New-York tribune., 1890-04-03
MUSIC.
MADAME PATTI IN LAKME.-
Transcript.

Leo Delibes's opera Laime shabbv ,reate1
lat night at the Metropolitan opera House. Tie
younger generation Of opera eocr, have not had
opportunities to hear Madame Patti essay new roles.
which Circumstance. coupled with some pleasant
memories OF the work dating from the time four years
AGO when /, first performed here by the American
opera Company. excited interest Of an unusual kind
In this first Italian production The performance fell
wofnlly short however. of even modest expectation.
The programme called attention To the fact that the
authors o the book and music had lately arranged IN,
opera nr the Italian stage. and that il would bc
given in the new version. with changes in the part o.
Lakmc expressly made for Madame Patti by MI
Dcllhcs These changes can scarcely be considered
significant unless The ,p0siton OF the Bell songs
tone lower, hy which lost ~ i's brilliancv s
OF moment There was nothing novel iB the excisioE
Of the three English women for that had ss-fv beer
done Rhen, in l-oj. Miss Van Zapdb Brought the
opera brward in London. From dramatic point u
view their omission from the sceTrs is an improve.
mont fer thov added nothing 10 the play. Last night
their re'fofat0n seemed desirable Dr the general in,
difference the part OF the performers t. the play
r.ade those familiar with the score wish Tor the mo.,
on II additional interest whci their voice, the
music. The fact. too. that the only correct and
authorized edition. OF the lbretio sold IN the house
FOR quarter Of dollar. Identical in all respects
save the cover with that hawkcd about in front 4
the house hr iiicen cents. and that the evidence a
the text Indicated that the italian version merely
translation of the English version made for te Amer
lean opera company, and therefore contained tie
cAci-cd parts. added to The bcwdcrment ~ the >er
ous minded people io wanted to know what the opera
was about. Tie words sung were not those II TIC
book. Little things like these are not looked upon
as disturbing when Madame Pa,u sings.
IL much greater cause for mental disturb.
ancc that even Madame iat> singing was sadly de-
hccnt in the unique charm with which she invests
the best role- Of her old list. The Bell Song' wes
her finest achievement and. heterodoN tho opinion
may sound II is ncvsr ele-s true that 10 ha, been sung
mon brillianly many times IN orr concert-room''
not 10 venture upon daring and revolutionary a
proceeding as to institute comparison with the
English performances az the Academy OF Music IN
March. l-s6. Tie Get is that Madame Patti T.
-peoalist IN her ar. The tradition runs that SHE
lives I'm the conviction that she !. representative IT
the grand styc. Dr. Ian'lick once related that she
had rcquited some warm praise which De bestowed
II Zerlina I'm Molar- Don Giovanni with den al
that she buta and Proclamation
o, a her Sno''0 rher =, ''aS vast dia"Tenee. ~
COARSE hefvecn Nolart's Donia Anna and Dc!ihc,',
Anc ilt h.f ..c '.sn i'' r', on" ~, n''a.' , - -
Henrietta -onae Is true of Ndelina iait ier genre !,
The B,rbcr Of seville Don pHsgnae.' Cr,pla
la Clnhrc' lie, ipe province ior which nature ht'yl
those works ana lew others t> never uf,l .,iu1.u
i'm cur da,. and VIII never be forgotten while memory
fiNI slNt tl iilN Afu >hr ~iIlf' 'NiN ~ 80
wor., where scnti,lant vocallatipn suffice, -
disclose tic.r beauty. Modern operas unsci
WITH dramatic feeling and cnancipdi'l from
ne domination of form seldom oher hrr
an opportunity {, display her siii, and graces. IN
them she II not the peerless PAU, hut laiu uhucr
an uucongcuial and uubc,oming mask.
The lr,VgatiNc Of uuiuncfu'nc-> was eNereis'a
pretty generally by the singer, concerned IN last
NIGHTS performance especially by >ignor Raveli IN
thr hr~t act. I'm the second. however he sang via
splendid icr,or Of expression ana beauty oi voice.
The close Of the exquisite duct between Lahmc ali
Nailka Mime. labhril. went 10 pieces, and thcre
t.f han fla SIN MI fIN.af|f,
the dancing Of the ballet supplied diversion which
lhe audience did not hesitate IL enjoy.