New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-10-18
NUSIO.
RIVAL OPERA REPERTORIES.

The eager rivalry between Mr.. Abbey and Mr..
Mapleson the fact that one has reputation as an
opera manager to make, and the other a reputation
to sustain give guarantee to the people Of greater
fidelity to published promises this season than inn
pressarios are wont to exhibit. We have already
intimated as much in discussion Of the seasons
social and artistic prospects, and recur to it now
only because Mr. MaplesOn has since the publication
of that article renewed his assurances of fair deal
ing In the advertising columns OF the
newspapers as well as by word of mouth,
and has seen fit to accept publicly The
TRtRUNE's mild censure OF the plan TO foist
again the old barre-organ repertOry upon public
that has frequently shown its willingness to pay
generously for interesting novelties II is true that
by opening the season at one house with Faust"
and at the other with La SOnnambua" our man
ayers do not boaF witness to very profound change
of heart but we are little ncnedtO grumble at this
arrangement when we reflect that it VIII present
Nine Nilsson and Nine. GerSter in their best parts,
and that the hurry and hustle which have attended
the preparations at both houses would have made
the presentation of novelties in a meritorious
manner all but impossible A few weeks
of grace therefore, all will be willing
TO concede in order that the wheels of the complex
operate machinery may learn to move smoothly.
But when this is accomplished, let what it
ormore operas from which selections will be made
by Mr. Mapleson is the wel-thumbed old leaf Of his
stereotyped prospectus, so we need waste no time
over it, The selections will doubtless be the old
ones. Bat he makes some explicit promises, and
these we are inclined to believe he will keep.
GOunod's comparatively unfamiliar operas Romeo
@ Giulictta" aud "Mirella" are listed, with Mme
Patti as the sweet maid of Verona In the
first and Nine. Gerster as the title
character in the second. Then, too Ros-
sini's LA GAIA LadraD is TO be revived IN
order to permit Nine. Patti to renew her early
triumphs as MiRettd Nine. Pappenheims presence
in the Academy troupe supplies the tragic element
and infuses some German blood into the repcrtOryj
accordingly we have Norma" one of the mOnu-
mcus of the old style of Italian serious opera and
"Oberon" fragrant blossom Of German romantic
cism which was checked in its development by the
untinely death of its creator The fact that tins
opera will be given by the once manag II of Tier
Majesty's will probably insure its production ac.
cording to the traditions of the old London
house with the recitativcs which Sir Julius
Benedict. u pupil of Won Weber substituted
for PlanchG's spoken dialogue. In any event
"Oberon will be one of the bright spots in the
seasons record Two light operas are added for no
better reason than that they afford the two stars Of
high magnitude opportunities TO shine. They ne
"CriSpino g la COmare" and l. Elisir Il Amorr'
The explicitness in Mr.. Abbey's book Of good IN
tcntiOns and printed promises extends to a list OF
twcuty-iour operas. For the sake OF the record We
set them ont here in full: