New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-02-11
MUSIC.
HAMLET AT THE OPERA.

Ambioise Thomas's opera Hamlet" was performeo
at the Metropolitan Opera House last night 1t had not
been heard for eight years that Is since MI Aboeys
first SEASON at The same institution, when, after tho
holiday vacation il produced In order that Madame
sembrlch might display her lovely voice and art. Some
similar purpose must always underlie production OF
the work. for there is nothing else to plead for It,
Last night 1t the representative Of Ophea but
OF the melancholy Dane himself, who the Justify.
Ing cause Time was in Paris when "Iaml-t was
looked upon as a work Of wondrous merit Mr..
Faurc "created, the tituar role and fixed that
trem ,ndously potent thing In Paris which Is calico
tradition. After him NJ: Lassa!lc. who won some
Of his in the part. Those successes he
duplicated last night Ali that could be done win tha'
saddest Of all perverslons Of Shakespeare he did
Ambrose Thoamas's talent Is undcniable. IL Is an
amiable talent which appears in its brightest light ia
Mignon.' Lovers Of that opera nave spoken
good deal Of dispraise OF the Germans
because Of their indignation at the want o.
reverence for Goethe's marvellous creation
in the opera Perhaps those Of them who have o't
Of re spect left Shakespeare would have appeciad
the feeling, Of the Germans better had they thougN
OF the same composers Hamlet and Midsummer
nights Dream before pronouncing condemnation.
Mr. Thomas has tones for the tragic side OF Shake
spcare he would have been unable TO do justice 70
Hamlet If music contained accents OF expression
for those things in which the essence OF the Tragedy
lies. The result OF the efforts Of the composer ana
muse in which there are n number OF puppets
that dress like shake speaIe's people, do few Things
and LAY "A few things which perverted reflection
Of the doings and sayings in shakespeares tragedy.
II Mr. Tiomas's Hamlet did not sing capital drinking
song and Ophslia exquisite mad music, In when
the bulk of the beauty was borrowed from scandi-
navian folk song, the opera would be insufferaoly
tedious
Its production last night gave the patrons OF the
opera-they were not many-anOther ground for adj
mring tho vne. hisriOnic and musical talent Of VI
LasSale. His Hamlet n admirable an operate
Hamlet as could lie imagined. lie sang with splendid
verve taste intelligence and feeling. lie acted. within
the small territory opened for him by the librettists,
superbly. lie did all that 10 make the opera
II success and he was appreciated by the audience at
his full value Miss Van Zand wac first announced 10
sing the part OF Opheia but day or two ago change
was made and Miss Marguerite Reid (kackley), OF
Indianapolis invited TO effect her first appearance
on the operate stage In the part The young woman
has promising mezZO soprano voice, and her
performance contained many evidences OF intelligence
and musical instinct. That IL constrained and
amateurlsh could scarcely be said operate artists arc
not the products OF day. and lessons In singing do
not make an actress But she promising. Miss
Ravogli entirely acceptable Queen and n.
EdOlIald dc Reszhe a iine King.