New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-01-02
THE OPERA SEASON.


THE OPERA SEASON.
The season of Italian Opera at the Academy OF
Il Music which was recently brought to close. must
b. accounted, from one point of view at least as
q thoroughly successful and Mr. Maplesou has every
reason to feel satisfied with it. so far as can be
Judged from the outside The subscription was un-
8 precedentediy large, nearly every desirable box In
the house being taken almost soon as the sale be-
gan and at nearly every performance the house has
& been full, often to OVERLOOKING. The public has
been throughout very kindly disposed, receiving all
the old favorites with the utmost friendlness, and
greeting the new corners with warm and ready
welcome. Viewed from behind the footlights, then,
there is no fault to be found with the results of the
season, which has been prosperous for the manager
md successful for the artists.
Looked at from the point of view of the public.
however the causes for satisfaction have not been
numerous. The company was far better equipped
than last winter for it possessed not only all the art
ists who then contributed in any material degree TO
the of the season. but in addition it contained
q popular, and. in her own line. admirable prma
donna, Madame Gerster. two cOntraltOs. Miss Cary
= and Mile. de Belocca; capital change tenor, Ra-
yelli; and basso of fair ability, Novara These,
joined to the artists who carried the last season
through, Mile. Valleria Campanini, Galass and
Del Puente. certainly made strong
s had to be grateful for the presence of that
prominently efficient conductor, Signor Arditi,
who is to be thanked for the general smoohness
of the ensembles, the trustwOrthiness of the
chorus and the exceptional excellence of the
orchestra. With so large and strong
company it was hoped that Mr.. Mapleson would
accomplish something of Importance during the
season. aud that he would not content himself with
the production Of the stale and hackneyed operas
which have been sung and sung again dd ndusedna
but would give us, if not something new, at least
something which had not been worn TO death on
this stage. He did present one novelty in the Z" Me-
fstofele of Arrigo Boto, extremely interesting
work which met with only moderate success. For
the rest the repertory comprised the most thread
bare works of Bellini Donizetti and Verdi, together
with Gounod's Faust" and Bizet's Carmen"
and with the single exception of Metstofele There
was q conspicuous absence of anything resembling
freshness in the operas produced number of works
2 whose production was promised by the prospectus
were not forthcoming, but most of them demanded
dramatic prima DONNA and Mr.. Mapleson had
: nothing of the sort in his company. The range of
parts i'm which Madame Gerster excels is, from the
nature of her style. limited in extent, and Me VAL
lera, though q very charming and promising singer
and an invaluable member of the company, il not
strong enough to carry heavy roles. So that when
the half dozen operas which form Madame Gersters
repertory the three which form Mile Vallerias and
the one each in which Miss Cary and Mile. de Belocca
assume the principal parts, were exhausted, there
was an eDd of it, Something dozen operas have
been given and as nearly half IF thes, not being
more than moderately successful. were performed
but once or twice each, the greater part of the
season has been occupied by the constant repetition
of the works. and these with the exception of
Mefstofele," were among the most backneyed to
H.. nG %olsn
opera, "La SonnaInbula" Lucia" Linda"
Faust" and ola Favorita." 1t NAV
be that MIR. Mapleson did all that he could
with the means az bis command, but such results
from such company seem absurdly inadequate.
and certainly do not give rise TO any ivelysense of
gratitude.
The performances have been as a rule of even
degree Of excellence Hardly any of them have
been exceptionally fine, but on the other hand,
there have been very few even comparative failures
The leading artists have all worked faithfully and
couscientiously and there has not been much fault
I to be found with any of them. Madame Gersters
singing has been marked by all the delightful quail
ties which made her so popular when she fret came
to New-York two years ago, and her acting has all
the modest grace and girlish simplicity winch then
gave it so great charm. She mas not always been
in good voice but for the matter of that neither has
any body else except Galassi, perhaps. Her vocal
ization is az brilliant, her style pure and unaf
fected and her taste as delightful ever. and she
has lost Zone Of her hold the affection of the pub
lie. Her best parts have been Lindo. Lucia and
appeared with 1unvarying success. Mile Val
lsria las improved surprisingly witbin
The last year both in her singing
,ss nsF r. sas aas her
in that opera well as OF Ada. and Of 4cGes
IN Carmen" have been smooth, hp,sned and
. ~ ox,An
traltoa Miss Cary has been excellent as general
thing though her voice once In while shows Signs
sud s or suEn Aida Nile de-
Beloccs has been useful, but nothing more. Cam
Runui has apparently not been in good voice at any
Tina Al least, this 10 the only way ia which GER
! Nm sxpiosiveness aud exaggeraton of style into
Nhich hc appears to have fallen can 20 accounted
- But he has worked faithfully and oraveiy, ant
bssn Ct tiInes as brilliant as ever Rayelli. the
oCF tenor, hss proved o valuable acquisition. His
= GOD s fsus.ss anS sings With
s.; sssing. not remarkably forcibie, Is appropriate
ssstois isss ~ .Iinds be has sung with as@ooth:
Rss end purity Of style 70 which the public has OF
su,ss han moi
!. Re3s!.nor his magnificent dramatic talent but he
2 h:s svB way admirable. Del Puente has sung
q seser ~ Cernen.v but has done nothing new.
s Sew b3ss. Signor Noyara, made bis debet as
~ opaei3 N ~feuss" ana PROMISED Gxcefent
0sngt promlse which his sitter performances
Z 2fpoly xulded.. He did very .creditably in the
- 10]e u Boss0s " MeGstofele,o but that was ell,
& - has yihrato in his voice which makes it
BY <apoesibls for him to sing Sostenut0, and
& $50 = ia the Mghcst decree exasperating. The
6lguor C0rsini, is not funny.
ia p1ace of honor fairly belongs to Gaiassi,
9eoocf TIE general excelepee 0f bis work during
whole ss&s0ns or tie special merit of IN iBdivid
eeF1oEmance. vocally or dramatically be con-
eFod: There hes been no such flushed and deii-
re eeflnG fhis reason, as be shows, 90 AHteai0 ip