The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-01-25
AMUSElfHN1S.
n, Mur.Aa In "Trova,ore" and aM,,u,, y,

ID Murskn In "Trovatere" and "M,ouor y,
In tho annals Of chivalry are sundry L.
gends OF heroes. once mighty in war who. I'M
dismayed by iaiinR vlgor have rushed into tho
front OF battle. there to perish uselesslv. ner.
haps. but ut least In q manner BETTING thor
ancient glory
II must be somc such bravado OF self.esteem
which leads great artists In the decline o, their
powers, to dare the dangers OF tho most cxnct
ing roles. with the desperate hone OF hlindin0
themselves. If not their auditors. to the sad
chasm between pnst rcnown and present
achievements And some such spur must have
animated Nine. di Murska TO sing in tho " Tro-
yatore' on Thursday evening.
Tho role Of Le0nora il ono OF the broadest
and most dramatic Of Verdis mnny dramatic
creations. How Nine. dtMurska may have sung
IT in past times is Of little moment TO tho audi
tor Of to-day. except TO inspire an indulgent re-
grct Tor the lack OF physical resource which
puts 1t beyond her present measure Of attain
mcnt
In tho infroqucnt parts Of tho music. whero
brilliant and facilo execution, or startling bursts
OF tragic energy are still in place. Mme di
Murska recalls tho artist OF old but in most OF
the opera the vocal force. richness and pnihos
necessary to adequate Interpretation are so
lacking ne to make her singing only n sug-
gcstion of what should be or what has been.
Signor Pantalconi has nne voice anil SUI
pcrb dramatic energy and fire. His ri Luna
is altogether impressive and satisfactory.
when he sings true. which. on Thursday night.
was not always tho case. Mr.. Adams makes
an imposing-lookng Ndnrico and his Di
| quella lra closed with tho clear definite.
| and prolonged ~ de podriHe which convention
requires. hut his execution ~ the music in
general was marred hy faults Of voices and
| method. whi'h have been too often indicated in
the columns to need further insisting on.
| Tho honors Of the evening decidedly fell to
| Miss Cary, whose dsucepd has been gradually
| developed in the last few years into one of tho
| most correct vigorous AMI picturesque drR-
| matte creations known To our operate singe In
the varied and terrible picture Of rage. hutn pa
| thos. subtlety revenge, and despair which maka
| the gypsy as striking md real ms a drawing 81
| Dore or drama 81 Victor HUGO. Miss Cary
| was at all points cmincnty striking and inspr-
| ing. or all tho Alucrads heard for many years
! in New York. Nine. Iahlnche alone Inns
acted It better; no one probably has sung 1t bet
or the general setting Of tho opera and Of tho
orchesirq and chorus i may be said that they
| 1t certainly is pleasant to be- ablc 10 give a
moro favorable account Of Mime. III Murska's
second appcgrance in opera. which .was made
| in which she found in the character " FdHa
music precisely adapted 70 her voice. lying in
| ina for no broad o. dramatic treatment,
\ distinguished Boston lawyer. when warned
that his use OF stimuants would ruin his com
stitution is said 10 have replied with pathetic
humor that his constitution was hopelessiv gone.
ami lac had been living for years under tho by
| laws. Though severe cold npologi2ed for in
| advance. had left Nine iii Murska M badly
on in the matter OF voice as the witty bar
| risicr in matter Of health. sho yet con-
trved 10 struggle against her indisposition.
| and from The n,ttle suffering to pluck the flower
! success. Her FiHd though sung ms1zd r0cs
| all through. still showed the splendidy trained
| artist. Her Interpretation Of the famous 10
Son Tunnia honda" with its intricate and dif-
frut n0ri'ifre. was triun nh Of brilliant eNecu-
| ton. ana reused the audience TO the widest en-
| thusinsm.
Miss Kellogg acts and sings MOnon with un-
| wonted dramatic power and with all her old
| exquisite grace OF vocal delivery. Her fOnosci
| a. sUoi though trina ver-sentmentaliH'd in
| phrasi ne and expression. was dcicously sung
| ana throughout the opera she showed what
| seems now departure in the direction Of lyric
energy AMI picturesdueness.
| MIR. Westhcrg. newtenor. said 10 be- from the
| west has voice OF small calihre. hut sings
| with great truth. dclicacy. and feeling He
| makes most acceptable Msister. and In light
| sentimental roles promises TO be- valuable
addition 10 N. strakosch's company. Mr.
| rs Lotdfo and GtOrnO respectively. Miss
| Cary was. ~ usual. an admirable FEDERICO. Her
tricky humor and hoyish swagger. clever and
| taking AS they undoubtedly are. would be ar
! ustcally better II not disturbed by certain
| personal Jollity and confidential way with au-
| dienre. orchestra. and leader. which Rmuses
he spectator. certainly. but rather against his
| better judgment.
The audience wRs ono Of those largo ones
| which managers delight In, and u wna In the
best " humor. Mr. Strak sch may be- congrat-
ulaied on closing his series Of evening per-
| formanc's with "a rcprrs" ntution bright. warm.
| aud pleasing enough 10 wipe out the recollection
| ID EnnrftaFUfUtHg