New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-11-27
MUSIC.
OPENING OF THE OPERA SEASON.

and The motions and KEY up 10 the highest pitch OF
curiosity, expectation and nterest-such were tho
factors which entered into the sum of the triumphant
opening of the eighth season Of grand opera at the
Metropolitan Opera House last night From social
rs well artistic point of view the occasion
notable one and bore testimony TO the significance
which the institution has come to have in the higher
life of tic American metropolis A more suspicious
opening unable to recall, or one simultaneously
richer in present pleasures and promises Both
pictures. that within the proscenium frame and that
presented by the audience and its occupants were
delightful u the sight, allurng to the fancy and
stimulating to enjoyment: and when ii appeared
besides that the opera, whatever shortcomings
critical analysis might discover in IT, yet always
engaging, sometimes a fascinating entertainment, and
that the new singers excellent artists and comcly
10 was small wonder that the enthusiasm awakened
was genuine and deep and found hearty expression
Moreover, the element of surprise had entered into
II a. a stimulus. Opera and singers had como
without preliminary flourish Of trumpcts to herald
them They asked for Judgment purely on their
merits, and because adventous aids had been
invoked In their behalf the success the greater.
the triumph the prouder. The sense of pleasure In
the performance paired with an honest sentiment
Of gratitude toward Mr.. stanton, who, the executive
head Of the Metropolitan C0mpany's stockholders, had
done tho great things for them whereof they
glad. At the beginning OF season which Is hoped
and believed will place the Metropolitan opera on a
broader stronger and prouder basis than ever, IL Is
fitting that Mr.. stanton and The stockholders well
Mr.. sed and his artistic forces, be heartily thanked
and with them the people Of New-iork be warmly
felicltaed on the achievement of last night and ii
happy augures.
The opera Albcrto Franchett's "Asrac'
work which almost as strange 10 the audience rs
II it had been composed for the occasion. of the
poser little known, what appeared In the
column, of this journal when his symphony in 4 minor
pelfoi med at concert of the Philharmonic society
in April. 1857 This letter was 10 the elect that he
is young Italian, rather ltalianzed Hebrew. re-
lated 10 the Vienna branch Of the BOthechId family.
who has undoublcd talent studied zeaously in Munich
and lived mach OF his time III Dresden. where Capell-
mester Schuch gave him opportunities TO hear his Or
chesral music. In addition to this II may now be
added Ut might have been inferred from his family
connec,ions that signOr Franchetu is very wealthy.
lie resembles Meyerbeer in respecthis mother car
also say of him My son Is musical composer. but
not of necessity His purse is large his ambi
ton and Oh several occasions when his opera has been
accepted for performance lie has cared that 1t should
be sumptuously staged b. paying Tor the decorations
out of hi, own pocket. Aside from the question of
the merit of his music it is for obvious reasons safe TO
predict that a. pursues hi, career As composer.
hi, feet will sink deeper Ia roses than Wasncrs ever
did, or Mozart',. or Becth0ven's.
OF >cnOr FIanchetts work, only those knew any
thing whose duties compelled them to keep Informed
Of the worlds musical donGs. In January, iooo' wieD
Mr. Thon, played the prelude TO the fourth at oi ts
opers at a concert in steinway Hall, AsIaei was
still in manuscript and all that The Irlbunes reviewer
could say OF Il that it was "A mystical opera
ON Wagnertan models Naturally enough II was
,urm,ed at that time that the subject was some egend
connected with that Angel Of Death who heules III
Oriental folklore who until Mahomet intercedeh
IN behalf Of the faithful, was wont to come III the Oods
10 put the mark his elect. This suriniss urs ou'
IN nave been all wrong. The Asrael Of Franchetus
opera has nothing do with the mytholo-1cal hsue
in Hebrew and Turkish folklore. lie ID an opefato
compound thing Of shred, and patches as unlike
ms NEUROLOGICAL namcsaAe in character A. he i III
stature and this latter disparity may be guessed AZ
from the fact the world has Mahomets worn io'
II that the real and original A'racl was 80 arse N~'
ms eyes we're 10000 days journey apart! Even
composer who works on "NaSneriah monels mls"
find such a stage hero trifc cumbersome com
psred with him. segfried, Of whom II Is written 'nSe
Tho sim Of his height was this that when he was
cir, with the sword Gram the dew shoe OF the SWORD
mote tile ears Of the standing corn, Is Only unS
Homo my Thumb. sui such things serhom i1snt
tho souls of the devoted disciples OF wagner ann II
one of them should have become dissatisfied with the
stature of I'M, my thical stage folk and have Sought
b.,o absolutely imnleasurabc, IL would not nave
Greatly aston,hed the critics. But the Oilehtal lOiA
tale, and myths need not detan IL. 30 lar a. ms
operate hero il concerned lheS CONTAIN m'"S
strange things but none quite 80 strange ana utterly
bewildcrng a, Nh, " Lcgenda in quattro Mu WHICH
a certain Ferdnando Fontarn COMPOUNDED 10 NC
stalking horse for >ignor Franchettls music Asraei
* NOT a play in four acts, but something, let
M say a mystery IN six scenes, OF which inc
first and second in the nature of prologue ana
the sixth of an eploguc. These designations haa
they been made might have leS>ened the oe"iiuer'
mont which every one must feel while looking AZ INC
TRANCE creation In which the natures Of the dramsus
All
10 begin with, we are 10 assume that ASgsei "
an angel: not the celestial butterfly of once
mortal chrysalis. but an original angel VINO
,oucht against the hosts Of satan In the celesuai
r,hellon and was taken prisoner by thcn' NOT only
,h,s hut he i, a married angel. which Circumstance
NAV be looked upon a. setting Inc case A" 'ioSo
an,ious directors who wish TO have all the original
angel, males and also comforting 10 those uxorous
r.,,s ,rbo have been distressed by the doctrine re-
,,,,d Inv =, Mark that those who are risen from inc
dead neither marry nor are gwen IN marriage ou'
are a, the angels which in heaven In inc hahds
- his captors Asrael sighs for the wife from who lie
l., separated and is told that heaven is no more, but
that he may enjoy reunion with Meta II lie VIII ~
with hi, captors he'll inaSmuch as he Is prisoner
r. rould think that Asrael had llobsons choice IN
IN, premises but the nbrettst seems TO MINK Quiet
wise Unconsciously as humorous III inc Guilty." %
Mr. Gilbert was consciously humorous WHICH nc "'uo
mis- Pirate King present pistol 10 unarmed tieoeroA'
head and beg him to spare his llfe >lghor foh'"'" n'
Ar,l submit and consent to go with his captors' io'
which sin the Almighty condemns him TO suner ever
lasting punishment. This Is 80 surprising an eAa'hp''
- Divine Justice that IT Is pleasant duty TO say oe
or going ON with Thu, exposition that the rreNo'aoo
decree Is set aside later when Asrdcl has really oeoo"'
=, wicked that hell can 10 longer hold him. Beiora
no, o,.pmmotion A,rael obtains permission to vlSb
.,rtl for 4 year. on the promise that Inc VIII orihs
lack "A soul robbed from heaven >u'h are tl'e GU"
tent, of the first scene Of the opera tile second Is con
,erncd with the angelic WIFE She Is a. dSsa'sneu !"
heaven without Asrael ASrael is IN he'll without 'e'
which fact is explained, We fancy by the ih'''n'uo"
In the prologue prciNcd 10 the book by inc poe, '''
the pair were probably not yet out oil thclr Money
moo, ,,r I'm. call 10 war reached him while they were
enioying "A promenade in the Eys!an fields NJ any