New-York tribune., 1878-10-24
they crtcise and that when they make blunders they
ought to acknowledge them unequivOealy.
MUSIC.
THE OPERA-CARMEN.

IHE OPEhA-CAhMEN.
The popularity of Carmen" in New-YOrk
is likely be all that the impresario expected Its
work OF musical art Is not easy to determine
exactly first hearing, for 1t is strange medley OF
things and old. rare beauties and haokneyeu
theatTc effects. the finest sentiment and the jingle OF
empty tunes but about its success we presume thee
can be question, Whatever else 1t may be 1t oer-
tainly is not dull. Georges Bizet was musician
with abundant creative power He was
poet too OF delicate fancy and keen perception, ana
true feeling; and IL he often allowed himself the
use Of cheap devices it not because he
was incapable OF supplying something better Dut
apparently in the headlong hurry OF fiery
youth. In the early part OF his career he
was an earnest disciple OF the Wagner school In his
and successful work he has dropped nearly
everything OF the German master except few pecuari-
ties in the treatment OF the orchestra and an occasonh
brief effort TO find poetic basis for bis
melodies aud he has picked up instead the light style OF
the Opera Comique, with some rolcklng measures
from the BOues Parsennes TO say that he hesltates
between Lohengrin and La Belle Helene is hardly an
exaggerated statement OF his odd position
With this uncertainty about his place In the history OF
music the general public viii not greatly concern
themselves. They Will be we'll enough pleased
TO know that ont Of romance of eipsies,
and smngglers. soldiers and cigu girls, "A hearl-
loss daredevil in pettcuats. al ardent dragroon
and dasnng buli-hghter.-a romance iu o. street ui
roars and Spanish dances, love- Jealousy, MURDER merri
one of the most picture que, busiiing, brilliant
aud thoroughly entertaining operas produced IA
recent years. Ii is filed wth t spirit OF the story Tue
place, and the time. Everybody Will call the strange
Thythms and peculiar accompaniments Thoroughly
Spanish "-even those who have no idra what Spanish
music is The daring Introduction tt cannot he called
oyeTturel which al first offuds us with It's common
earoatchng measures loosely patched together is seen
after while 10 b. "a III preHdc TO the scenes OF uprohr
and canse IL the streets Of Seville which are to
follow IL. There nice determinations in the
m,Isic the principal characters The Wild and daring
songs OF Carmen. in perfect keeping with her passion
ate and uu.oyey self. have subtle beauty and
even tenderness entirely distinct from the purely
emotional music allotted 10 MIohdela, which Is
pathetic III the very highest degrre The reckless
ntataaon OF Don Jose is well conrssted with the yigor
OF the Torreador, EseIHpioi and In the snbor-
dinate parts trace the same careful dfa-
matte distinctions The concerted music Is abund
ant, ad-nirably constructed, ingenious, often novel;
rich in which will amply study. always
bright, and always effective. II We attempted to
catalogue the successful numbers, We should
have 70 PRINT almost the whole index OF
the opera. We must spare a word Of mention
however for the airs Of Carmen IN the first act both
aIlegretto peculiar rhythm, the first with chorns
accompanying. the second fitted to the steps OF the
Seoda the fascinating and refrain, for Carmen
and others. while the dauCe Is going on at
the beginning OF the second act Garments se1oussong
with the cards. IN the third act; two delicious meods
for Bichaela the rst OF which leads into duet with
Don Jose the TOrreadOr's song, and impassioned
aria for the tenor
The central figure Of the performance was, OF course
the Carpsn OF Miss Minnie Hnuk. TINS oil that
report painted It. In voice ana action and appear
ance the young prima donna delightful and nr'
greatly mistaken II this remarkable persUnatOn Of hers
become the talk OF the town She sang last night
under some Disadvantages. for she had been seriously
ala ecI he'd on IN
Faust" and she been III TO attend the rehearsas
OF Carmen. ," yet do not how her performance
could have been improved. 1t accepted with de-
light by the crowded house, and after the
third act she and Campanni enjoyed the
unusual compliment OF four recalls. Sig. Campanni
too made his mark last night by good acting no lcss
than good singing; Mime. since sympathetic anu
In every respect pleasing MchGeid. hndiug much
more cOngcuia part than ahc assumed last week 3
Sig Del Puente Was noble ESedH,lLo; ana the
minor parts were all well 1ed For the h-st time this
season we had specimen Of Mr. hapleson's
taste and lbcraty In the stage setting. There
were new and brilliant dresses, there were
several handsome new scenes. and the group
ing OF the ChOTuscs and Ru1liaries were extremely
well managed. In these particulars as wo 40 In tho
general carefuness OF the atoms, the new man
uger 70 be keeping bis promises