New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-12-08
noorn.d save Madam Lehman and Herr Fischer "a


cuerdon for BOTH and fragrant they could
wish for In q moment Of supremest longing vanished.
and in its place only wondernent at the potency
and reach Of Mozart's genius. To great extent II
a,oned for the shortcomings in the earlier scenes,
where the incapacity OF Frau soDntag Uhl Fraeuein
BETTY Frank, and the absence OF all that marks the
gallant cavalier In the bearing OF Herr Reichmann
combined with the emharrassments inherent In the
German version 20 mar the beauty OF Mozarts music.
This scene one OF the ornaments of the repre-
ssntaon and for 1t gaieful recognition must go 10
Herr seidl well as the singers ana
musicians, but was only one OF many
manifestations Of desre present the WORK as u
stood before the imagination Of Mozart and 10 realize
the fruits of careful study Of the score mat the
sincerest desire could transform the work INTO
drama adapted 10 the tascs of to-day was due only
in part to the conductor and stage manager. The
falling of the drop-curan after every scene acted
like wet blanket on pubic educated by recent eA-
periences to expect an operate proceed a. nationally
steadily and smoothly in IFS alton as spoken drama
Only one feature in this reSect fell utterly under
condemnation and that was The in which
Tho two airs of Don Ottavio WIRE introduced. They
were treated as intermczzi, and might wen have
been sung in evening dress befop the curtain. Herr
Kalsch sang them both cXprosivey tastefully
ariisncally. beautifully, but they would better be
omitted than sung in concert fashin especially II
milo tesoro.s whose German text h& reference to a
Ponte's book knows absolutely nOthp
Let enumerate some OF the rcsbcts in which
the representation benefited from the wish TO do
justice TO Mozarts intentions. In the first place
brave effort made 10 perform the hale of the
first act Mozart contemplated it. The
stage furnishings showed three galleries
each occupied by "a band of Musicians
who played the dances for the eparate
groups Of dancers the ballroom floor. 1t vs. here
that Mr.. Abbey's Italian representation broke Town
completely, though signor Vianesi the conductor put
only two bands on the stage Herr seid followedthe
score and used three string bands. Mozart took he
hint for this marvellousy ingenious feature of hs
score from the worts Of Don Giovsnnfs efervescen
song, Fin chan da vino" which IS nothing more nor
less than the DOns instruction 10 his servant con
corning the approaching festivity. In it occur the
verses:
"senza alcun ordins
La DANA STA;
Chi Ia follia
Chi l'alemana
Farai ballar'
Mozart carried out the suggestion 70 the letter
For the people Of quality he wrote minue the one
that is heard issuing from the castle while the three
maskers are still III the garden for another party he
wrote cO0tradaDce in Il time, and Tor the tllfd an
and melodies arc combined and what an cnlivenine
effect they produce all who have heard the music
a little book descriptive of the autograph owned by
Madame Viaot Garcia. SAYS that Mozart wrote in the
cordano' as a direction TO the stage musicians, 10
initiate the action of tuning their instruments Reio
falling in with their music OF this fact reprint OF
the libreto prepared for the first performances OF
me opera In Prague and Vienna which i ueiofe Us
contains no mention but fool-note give ON o,ase
directions from the autograph which indicate M0zar
anxiety that his ingenious and Willy nVehtGn snoud
resumed he remarked d. OFT bas minuetto con
Giovanni 81 mette balar con Zerlina una Contra
DANA" az the entrance Of the waltz. Leporelo
ton Of this elaborate scheme puts the resources OF
an opera manager TO severe test, especially IL a
that fha MefVp ifqD l.
ample reward in the result our public knows since
last Wednesday. The effect would be SIN greater 4
the ballet master u give some intelligent ate1-
ton to the There is special Significance IN
Mozarts direction thai the cavalier humor the peasant
girl by stepping a country dance with her instead Of
irving 10 draw her into tie arstOcratic niinuet.
Elements Of dramatic truth like these ought not 10
he overlooked nowadays. when the play IS recognized
10 be the thing even in operate representations.
Other Improvements in the Metropolitan perform
ance need not detain Us so long, The serenade was
given with mandolin accompaniment instead of pizzi
eati on the yolins grocec1,ng which gave ms
SlinNs noSr MsSetto and his FRI end. and which IS
stored Ia Ponies stage direction that Don Giovanni
70 her knees impiorinc him 10 repentance in The last
scene was obeved by Herr Rechmann-a small mat
ter but Of great potency IN the exposition OF the DOns
character Donna Anna sang the air Non mi dir 10
Don ottavio instead of alone whereby It's connection
with the play made clear: finally, the use OF
a capable woodwind band on the stage in the banquet
scene brought agreea6ly to notice Mozarts psyinl
happy conceit was due wholly 10 Nozar'. j. was he
who wrote the words with Whch iFDoIFup Pltt> Ult
melodies from COsa Rara" Iitganti7 and his own
Figaro and when Leporeo nails the familiar tune
from Figaro with the words, This We know too
wclls he wtilv scored point with his first audience
which is missing from the German book and at the
same time showed his other excerpts were not made
with malicious intent.
Dr. Johnson's maxim that after the lapse of some
hundred years every good book manners and
ought TO be re-editcd might be applied Wit
great profit 10 Don Giovanni" There is no doubt that
careful study Of the work in its present relation 10
the public would disclose that the century has wrought
stupendouS revolution i'm taSt'. but We should be
sorry 10 think that there had been any loss Of ap-
probation for the essential merits OF the congestion
As much any work Of art that created this
wonderful masterpiece deserves immortality. But II |
II is 10 maintain living influence II must BE- rescued
from hdebOund foolish and ignorant tradition II |
may be n will only Ice AZ long intervals that
community Will be priv Heed to hear IL IN all its
parts It deserves 10 be sung but every earnest |
effort 10 shadow forth the dramatic conceptions OF ifs
peerless composer Will provide noble pleasure for the
lovers OF the true, the beautiful and the good I'm
music.
THE PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY.
Herr Fischer helped 10 make the second concert |