New-York tribune., 1884-12-20
which was nevertheless such to command
he admiration Of inusiciana.
THE PROPHET,

The performance Of Meyerbeer's Prophet"
Mt the Metropolitan Opera House on Wednesday evening
another achievement which reflected credit on the
establishment and It's management. Two circum-
stances made successful representation of the highly
spectacular and extraordinary work possible IN season
which been full Of activity tim present one at
the upper house Tho first is the connection with the
theatre Of Fraucn Brandt the second the possession ot
fair quantity Of crcditablc and appropriate scenery
painted Tor the opera last spring when Mr. Abbey brought
II out after had long been absent from American orer
attic lists with Mime scalci In the part of ffd6s The
echoes of this revival have been IL ard for three
dnys ln one Of our law-cuurts. whore experts have
not only imnrcssc upon the public mind the unusual
qualities which muat characterize the artist VINO h"pe'
successfully to enact the part of fis but also ha'e ua
cussod with loaa agreement the state "t 'h'
dgcst,c organs most conducive 10 en etIiac pcrior
nance Fortunately This latter element docs not enter
into au estimate o tho metropolitan performance w
which tfAnon randta arniio htoisoneo fnlh"f 'h'h
hrr diet gave food for reflection
The oXaciious Of the score Of "he Prophet =" Tar IN
the principal female part h concerned, are OF sooHiaor
dnnry nature that the presence In an operate troupe
of u oOntralto or meiko soprano win phehom'"''
range and musical and histronc skll Tar hey"hu
that which makes up the ordinary artistic ohiht IL
essential its production II has been the rno ''t
performances OF the opera have depended upon
his one singer II would not have been thonSht OF ia't
year but for Hme Scalch would II have been gwen
by Dr. Damrosch but for Fraulcn Brandt ana our local
experiences have been only reflex of The experiences Oh
the musical contres of irope. In Germany frdleh
Brandt has almost alone kept tho opera on the active
list This bciug 1t is the more crediiable that pr'
Damrosc ch did not depend wholly upon the comparative
novelty OF the work TO makeit an attraction out soNe
TO make the revival memorable by generally good per-
formance lie gave the part of John Of LeydeH opera
cay man of stature whatever he may DO held to be IN
| history to Herr Schott, tenor OF heroic
| mould To represent Bertha he had Fran
| schrGdcr.IIanfstangl, whose art was potent
enough to make forget the absence of youth an"
beauty her person Mechanical accessories were ln"
vided with lavish hand. and their use was directed by
an ingenious mind. all compelled to observe IN
the sunrise az the close of the thd act ana ue
brilliant and almost cxtravagant pageantry OF the coro
nation scene The work Of chorus aud orchestra without
being faultle,s nevertheless 50 lnuch oetter thh
| that Of last year. which deemed worthy OF oehg
aucd as remarkable, that there is scarcely basis Tor
complrson In fact. q fardegrse Of excellence in one
more factor would entitled the representation To
be set down as perfect can hope for under
The pre- cent operate gmr Th factor IL one which
we have lons ago paired of meeting. however-three
singers capable OF singing the music OF inc
Anabapsts in tune. We too goodnaured to INSIST
upon this requisite perfect musical performance OF
the opera tradition has endowed these gloomy person
ages with privilege Of beng dscordan of voice as
they are forbdding aspect and crooked Of mind The
public have had get used TO their untunefn psalmooy
albeit the sensation getting used to il is like that of
accu toned to sk.nnng.
The opera lasted till after midnight. yet was gwen
with liberal cns liberal indeed that in one or two III
stances the dramatic element vas left suspended IAe
saters arrcrcd without justification except the desire
for novel spectacle. and BeTtn dsapIraltd dter an
noun, determination To kill the IfOIhc, without
analogy q EXPLANATION sin cannot condemn the
pruning: is essential, and the necessity oi making
thrilling spectacle OF work which hdi s lrth III the
Ouerafic speCtaclcs ana Of providing enter
ainlncn The many who leave their nttllecs AT nome
whcncN they 20 to the opera, competed thr retention
4 "A III
better be spared from the drama, however, than the
opening Of the act which Is essential t. ne de-
YeOPment of the historical character otthe ff.P" hH
il the skaters and dancers were permitted 10 M me
actors aud remaining mute from hc il-'
ull the fan OF the curtain The famous sunrise WAS
ceyerl managed. aid gave such plcd.urahe surprise
with ierr Scott III four recalls TO the stage Al me a''
however the modesy retired in favor OF the singer
and left n gaping hole In the canvas Inc coronation
cllm OF the spectacular rlthboIN
i'm the control stage Manager Hook, and with great
pTOpYcty the setting also OF the cuhaloh oI NV
remarkable singing and acting of trauicn bIahdt ana
Herr rchOtt
When we make such consideration for the voices OF
these artists is demanded 10y their long years ul
service in country where Madame Mrche> mas "lt'N
said prmh dOunos are hired Ike MAIDS Oal-WOih nn1
are expected mako Themselves Hs generally u,eui
remains only emphatic commend ton ana en-
asc praise for tncr respective representations III me
carly portion OF the evening tncre Was maHest III Ic
lady a tuidy which seemed to Imply an UNI ilulnalllN
with the teDDi Of Dr. DamrU-ch when was eArl'ahc
enough but all the incidents OF the Inagnhreh C"o
nation Sceno. aud especially n what the fIcnch can h
scpne, she 10 greatness thii dWhll'
all her companions except Herr Schot Inc "ork oi
both of artiss especially Interesting rs hllhE
ing vi,dy notice the great amount OF rtauA me ara
matte writing both vocal aud instrumental WIN "h'h
Met,ecr has enriched Scrbes poor lbiettO llil thal
should be mixed with 80 much that Is not 0hy lINh
but vulgar!