New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-11-06
METROPOLITAN OPERA HOUSE.

Since the decadence of the spirit OF ciaosi0
renaissance which not only gave prth u i''.",i'
opera, but also for more than a.,
furnished it with the majority OF It's
,,,,,octs thcrc has been lamcntable narrowhess
On the circle of operate emotions Gluck brought inc
heroic element TO a elimination and 1t has since HIS oa
oppcarcd only isolated instances except III tue 'oi
Tic form which Wagner has given II IN his last WORKS nus
sip Beini Donizctti and Verdi have done niue elSc IMAM
90 work on the petty world of feelings which they Iouh"
,ouId furnish skeleton for their melodies without inter
,,g with the fumes Therefore we have had III inc gen
oral RIM of their operas a little simplicity niue roe,9
moss n good deal OF conventional ioN0H'"i7
fall Of which begins at first sight, some ssllclon anu '
seouent upbTaiding, unconsclonaoie uel Oh lnS''
10 tonsvtIryy mind seems condition precedent 10 'he
. Ii,lioni n,usc, and various forms of death.
The new element which Is The mono" Hlo
~ "La Trayinta," was or course
French product. Only the modern French taste couu
have called for and hence caused, La Dame ar Ca""S'
and s the French stage has for fifty years ana more sup
ned the books for the Italian opera II was o strange
that the unhealthy creature should nave peen
nronnty trclsed out for the lyric drama she ftH
hest Of hands for only Verdi OF the then living
onosers had the strong dramatic accents which the
translated Tiotta demanded. lie failed only IN the
rbt and elegant portions; for the rcfnemenS OF wee
yerd's style is too drastic
In seeing a new Ti0'ct1 we are more apt
o. onn,v the measure to her histrionic skill
ID
Ordinarily the music is we'll done that ends The inquiry
What GOOD TO ask more The better the acting the more
ela1ipg the absurdy Of cOnSOrting such emotions WIN
such music. But with CdDuNe in ones memory II
Is hard 10 stop short OF glance AT lho
other half of TioleaS performance. WIN tue rcStllc'-
ing influence of the music TO shut ont most OF inc cee
Of the mart to paate its moral grOsnesS ana ldta] '
which in the play attacks the chords of tender sympathy
task of the lyrical representative Of the cOnsumptHe
eoeotic is very much lesScned She has much bypiay
with little OCCASION few quick changes from thodgh'
fitness TO hysterical mcTIimcnt, quartei-hoHf o.
agony while making the sacrifice and death scene
nj the most contradictory cha,acter-thc consuInpuy'
dies while using her lungs like blacksmiih5 bellows
sim the singers who succeed in doing all that Is possible
with the music and the action few. Madame Sem
bricb however Is OF them. Last night she not on!
sang with biilancy that has only been equaed at IN
new house 10y hcrsen the character of LUcd but she nice
every moment Of the time She spent on the stage VIII
Intelligent many-sided sympathetic and discriminating
action Her quick changes OF expression both vocal a'
facial were altogether admirable. She filled the par
with Increment, with quick pulsatng life, and bi0nSh
every charm OF nature and art to bear to accomplish t
sensuous effect which the chief business OF the piece
Her success was quick and hcr triumph complete.
Her performance of "5empre liberia won her triple re-
call and from that early moment till the last fan Of tn
eurtain She held the eyes and ears Of The audience cap
tive.
The other characters in the opera were distributed ~
follows: Alfre9o, NJ. Capou; GcrmoiH SiEu" dc
ppente. lIcJico Sgnor Contini; Gqsore, sicnor For
naris; MGchcSe. signor Corain; Hgrone N; AHSieI
vantage Of thc empty part These people aS luc sans
passably, sianor Del Pucnte being ne GACcInoA, ~
singing being admirable. NJ CaponI lackcH 10, NrI1 I'
Tor the music but as usual key; In the favor O the aud
fence through the merit of II~ acting.
Tomorrow night ~IOhcngIin is TO be s'y'n, an,
sippOT Niaucsi having Sinccd himself IN measure
the corccncss the criticisms Of his orchestra o hrh-
Willing 10 Try am experiment with NHsncrs opera ma
decided to sink the orchestra below the lrNcl :" lU'
stage as was contemplated by the architect OIL Inc bad