New-York tribune., 1891-12-26
MUSIC--THE DRAMA.
FAUST AT THE OPERA.

, rrn misfortune which is pursuing Messrs Abbey
Ia frau in their effort TO galvanize Italian opera
kto new life at the Metropolitan Opera House seems
x ne assuming larger dimensions every day. Last
r,sht,s representation OF "Faust" lost what would
s,e been its most attractive feature by the continued
srlness OF Mr.. Edousd de Res2ke This deprivation.
koveyer was expected. and ample notice was given in
.reordsnce with the frank and fair methods of the
MANAGERS Who however greatly they may have mis-
s,aged the taste of the public, are never guilty Of
.rgctSsing deception. II doubly agreeable to
s.te last night that the audience though warned that
singer who had already demonstrated his incapacty
LIQUID assume the part OF Mefstofee, nevertheless
surned out In greater numbers than before this
.sason and listened to the performance with
sympathetio interest II lovely tribute to Gounod
charming opera, significant sign of the times, and
: Aict which the management would do we'll 10 heed.
h was also bit OF comfort TO Mr. Grau, who
Ibged yesterday TO announce that the projected per
hrmanoe Of "Mlgnon" this afternoon wouh have 10
abandoned because OF the Illness of Miss Van Zandt
instead at ThomSs's opera II Trovatore" will be
,,sted with Madame ILehmann Leonora. Mr..
kslisch as Manrico and Magni-Coetu as hi Luna.
Those who came 10 hear the opera and not single
Anger were rewarded by q spirited performance
and one that had more elements Of good in II than
.ny the company has given thus far. The public was
scrs than gratined by the appearance, quite
Dectcd under the circumstances, of Madame scalchi
n the role Of Siebel. She was warmly greeted and
Aer first nOtes sent thrill OF pleasure through the
audience showing how warmly the old admiration
Atm glowing Everything that she did applauded,
~ sne seeming TO mind the evidence OF decsdece her
rppor tones Sf the strange makeshifts which char
sctsrile her vocaEaton. The god Impression
made by Miss Eames in the part Of juliet was deepened
Sy her singing of the music which Gounod has put
into the mouth Of Julos twin sister In art, Margheta
In the matter Of conception and in the mechanics Of
execution she offered nothing new The Partisan
conventions all preserved unless ii is thought that
n sing the second stanza OF the King OF
Thule romance while picking flowers instead of spin
sine Is noteworthy innovation The beautiful voice
n our fair coantrywoman, her obviously excellent
musical knowledge. and pralseworthy though incom
sete training stood her In good stead throughout the
evening. wherein her performance fell short was in
warmth and variety OF eMpressOn-the qualities In
which the singing Of Mr.: Jean de Reszke was most
kdmlrable. Mr.. de Reszke's voice Is much less TT
narkable than his heart and art Last night 1t
seemed veiled and less resonant than last
week but ii floats so buoyanty the food of his
tamatic feeling that one is seldom inclined TO cavil
Of II. The MeistOfele Sgnor Serbo in who lacks
the quality and depth required by tie part and
Ire Valentino was Monsieur Martapourl who made
Che public remember his predecessors with regret.