New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-01-07
MUSfO-7HE DRAMA.
FERDINAND CORTEZ.

Cortez- at the Metropolitan Opera House. last night
a unique sort OF interest In one respect 10 was
good deal like attempt TO rcsusctatc mummy, Tor
whatever special criticism may be able TO discover
touching tho work, simple hearing OF the music Is
sufficient to convince the NewYork public that spon-
TIM IS the most antiquatod opera composer that has
vet been presented 20 Their consideration Compared
with him Gluck and Mozart have marvellous fresh
ness and his contemporary Weber sreabs in the Ian
guage of to-day Brt SpOntini matter what may
be thought OF tho relation OF his music To tho taste OF
to-day stands tho representative OF principle, ana
II It were possible for tho management TO supplement-
Ferdinand Cortezr with Armlda' or " gena IN
Aulls" the Metropolitan repcrtory would admirably
exempfy the development Of the dramatic idea and
its struggle with the simply lyrical in opera COMPOST
ton. We should have been asked 10 take the steps
I'm reverse order, II is true-Wagner, Weber, sron-
tint Gluck-but this fact would only add to the clear
ness OF tho historical exposition. The light winch
signifc art works throw falls brghtestupon the
creations that lie behind them in the pathway Ca
progress. We this season enjoying Euiy ahtho
through tho mediation of " Tristan und Isolde.'
If We put aside the attractvcness OF Ferdinand
Cortez. as spectacle land fancy tho resurrection
of the mummy due the first instance to the pctur
esQuencss of cerements the opera Will be found to
have chiefly antiquarian interest. with sPon'ih
tho people OF America have had but ltio opportunity
to become acquainted OF all Of his music we can re-
cali only tho overtures 10 La Vestaie' and Oily ~
pla, and a scene from the second act OF the former
opera having figured on local programmes and
only r4e scene from La Yestalc' performed at the
music festival in theF7th Regiment ArmOry In 1882
contributed anything to knowledge of 6pontini'S
style as an opera composer. La Vestae" Is ad-
mlttedy its creators masterpiece, and Its choice be-
fore Ferdinand Cortez' would have been desirable
but for three reasons: There Is more OF eohteinpo-
human Interest in the book OF CoreZ great
opportunity for opulence in stage attire, and 1t al
foIds Herr Nlemann an opportunity to appear in
role which maintains what little life II has IN Germany
through his efforts. Ferdinand Coriez' has
American subject. In the long list of successful and
once successful operas it saLds alone In this respect
unless We arc willing to accept I'm b~iio IA
slaschera7 in the suiSe forced upon IL
by the Roman ecnsors, who compeued
Verdi to transeI .he theatre oi his story from Naples
across tho Atlantic, the t..c back century ana
mako tho Puritals VI boston enact a Tragedy uhuer
circumstances about H4cJ - celebration OF inc
Dionysi niy steries there have Dcen half dozen
Colombo operas, ono vi th~ composed w the
brothers RIcci, authors u the merry Comic opera
Crls Pine Couare," bGt the great .er has
not survived as an operate hero and the ,ohlueror
of Mexico Is tho vuy naturazed Amcrlca n with whom
We have a stage acquaintance. Mr. Stanton has sur
passed all his previous cnoits In the line OK spectacle
to celebrate tho glores Of this American opera Inc
people employed In the representation rival In NUM-
bers those who constituted the VERT able CortezS
army. while the horses como within three OF The NUM-
Der that the spanard actually took into Mexico This
IS carrying realism In the drama pretty close to abb
solue historical accuracy finer sense OF dramatic
proprcty, however Is exhibited in the care wth "hch
tho pictures and paraphernala OF tho opera nave Deeh
prepared. Tho ancient architecture OF Mexco' tho
sculptures the symbols of various kinds carried In the
the of Montezuma and some OF the
costumes of his warriors have all been copied with
takng fidelity from the remains OF The civiza-
ton which existed in Mexico at the time OF the con
quest For this tho opera is more than mere
amusement for the antquary similar striving for
truthfulness Is shown In the costumes, banners anu
trappngs Of the Spanlard and as one OF inc scenes
at least he destruction of his feet BY Cortez In order
to quell a mutlny among his men and inspire them
with that spirit of desperate adventure which
made tho story of tho Conquest Of Mexico read
almost like a fairy tale, is founded on fact
IL would not DO surprising IL the opera should
arouse a genuine interest in spite of tho fact that
there s little in the music which meets the aesthetic
demands of to day.
The story on which much scenic magnhcence
Is ayished is briefly follows Cortez and his adven-
turcrs are before Mexico His brother Alvarez ana
two other Spanish officers are In the hands OF Monte
yuma whose priests purpose sacrifice them to Tale
puka in tho hope OF thus securing success Tor the
Mexican arms Montezuma's natural tenderness aid
fear Of possible consequences tempt him to yield 10
the pleadngs Of Amazy sister Of his general Telasko
and spare the lives Of the prisoners. Amaziy, hav-
ing adopted Christianity, had fed from the presecu-
ton Of tho Mexican priests and found refuge with
Cortez whom she loves She returns to warn Monte.
be ov a&a f tSi goes with bis priests
to tho god for omen and the sacrifice Is about 10
Taso is to
ash armlstce and attempts to iomsnt Ill GseSrd
nss sa Sy az
in Cs OSd n e. S ras. tSs% ~
means Of an impassoned harsngue, and
cuts .rovs. nj, hope Zee. Of Tn. :sss
was designed evidently to DO the climax OF the
lar effects Of the opera but as it has been staged a.
prise having been the Spanish
X am .'0'' who y had offered her life
the temple resenes his compairiots, plants tho cross
the ruins Of the idol and compels from Monczuma
an acknowledgment OF Spanish sovereignty over
The musical features of the work which seemed
t. hold sway last night were primarily the dramatic
vitality OF the choruses In the finale OF The first act,
and tho mutny of the second the splendid breadth and
Gre Of the recitatIve deciamcd by Herr Nemann
ecally In the scene in which the mutiny Is queed
and the triumphant march on Mexico begun Arcr
| these there are airs sung by Amahly and Ieiask.
With WITH" emotion Sot The absence Of ali mere vocal adcrn
mcnts Is also worthy Of notice, and me many In
csivc and effective entrances OF the wind choir OF the
That ' spcntin was not fertile graceful methodist IS
0bvIous all through the score though II Is chehy &C
Tho ballet Is extended into prominent feature, and
nrobaby be rcckoncd as attraction By all lovers IT
spectacle. . a.. -,..
Notwithstanding that II was first performance.
after an ali too hasty preparation the performance
moved with great sm and several OF the scea,s
were given with splendid spirit fraulein Meissunger
proved how valuable an accession shc T. 10 the company
hy singing and acting the part Of Amazly with ane
feryor Herr Nismann bore of the honors among rho
mon And carried of the great OF the second act
I'm a whirl Of excitement. Herr Robinson did not
reach the desired degree Of effectiveness until the thrd
ane air much admired but Herr Alvory and Herr
Fischer well which was all that Is demannen o!
them After the first act there four recalls and
| after the second seven.
FRAU RAABE IN "DIvORCONs"
3cyprienne" tho heroine Of Sardou's brilliant but