New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-01-05
MUSICAL COMMENT.
OPERA AND BALLET-DALBERT'S RECITAL
A NEW CONCERT HALL-HCN-
GARIAN MUSIC.

GARIAN MI Slt.
The epidemic has hcaped up Mr.. Stantons man
accrlal difficulties at the Metropolitan opera house
until each performance no matter how i falls out
must appear to him to partake somewhat Oh inc
nature Of a miracle There is scarcely singer IN
the troupe who is in prime physical condition, ana OF
those stll on the active list no one Is able u 'e
what day night may bring forth. me conductors
have twice been obliged to relieve each other Mt Seiu
conducting II Trovatorc" for Mr.. Damrosch on
Christmas night and Mr. Damrosch returning the faVor
in "The Barber of Bagdad" on last Friday night
Under the circumstances Mr. Damrosch did very credit
able work though the opera would, beyond doubt nave
made profoundcr Impression had the musicians lcIV
the inspiration OF Seidrs beat ard
the singers been relieved OF anxiety py
the knowledge that a strong and experienced manu-
was on the helm. Even It was, the performance
was delightful Mr. Fischer finding himself right IN
his element in the amusing role OF the Barber, singing
and acting with great gusto, Mr.. Kasch dhough stI
showing signs Of illness in his tones, when compce"
him TO husband all his resources carefully MAKING
much music with his voice and acting Win no sihIl
degree Of clevernes,. Miss TraubmanL, Miss HUM
and Mr. Beck also mrrited praise for their singing
and even Mr. Scdmaycr might be complimcntcd on his
acting if il could be entirely dissociated from MS sing
ing which at the best falls considerably snort OF
euphOny. Tho opera is most sumptuonsy diesSeu'
and though the pictures change but little they are
so beautiful as to delight the eye during all the time
] '"r'''
hour and half.
Tho ballet which succeeds " The Barber OF Bagdad'
ts the most successful entertainment Of the kind that
the Metropolitan management has yet placed 10 l'9
credit Originally it was called " In the Doll SHOP
but the title by which It is now known Is DC fup
pcnfcer-"Thc Doll Fairy"-suggested by the Ia't
scene of the ballet. II Is NenneSe producuoh' INC
designs being by j. Has,reer and F. Gaul the music
by Joseph Bayer, Of the Court opera OF vienna
There Is nothing in the music "
| call for comment It is commonplace to a
degree utterly unworthy Of being even mentioned IN
the same breath with such ar!stocratic dance music
a. forms tho musical nycstlture Of bcs's Coppca
| and sylvia Except for a single bit OF Austrian
melody there is nothing Characteristic III color i'll
| the music though the plot Of the pantomlmc Gals
for IT, II would not be bad idea to substitute Tor
some of its picbcau measures few excerpts HVH
Coppelia7 particularly that which accompanies the
movements Of the automatons The action OF the
piece is suggested hy the original title. The scene
q toy shop which IS caprally counterfcltcd IN the
| stage set NJ the Metropolitan. An English family
wishing 10 purchase Of his wares the shop keeper
exhibit, variety Of dancing dolls whose mechanical
movements AFFORD fun IN plenty The ensemble Is
brought about by the device Of having the presiding
genius Of the shop cndow al the contents with life At
the stroke Of midnight. Not only do all the dolls
ioin in the d.l,c. but the mcnagerie animals, the
dominocs. dice, tcnpu, and all manner of toy,
take part i'm a grand march while the jumping Jacks
hanging against the wall, kick mp their heels, the
wooden soldiers perform their cvoiutonS. and there j.,
tho greatest conceivable hustle IN every nook and
granny Of the shop. II is most amusing spec
tacc and viii doubtless be exceedingly popular till
the end Of the season.
The amazing brlliancy Of Mr.. d'Alberts pianofortc
PLAYING was displayed at his recital IN stcinvay
Han on Friday afternoon it could not be Dis,
I played at the concert, the Metropolitan opera
House. An audience ample In number, Yet ,n-u
larry apathctic under the circumstances, heard the
recital. which va. devoted 70 exposition Of music
IF tho classical school, the representatives chosen
being the three RS Who are the gods of Or. Won
Huclow's present doltry Bach, Beethoven, Brahms
The pIopucty and significance Of their union In d
programme were fully justified and illustrated ly
the selection, played by Mr. dAllert though
q purist ght have preferred to hear some Of BacrS
harpsiohor music To- the Tlu-ig and d'AIbert trans
crptIou, Of organ pieces. Vet unl,,, the choice had
been made of the ciromatc Fantasia and F4gue the
audience would not have learned from his Eacian
numbers what Titanic heaven ,tormer TN, understood
,irtuo>o is. The ability Of dAltcrt a. scale the
ofic-t peak, Of seniority and sustain himself there
with never sign Of vcu.ne-- p- uncertainty is simply
without equal among living vrtuo~. In the Beethoven
souata- cop. 5J and lo'. and the variations ou the
/ theme of tnc last m''cueut of thc Er'i.i, lie d.
phtcd again That lo'ch spirit oi devotion "nch "a'
noticeable first Zoo hi- performances of tc oou'rrio- IN
g. AID T. nat the opera House. and also his com
m:nd %! Tire resource, Of touIl ,o.or lu emotional
warmth and beauty. well a, iulluc-- of tone. his
pli, ius II the three beethoven numbers W., much
NOR, elective than Dr. Won BucOW'~ performance Of
them h.~ Beethoven recital. In fact. To the writer,
uo pauofore recital since Rnbinstcin', ma, seemed
dell lifIi A., tlmt of a. Abcrt last Friday hi, second
recital which viii BE- devoted to the romantic music
81 >ohumann aud chopin. VIII take place next Tuesday
afternoon.
/ In .ptc Of the descriptions printed in the ncvspa
/ per. thr Lemon LAceuu. when Z wa thrown open
/ last Thursday evening caused profound sur
| pri-e. 30 - a. set raw and unc
/ i-h. but when time has mcilowcd 1t a
bt n viii rank with The haud,ouc,t halls I'm the
country. great deal Of ingenuity has been expended
BOO adapting the original ro.ud room to the purpose,
order Ia overcome the excessive rcvcrDeuton which
last Thursday muddlcd the music To the we're OF uun
t,letriy Boz all The loud passage. and to give the
strings chance against tc bras, instruments. even
ln half loud pt~sagc,, hut W" believe that few cN-
pcrimcnt- viii point the way out Of this difficulty.
The assembling which helped Mr.. Ihoma- 10 make "A
l,l, Drr,-lou ont of the opening va, q, notable a
s,mc evening An the Metropolitan opera House and
popular concerts has aroused the Interest Of di,tn
,u-hcd element m the city, population. Ih" first
Of the sunday night concerts VIII occur to night when
! TIL, will bc the programme;
vor.pcl ''Dt. M,,te. -nger' .-.........-.. Wagner
ARA 'No|]Si a y. gan, .I.n,n, De were Mozart
"Erlking for or. h.-t.a. ..-.... schubert
schcro ,amieri,;;o % Gd 49,, =, -.--.......-D Yoak
selections i ,S'Il.f I,i.l,'' Act H.
b. Nccuc and leg nd' .......} "'''0''
Mile. Conn. utua d. Ncr
Bal scene from Dan.to symphony Bcrlios
Cha trruircr. "Inl' ..-..-.--...-- Mo7zkoW>Ai
Violin oll.g,to b, Mr.. Jan Kocrt. 49,.
Hungarian Rhapsody NJ. . .-.-..-.--.. .---.Ii'@V
\ review of a book Oh GYPSY music published some
| week, ago I'm Tie 1ilhunc has awakened some cN-
cecdinc} interesting rejection, IN he mnd OF i
local musician, Who, being cultured Hungarian gen
ucnai A. Well a. An educated nuoIcan j. rnuucI ID
An OF micn on The SUBJECT uhdct dlocn'>l'n lhr
1uluue'S reviewer having expressed the opinion lhat