New-York tribune., 1888-04-15
READY TO PRODUCE oTELLOS
CANfPANNrs ENTHUSIASTIC TALK.

AL last week rehearsals were being held day and
night at the Academy of Music for the production
Of otello' tomorrow evening. At different hours
the chorus, orchestra, principals and supsrnumerares
have been indusrously drilled and whenever the stage
could be spared, the carpenters have been work on
the scenery. 1t seemed like the palmy days. Of the
old house to hear Italian spoken in every corner ana
to see sgnOr Campaninl necessarily moving about In
a laudabe and almost successful endeavOr 10 super
intend everything and be everywhere at the same
time.
To a reporter who found him Just he had finished
a long rehearsal signor Campanln said: " On Monday
night ! shall present 'Otello' as italian Opera has
never before been given hero. An, II viii be COM
plete II viii be Italy Itself transported TO New
York Everything used the stage has been brought
expressly from Italy. The scenery IS an exact re-
production Of that at tho grand first performance al
Milan Il has been painted by Magnani. Of Parma
and It is so put together that we carry 1t every
where with US. You Will see that IT beautiful and
full Of character The frs. scene on the quay al
cyprus with a view of storm at sea is grand mag
nfcent. And then the superb hall in the third act,
all gold and mosaic that is dreami For the last
act We have even brought old Venetian canoped
bed. 1t IS vertable GEM II would be almost
pleasure TO be smothared such a bed. Then the
dresses! There are 200 Of them, some OF rch-
that IS astonishing and costly and forty SUITS
Of armor spangles tin, but heavy work-exact
imitation Of the antique. Marconi, the 'Otello on
his first suit Of steel amor that cost
5000 francs 1t Is only for few minutes that he Is
seen in IT, Just while he sings one phrase, put oh
how beautiful that Is"
Here signor Campaninl could not resist the tempta
tion Of singing and the reporter yielded to the charm
OF the voice and the music, and acAno"leueeu Inc
justice OF the tenors euloglsm.
THE MUSIC THE BEST PART OF THE PIECE
But what are the dresses and the scenery and tbs
m
1t is the greatest dramatic opera ever heard. In
some respects IT like Wagner; the melody Is con-
tnuous there are no breaks between the themes and
how the music is charged with the spirit OF the stu
alton One scarcely needs words to understand H.
so clear are the love- doubt, hate, Jealousy, rage
despair And then Of course, the chances for acting
are enormous 1t Shakespeare except that the first
act is omitted. Boto, the librettist and also the
composer Of .Mefstofees' has made Iago more
devilish than Shakespeare did. He has given
TO him satlrlcal profession Of faith in which he
declares his disbelief in all that is good, and avows
himself atheist"
VIII you say what are the numbers most IEely
to hit the popular taste ?"
All, my dear boy, how can pick out one jewel
from another when all equally beautful'
heard the opera at the first performance and was
del GIFTED. I heard it twenty-five times and each
time / became more enthusiastic. After the hTst
performance l went TO Ncd and McaId VINO IS
his publisher, and arranged for the right for this
country. But had TO pay Oh, how l had to pay,
il viii cost me here over $1,000 performance. hi-
card paid Verdi 10000 down and gives him beside
80 per cent Of the ROYALTIES And the conditions are
d.hcult Everything must be approved by them
The ouera cannot be done until they know there are
proper scenes and costumes and have approved
the names Of all the princ pals. Salch and G2las'l
every one knows but MarcOni and TefraGzln also
destined, II l am not greatly mistaken, to become
general favortes MaUCm j. very TALL handsome
with a lne 'licc and Is good actor
TetrazZinl has the reputation Of being one OF the
best aud most attractive OF dramatic donne. She
T. very young and her voice ., fresh and strong.
Ny brother, Ceofonte, VIII conduct. He heard the
opera often I'm Milan and Rome, and studied II with
Verdi Tho maestro IS well satisfied that he should
he the CONDUCTOR
AN INSTRUMENTAL STORM At SEA.
You VIII have something about the music7 Well,
the curtain rises grandly Instrumental storm at
sea- Then comes descriptive chorus and noble
prayer. In the first act there a remarkably original
drinking song brndlsp FOR Tago' and Casio
Then there is a rapturous love duet for Dcsdcmona'
and Ohelo the theme Of which reappears at the end
Of the opera The trio OF equivocaon by the three
male voices In tho third act Is a marvel of melody,
color and dramatic force And must not forget tho
orchestra from the Metropolitan Opera House. All
they are great musicians. Nowhere in tho world Is
there an orchestra that reads so we'll In Milan they
practlsed for weeks Here, after three rehearsals,
they were almost perfect. Mr.. schwab my manager,
brought Anton Seld TO orchestral rehearsal He
going abroad. and wanted to hear the music and
and they are not the regular ancients but the pick OF
the italian, German and National companies. When
we travel We shall carry everything with and give
exactly the same performance here. We shall have
special train for our $50 people and numerous bag
be given here, then three in Boston two I'm Phladcl
pha. four In Chicago. two in ST. Louis, and two in
Cincinnati Everything IS all ready, and We could
hest and I confidently leave II 10 tho public 10
Judge the work We shall supply translation OF the
hbretto, by D. F. Huefer. of The London Tmss.'7