New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-10-07
MUSIC AND THE DRAMA.
THE NEW OPERA.

49,. than nine days wonder here that IL Is
W rnooe IS q not uuinteresting question for
.,y Of reasons. Curiosity concerning 1t has been
-'ng,y piqued by the ofttod story OF It's young |
sose, and his sensational success but something |
ssssss curiosity viii have to be appealed 10 IL all
y managers who have seized upon the work arc |
=. ga their expected reward. Mr.. Hlnriehs wOs the
e. 10 produoe the work in the United states, his !
..rsormsnee In Philadelphia antedatng those oi
,.ssrs Aronson and Hamerstein by three weeks |
- chicago Madame Hanks company introduced the
,,k ON the evening before the day which saw inc
,ooli.h scramble for the priority here, that Is "a
-. on september 80. Miss Juoh has the opera III |
u-an,ration and in all probability VIII be hrsV ~
The field in Boston
For Mr. Arenson the opera has peculiar vaiue III
,be fact that II has come just 10 time 70 enaoie NM
suceesSfuly to make his projected change oil pohe|
y ~ Casino n does mot exact much Of its per
,orners and is remarkably generous in the manner
:, which il repays kind treatment In the depar"n.""
most easily filed in this oity-the choral ana orSh.e
tra It's effect the taste OF the patrons " ~
house will be good, and the lbeFahS a'u W"
dom displayed by Mr.. Aronson In orsahizias ms IN
troretstive forces win commend his new departure 10
die admiration Of the many for whom 'le sn"ne'
Genre OF opera had been rendered distasteiui " o
Motley which has prevailed so long Oh iues"~ 80,
huu,or into horseplRy and looking hole q" o
opportunities for displaying the legs OF Inc Wonen
On the chorus than al the excellence OF tne huenN
corr The dramatlzation which has resulted Hoh
this noucy has affected not only the chhfaoei
Of The operate stage but also puoi0 49,
Every admirer of musical comedy as wen a. 80
upholoer Of the stage viii have cause 10 casno
The change indicated by the new policy a. Ve tne6t
is accomplished. Morals ana nusi' VI"
hy the change .... compeIled
The conditions under which Circumstance esms TO
n, uamm,rsteln 70 give the opera (snee nc - h.en
teel that there was compusion in the CAsr had ne
Drsort,nste for him as well as the opeis musical |
nIaFIin
,a,en+s n, Madame JanouschOwsEy ln0 rro,ancv Of
svee.ness OF Mr. Clsrkes voice. uo .snrence and |
chorus and orchestra and the sh,ii ,- would have
zeal OF Mr. Neuendorf the ,Ss npblIc interest
enabled the company -, But bad as the LehoA
WIN INC N'7'"o -, for concert purposes, IL - -
Lyoeun n"S ~. onsr.ao the reverbestlonS pel's nm
a.aas.a INV hrngns the orcies'H -" ,n.,,ng II inn |
3 "a the want Of room on 'ho 80, 80 70 the opera
Al" une stn,sip a dramatic Illusion II Inv - |
possible to mS.'A So. a,ch circumstances it would
were 10 .,rsAu1 tribute 10 the merit Oh tne "usi'
49, ,be vast number OF Representatives N
49, has had IN Italy and germany c.,
- % account for the popularity OF OaVa
,.,s pustieanss than 70 point out any signs Oh sreu
. ard original seaius In its score. Inc opel" '"I
- I,ss IN ia naive forcetuness. A singular thihs
ono,. this manifestation both in book and music, Is
,ha+ II seldom or never seems 10 spring rum ~
.ian The book is good one because MdsoSsn e
n and because the mon who wrote II seem " W
Huov 81
know how 70 make bad one. The simplicity I" tHe
ale itself is paired with equal simplicity IN the acuon
and dialorue When the writers leave the eSSenu'
things OF the story aud edeps parts OF Tie
apparatus they become utterly conventional Al"
movement is always simple and direct IN Vae ue'eiOp
n.rs Of the Sow Incidents, and these are raised 70
high pitch of passionate intensity by the musO "iIS"
s mes, .teresuns 70 the student and eloquent OIL to
ehnposeFss geaius in the SITTING Oh inc o""su1
fheIe IN reality all Of sgnor hascasnis ofAgihHn"
les. The uumbcrs which are most appiauaea are iaf
nom the bsss in the score The lnterme]1o Il ~ n
sans popasksble in itself Its melody Is hueht au'
not devoid Of paahos, but It's treatment Is hU.linN
mar. nor sess than copy of that by which HeHmes
herger rescued the Large meiody from H"nu'i
"Xerx.ss and gave it go tremendous a popu'eFi1 ~
thu oouoartfOom. Phe secret OF the gfe"t iAo''Ne
nosr AT the niece lies largely in the fact that IL oe
~ a, an. emotional climax of the play, and While
According = brief respite from the visible acuoh ye'
sus+ains continues and even lntehslIes VIC
psychological action. The device OF introducing
lave song (which In the dramatic scheme we are "
conceive to be serenshe sung ny luiiuuu ~
Il copied from Aeyerbeer's "Dinorah' It's enecuNe
n.ss il AZ least open TO debate. In other hnmsefs
4hc influence Of Verdi particularly, out also SOiOo
and Rizst, is unmstnkable In faet VIC ~
oalsa on to name the work which mas most hiauii0y
bean influential in forming MascagnPs manner We
would unhesltaungly name Nerdfs OseIio' flo'n
tbs, noble work In whiah the fruits OF spontaneous
creation and wise reflection are 30 eLecu'e-S oO
serted. Mascagni seems to have learned how 10 Ne~
words ana music 20 that each factor raises 'hS
other 20 a higher power.
ant II much of the young composers melody Is
wanting in peal originality 1t is full OF passionate
h,ood and in It's treatment the devices OF sharp CON
fr.sts in ORCHESTRAL color dynamic expression anu
unconventional chord SUGGESTIONS are empiOSeu "l'n
falling effect. MaScagni does not hesitate " "S'
10 ,etonsrs, nerves as harp-stlings. lie IS more
anxious to draw blood than tickle the ear
drum If he tarns torrent where m liest W.
Lrook might suffice il Is because at the outset nc
ssrTies ms hearers kr above the valley OF eolihHn
pacs emotions and has the power TO preserve W
tsnslan without moments intermlssion were 9e
TrSsSnt nat so woiuuy sterile period IN opeFstIc
somposton his opera would have created less sur;
~ n Sas independsnt significance, and the world
vii await its successor with on anxiety unknown
since Yerdi's "Oello' had It's first performance al
Milan