New-York tribune., 1891-12-29
MUSIC-THE DRAMA.
ITALIAN OPERA.


fhe list Of operas announced by Messrs. Abbey ana
Crau for tho third week OF their season OF italian
opera at the Metropolitan Opera House may be said
10 be Indicative 10 some extent Of purpose on their
part 10 get little closer 10 the taste of the public
than they were during the first tive weeks. 1t is
yet early point the lessons which the experiment
Of the daring managers is teaching though some OF
them may be read easily they will be later.
The public themselves impresSing Certain artistic
doctrines upon tho minds of all Observers and when
he time comes for review OF tho 10 will scarcely
be necessary do than marshal the facts In the
case. One OF the deductions which the managers
will doubtless be able to make without assistance is
that a performance Of Aida at S5 is not quite so
preposterous as a performance Of II Trovatore." La
sonnambua7 Rigoletto7 at the price. Another
which 1t is safe to say will be suggested by the ex-
periences OF this week 1t that the measure Of both
artistic and financial profit will increase in proportion
popular interest is directed TO the works rather
single singer There Is but justification for the
old star system and the attendant revival Of the tune
f ingies of fifty years ago, and that is the odtime
perfection in the style OF singing upon which the old
operas were based That perfection has but few hv-
ing exemplars, and they not In the company now
singing at the Metropolitan Opera House. Operas
hike Aida" the contrary, while giving ample scope
good vocal art imbued With the modern dramatic
spirit and displaying beautiful voices efectually
ever did the works OF Bellini and Rosspi, has
other things to commend it. and may be listened to
with pleasure though Patti be thousands Of miles dis
tant from the opera house. 1t may be
heard with greater pleasure with Patti out OF
the cast than in II as has frequently
been demonstrated here Last night Madame Leh-
lowered all her colleagues by many feet Of
artistic stature without monOpOhzing the interest of
the performance. The dramatist and composer
left with their rights intact and every feature Of the
performance except the singing OF the representatives
Of the King the High Priest and Amneris. stimu
lating and enjoyable. Herr Saar conducted the per
ormance and managed to infuse the orchestra with
better OF Its mission than has been observable
before this season, though there stl crudites
the band. The performance showed a continued
growth in excellence, until the climax In the
third act when task of Interpretation being solely
in TIE hands OF Madame Lehman, Mr. Jean de Reszke
signor Magin-Coletd they celebrated their enamel
patton from the incapables by splenddly
impassioned performance of the clmactc scenes.
TIL then Mr. DE ResZke seemed 10 have
been sparng his voice, though dramatically he
showed his refined intelligence in developing
tho character gradually instead of presenting it full
grown in the first act. Madame Lehman stinted
none of her powers and fairly saved the performance
from the stagnaton which several times seemed TO
threaten il by dnt of her enthusiasm and ardor Her
success and that OF Messrs De Reszke and Magini-
Coletti. rewarded by the beartieSt Outburst ot
Ravog's Amneris but nle merit could be discovere1.
Its greatest merit hc ety Of n.elton and effort:
vocally II full Of shortcomings Us for the others
in the cast II is kindness net 10 mention their names
that Madame Albanis next appearance would be
with NJ. Jean de Reszke in Verdi's Oteo."