New-York tribune., 1884-01-12
MUSIC.
NINE PApTI IN LIES HUGUENoTs."

NINE. PATJI IN "LES HUGUENOTS."
o,,nro was one great scene in the performance of
Huruenots at the Academy of Music last nlght
SCENE which wrought up an audience that crowded
che theatre to a high pitch of excitement anu
.ould have sent them home with the blood tinging
On their veins if a bungling piece OF manageineht
had not supplied ridiculous antl-cliinaX'
The spectacle of mutual slaughter petweeh
rro,astants and Catholics. rs shown in this
onera is not especially edifyng, nor is it one that
stands on lofty ethical plane; nevertheless II
servss an important purpose in the fulflment
of the plot of the opera. and without IL
there is no solution of the story and no relief 10
the anxiety concerning the fate of the hero and the
heroine which it is only natural that everybody
hould feel. -.
To Mr.. Mapleson belongs the discredit OF
repularly giving LES Hugucnots" without
the last act Heretofore, however, ne
has. rs q rule. announced the fact on the printed
programme, so that the audience might fancy
whatever ends suited the various fancles aud
60 with the certain knowledge at least that
there was nothing more to come. Last
night there was no announcement. NINE
Patti and Sig Nlcolini set every pulse of sympathy
and interest throbbing with marvellousy mpaS-
stoned performance of the grand duet. Inc
struggle between love and duty was
represenied with vvidness that was
owe-iuspiring; Taleatina's confession of love
was sentient with an agony of self-abase-
ment and pteOus appeal; RG0aPS response was aler-
natelv tender with love and ringing with patIouc
ordnr n lurid glare burst through the Wln0oW
duty triumphed; R0Oul dashed through the wlndow;
JaSntpd fell in death-likc sw0on me curtain
came down Ardti disappeared; the double pass
players shrouded their huge INSTRUMENTS; nu1,S 41
and yiolinists crept under the stage; the
people in the chairs and boxes looked az
each other aud waited for more; the 1oot-
lights went out and after five minutes or more
n became known at this was as much as AT. Mr.
NlaplesOn was willing TO give for the money iho
affair would have been ludIcrous IL IL nau hoS nc
stroyed the strongest impression made oy MIlo'
Patti this year. 3, ;,,
As for the rest ofthe opera aside from the singing
fbe acting of Sig Ncollni, 1t reached Respectable
mediocrity but did not go beyond it; and all the
earlier impressions were dssipated Dy r15;
was no fault of Nine. Gers err; she
sang well as eyer but could NOT nep % S2SanS ON.
era leyies upon the lyric soprano: she ,,aS- aS-
sss in an episode he Of baat pdiaSPG pdsSoPs fe sef
Tho ears of the lovers of forid music are
fIcked and the addition of tine last ingredient
starts the fermentation the in play: When once & iho
the dramatic interest becomes dominant tne idylilc
court scenes of Les Huguenots" and " KoDer. 20
Diabo" are rapidly obliterated from memory. -,
IL Is such singing and acting as Mime Patti dld
last nSht that show how Justly she is entitled to be
no one could have fancied that TO the
with voice and gesture TO the deepest OF tragic
emotions belonged the easy qucenshlp IN ylic com
edy. 1t was triumph of genius that startled
while it delighted 1t ought 10 have red letter Ill
the annals OF opera in this country.
THE LAST NIGHT AT THE METROPOLITAN
The Metropolitan Opera House last night was still
brilliant with the decorations that had beautihcd
the Old Guard Ball. 1t the last of Mr.. Abbey's
subscription nights. and the opera presented
was LA GiOconda," which Notwithstanding the
extraordinary attraction at the Academy was
listened to by an audience that filed almost all the
available space in the house. Only a few Of the
stockholders boxes were empty, the audi
ence was exceedingly brilliant in char
acter and quickly responsive to the
sxcellencies in the performance. The opera was
given with the same cast as on the two previous
representations bat the singers were not Onl more
familiar With their parts aud consequently able
30 add considerably to the effectiveness OF
their impersOnatiOns but were without exception
ln good voice and admirable spirits. As the result
of this happy union the performance was by far the
most brilliant that the opera has received ana
deserves to stamp the night one of the brightest
events of the operate season. This afternoon the
last of Mr.. Abbeys performances before the spring
season begins will take place, the opera being