is going to present Wto ' again "Madam Butterfly" in this city at the Salt BflB Lake theatre, for a matinee and night's perform- II ances on February 15, an anouncement that will I give thrills to every music lover. Tho name of ! Savage here, as elsewhere, is sufficient regarding tho merit of the singers and orchestra, "Madam Butterfly" is In all respects a typl-!. typl-!. cal work of young Italy. In its musical scheme it follows closely the ipost-Wagner custom of continuous descriptive harmony. From the rise of the first curtain to the tragic finale the opera is one of groat beauty and passion, thoroughly distinctive and individual. Here is the prose story for those who missed, the oquisito tonial poem last year. At Nagasaki an American naval officer, while his ship lies in the harbor, takes a little geisha girl and mar-I mar-I rles her, Japanese fashion. Then he sails away and leaves her to struggle on almost to the point cf absolute destitution with a faithful maid and a baby. Sharpless is the officer's friend, and the United States consul at Nagasaki. Ho does his i best to got Butterfly to realize that she is desert- ' The first pathetic touch comes early in the opera, when Butterfly tolls her American lover that she has relinquished everything for him, even her religion. The depth of pathos is I reached when the poor, little Japanese wife roal- izos that her lover has taken an American wife I and -when the lady arrives and asks for the child. I The end is finely dramatic. It is death by her J own hand, and she breathes her las' as the young S officer comes in to voice his remorse. I The company to sing it here is the most I pretentious Mr. Savage has ever brought to gether. It includes three complete sets of principals, princi-pals, with six noted prima donnas, many fine male singers, a large chorus and a grand opera orchestra of fifty musicians under three European Euro-pean conductors. HiX |
