New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-03-29
MUSIC AND The DRAMA.

vr,Y1.N OpFRA-ROBERT THE DEVIL.
Tha lesson Of the four performances OF meyer
haar,s onaras which have taken place al tne Ane'''
nolitap ODera House within ten days wouiu seeii "
hs that while the popular favor enjoyed Dy mo
YJnruono+sY and "The Prophet" Is greater tnah
that of any of the operas III MI o.
- Let except "Lohengrin" and Don
c;ovarn;Y tho popularity of Robert the
Sovilr il in much smaller degree Ihis opor'
vas siyen for the third time since the new es'aO-
fsbment was opened last night, and the suo'o"Oo
was far from numerous. We are inclined u iooA
for an explanation of the fact to the Inst OF
ers rather than to the SCORE OF the opera c..
IN the arrangement of the programme GIG
S+.c,o ia starred in this piece and Succession
~ occurrences recently have shown that the spen
bob earlv in the season seemed to be exercised Wy
his occasional vocal explosions has worn OIL III
view of the fact that II was stimulated largely oy
the vebemant efforts of Let of Italian restaurant
walters. and that at best IL showed ou'
=, sorry taste, the disappearance OIL ING
Skasuo craze is a subject for congratuiation. w
san only regret that the change OF heart dia no'
occur earlier for 1t is plain that II SOUND ai''s'io
effort had been insisted upon in the case Oh 'iis
tsnor from the beginning something approaching ~
might have been got from him. his gntS "ro ,"l
from mean and most OF the rsts ]" LIS
.insing which have fallen under couoehna'to"
have been the products of vicious taste anu s0H-
conceit which were encouraged by the applause
lavisbed upon his high notes. That he has gooa
,o,ce and that he can sing acceptably. he showed
in the last two acts of The Prophet" last week.
No+nre seams however to have denied to Sig
s+aono the most ordinary graces and powers OF al
actor and this fact has INSTRUCTED ms success
In the very opera put the stage Tor MS oeheht-
Robert the Devil" 1t calls for An exercise OF
patiepte 70 sit out his wooden performance during
the incantaton scene and ones only resort, II he
would preserve his temper, is to regard only INC
graceful motions of Nine. Cavalazzl and' as iar as
possible shut the ligneous Robert out OF the helu
of vision Fortunately for the success Oh 'he
scene Nine. CavalazzPs dancing and pantonime
were so beautiful that keep ones eyes on her did
not exact sacrifice but on the contrary brought an
exceedingly handsome reward. Her art made the
scene in the ruined cloiser the chief scene OF the
performance.
OF the other performers the greatest need OF
praise is due Nine. Fursch-Madl, who
was the Alice of the occasion. Hardly
another member of the company has gwen
* few occasions for disappointment as Nine
F,rsch-Nadi. Her voice is always adequate III
power aud generally true to pitch except when
forced BY notes beyond her easy reach, as Tor IN
stance ,I.4 those OSI Rober She " has besides
whole-hearted manner OF singing,
and free-chested style Of emitting
her tones which inspires one with confidence that
so far as she is concerned all Will go well Her dra
matte action though not extensive IN scope Is al
ways good; while in such parts as Grtr1d' III Lo-
henRrin" it Is thoroughly admirable. She was
last night, as before, au fdce who gave real
pleasure Nine Valera's Isdbeljd IS the
fsoheiLa of the opera Dramatically it
Is without distinctive physlognomy, ana
for its vocal requirements size has rich equipment
1t is not her habit TO stin her efforts 10 please ana
Abe did not do il last night cold obviously en-
barrassed Signor Mrabella in his performance OF
Beytram which was nevertheless satisfactory Oh the
whole signor Stag was the Baimbaud. The opera
was rather ruthlessly cut.