The evening world., 1890-03-25
IrALIAs OPERA.

friend, don your most musical appreoiativs
expression, and, taking good care 10 avoid
befoguinR your mind by anything In tho
way OF modern musical criticism. which
deals with tone color" ''smorzando
effects and other lovely things that are
probably intended AZ an inducement TO sui-
eide. start for the Metropolitan Opera
House. TIL italian Opera season has he
gun, and all true lovers of music, for its
own sweet sake, and not for that of the
charlstanism that prevails In so-called
musical circles, will rejoice. They will also
vote a large palm I'm so glad l said
paint" | was going TO remark bun y
for Henry Z. Abbey, who has brought his
admirably selected company TO the Metro
politan Opera House.
The performance last night was a sort Of
hors d'euvre, leading up to Patti on
Wednesday night. The vast auditorium
was not taxed AZ much az possible, aud those
present were in rather chilly spirits. In fact
there was really nothing to carry them away
in spite of themselves. The FOOD ladies and
gentlemen we're doubtless saving themselves
up for Patti. "Sapsiety " cannot stand two
doses OF honest enthusiasm, don't you know.
Vcrdi's "0tello was the opera produccd
last niGht, y work for which nobody who
had heard his "Trovatore, - "Risolettn. +"
or Aida. " would have given Verdi credit.
The lovely melodies and ever V~crtiant
beauties of these three operas are entirely
wanting in "0tello." 1t contains some
striking passages, aud one or two aoute!y
interesting harmonies that we poor mortals.
who are not impregnated with tone color"
and "smorzando effects" car understand.
But the greater part of "Otello " iu heavy
and %uninvitinR. The individual who sat
upon q promontory and
Heard a mermaid on a d~olph;n's hack
Uttering such dulest aud harmonious breath,
That the rude sea grew civil at her song;
And certa n stars shot madiy from their spheres
To hear the sea-maid's music.
was not listening to Verdi's "Otello," I
know that this in a dreadful thing to say.
But life is too short for lies. and l would
stake 4 few years Of ms life that iive-sixths
Of that audience last night would have
capered with Joy, in their hearts. had a
change been made in favor OF "~Rigolctto"
or =" Aida, where there is less tone color"
and diminished "smorsando Effects"
l do not think that Shakespeare's play
lends itself TO this kind of thing. anyway,
The Wagnerian romantic themes suggest
the dramatic music in the production OF
which Wagner stands alone. and the bar
barous story of ''Othello, which we endure
nowadays merely for the sake Of Shake
speare's sublime language. Is hardly fit
for q music-drama. l suppose l am n
dufer, but I couldn't help smiling
when. after Othello has strangled BESIDE
mona on that dowdy old pink silk bed. she
sings q little dying song and departs. Her
voice Is weak and Othello-ingered, but
still she sings. Old Wallack. Lester Wal
lacks father. discussing ballots. once
remarked: Look here, IL 10 hard
enough to understand the a%bsurdities
OF an opera, and though I can comprehend
people singing their Joys. I am hanged "
dhe didn't say hanged y ''if l can UNDER
stand their dancing their griefs." l wonder
how Wallack would have fancied BESIDE
mona's song after she had been strangled
by the Moor.
Nine. Albani was Desdemona She was
in excellent voice. and her clear, pure notes
out ~ fascinating as ever In the big
building. The delicacy and exquisite re-
fiuement of her methods were unimpaired.
and none of the conventional pyrotechnic
displays Of Italian opera %disfgured her
work.
'Signor Tamagno made his first appearance
In this country and sang the role OF Otello.
is a virile, convincing singer. with
4 musical enthusiasm that appeals 10 all.
His voice, however, Is not as rich as his
ambition. 1t has q tremolo defect.
q sort of vibratory flaw at ines that
Is somewhat Disappointing. Tamsgno
made something OF o sensation by
his "tours dc forces" which are
about the last devices to which an artist
ought to resort. But they always tell. A
frequently pass unnoticed. while the bull
like roar Ind the vigorous lung effort will
cali FORTH plaudits from all sides.
have heard singers murder songs,
slaughter them ruthlessly, but end
them with n well-~calculated, powerful
high note, and rec-ived an ovation. This,
does not refer to Tamagno. He
with admirable correctness. His
power Is great. He coull be a
Iragedian. II he chose. His Otello was a
impersonation than that of 4 great
many stars. SiRnor lei Puente was an ex-
,sllent IaRo. Sig. Perugini was Cassie and
ilme. SynnerberG Emilia.
Tomorrow night there will be Patti in
: Semiramide. " 1t will be a JOYOUS occasion.
We shall all leave our blues at home. we shall
Ibsolutely forget that there are snch things
N e,rth as ''tone color - and ''smorzando
We shall be bewilderingly happy
nd effervescent with I" the diva"
ALAN DALE.