New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-01-05
rus NAVY sPLENDORS OF "OORTEz."
rHopsANDs SPENT ON A NEW TABLEAU.

A sxxrca OF the OPERA TO Bx PRODUCED ATTHs
METROPOLITAN TOMORROW NIGHT.
when tho curtain shall be raised to morrow night
n tho Metropolitan Opera House on tho nrst cot OF
epontinrs Ferdihsnd Cortcs" tnoro VII 20 'oV0aloo
ono Of tho most imposing and brilliant tabeaus over
ssen on tho American stage Active preparations
Cor th,s opera have boon going In the mocha icd
ana artistic departments since tho beginning Of tho
sesson and the importations OF dress materials eath
srs, an other properties from Mexico was begun at
Q much earlier date Ferdinand Cortoz' 10 tho COM
position of sponni. Italian by birth, who settled
In paris AND was taken under the protection and pat
ronago of Napoleon and Josephine The opera was
orst produced In Paris tho lbrotto bcng written by
De Joay. German version was soon afterward pre-
pared by War Consul May, and IL IS this slightly mod
ned. which will DO used hore.
Tho story deals, OF course with tho conquest OF
Mexico. In the first act Is shown tho vestibue OF
the great temple, supposed to DO raised above tho
rest VI the city. From the vestibule there Is view
over the city and surrounding country 10 gain '"o
effect OF distance tho background is painted on
semcircular framew ork, and tho SPECTATOR 10 io""y
seeing half cyclorama In tho foreground on raseo
terrace is shown an enormous figure OF the god i~
pulkap In whose honor sacrifices and tho gorgeous
attendant ceremonies are being carried on Inc ~
pearance of this figure is most horripio' 'o' ~ VIZ
same time extremely brilliant race oooy' 'css'
claws and hands seem to melt into ono sno'hor Will
out any definite lines Of separation There Is ONO
face above, something like that OF glganuo posr,
with silver eyeballs some six inchos In diameter, and
then I'm tho centre of the creatures body occurs
trimming silver skull All over IL are enormous Io~
els and from various parts as we'll as from Two minor
supporting figures, flames will continuously peich
Tapulka' awful though he be when seen from tho
'front.' is only hollow mockcry, made OF papiormache
He about feet HIGH exclusive OF bis PEDESTAL
and was constructed in thirty-thrce pieces. IL IS
said A. d. Bradwe, the clover property MASTER Is no
otoH hio
largest pieces Of this kind Of work ever DONE Three
months were occupied In its construction ton and =
half of clay were used In making the model, and II
in tho last act when the temple IS destroyed Tapuas
gets knocked into the provebial cooked hat but IN
together again, and in its falls win sustain any
serious damage for the material Is now SO hard ana
tough that Is scarcely possible to cut through IL WIN
the second act shown the tent Of Of cOrten before
and another view Of the distant oty arc discovered
pns The scene the third
Is charmngly soft and delicate tinted landscape with
butt scene Of he interior Of tho temple Large part.
OF this are so constructed to break away at tho
sn tine st nS has SSen Of
BY Mr. Hoyt 1t is a; Historically correct ss possible
At Mexico and other parts taken from Mexican an
ss oSs recent Ss sms accuracy has boon
eought to be preserved in all the properties and
dresses.
stage in costumes which range from beauty to almost
appalling hcrror Thlrty:iwo of "Montezumas"
Of tho heads Of the animals. The jaws wide open,
revealing the faces of The wearers framed with hngo
followers appear in full suits OF armor and eight 40,
company I'm on horseback The caparisons OF the
cloths and neck and head nanonts being OF tho most
brilliant hued satins handsomely embroidered and
se ss ~ great number Of largo satin banners ba
Eoned AMI embroidered with The arms OF the various
prOyinces OF These fat hful reproductions,
Is 10 ,so Cortez's" own banner which Is blaze OF
well-contrasted color. ballet appears In two OF
ures with large fans peacock feathers and long scarfs
of SENT II ansparent guazo woven of light and dark
The male POI ulaoe short trunks and the women
short skirts made of Mexican material In which dried
long drareres all handsomely ornamented with beads
and feathers. In nearly all the native dresses feathers
ers are seen Nine. Mcsnger, the only lady in the
cast, wears full and flowing drapery made OF gold
brocade with deep trimming Of brilliant hucd feath
ers. More than 800 entirely new dresses have been
Of The va p amory There's are spears s Of every
cannon the foa force Of artillery with which Cor
ter took tho ETY. The insignia carried py .ho
3set high. Il is almost Impossible TO imagine what
they intended TO represent but some havo rant
used by tho Mcxicans is gigantic fiat wooden club
having teeth of sharp fints on either edge and pro
voIopment Upward of 100000 has been spent on
this production but the msnssenen has Done s,y 'o
the impression made on the first night. The opera
Is thus cast
Ferdinand co m,h IerT %ivarY
High Priest I; herr r ri,no,
n rt,ass1 asrr Ri%Ssa
Moralz. Herr v Hiiine
Two Prisoners. Herr san err
Amaziy CTelaskos sister,. ........M Miss Meislitser