New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-01-25
MUSIC-THE DRAMA.
OPERA IN THE vERNACULAR.

II pluck and daring could always insure success
there would be no doubt about the outcome Of the
operate enterprise which Mr. Oscar Hammerstein
launched last night at the Manhattan Opera House,
This genleman's brief career as manager Of public
amusements has been full Of vicisstudes but Of all
his experiences those which have contained the
largest infusion Of admonton have been made in the
course OF his efforts In Harlem to establish opera In
the vernacuar. That they haye not Ind o deterrcut
effect upon him would be inexplicable were 1t not
that IL is the lesson OF history that daanc. With
the operate muse seems to turn the heads VI even
the most astdte and conservative OF managers me
records are full OF the namey 81 men who have sunk
fortunes in chasing the bubble OF success in this eM.
New York does not need to look beyond her own
boundaries to discover some Of the most notable II
them though she has never enjoyed such spectacle
NJ once diverted London, when manager directed
the Italian opera from the interior OF the Fleet prison,
and phIOsOphCaly approved OF his incarceration On
the grounds that prison walls were I/y>- protectors
from the opportunities OF singers, ana that nobody
mad enough 20 engage IN opera giving ought to b
permitted to remain ut liberty. AS matter Of fact
everything IS topsy .trvcy in the operate world
and II an observing genius were simply to picture Il
as It is in all its factors, phases and elements he
might write in all sincerity and seriousness, yet
produce a satire that would make Mr. Gilbert turn
green with envy.
But this is a little aside from our purpose. Mr..
IammprStein
in the yernacuar lie has brought his enterprise down
from Harlem and domicied 1t In his new theatre
in Thirty fourth-st. He has promised to make 40
effort to supply the want left by the destruction d
the Metropolitan Opera House In the department Of
grand OPERA and also to provide entertainments q
less serious order. Finally as an earnest Of honest
Intention he has signalized the opening OF his season
by the production OF new opera which Is diEni
fed in scope and purpose and enjoys the distinction
Of fey
latter day German list. The opera Is Moszkowslds
Boabdils which had its first production In Berlin .
little less than year ago. and has since been ne.
cepted for performance by Vienna and several other
cities In Europe. Mr.. Hammersten's production
IS not only the first in America, but also the hrst
in the English Language, the translation having been
made for tho occasion by Mrs. c. +. Tretbar OF
course complete decorative outfit was also necessary,
and the "crcation- OF all the roles by the singers
concerned These things, coupled with the expert.
mental character OF the undertaking, made last
nights performance more than ordinarily interest
ing without going into details Just now It ought
10 be said that Mr. Hammersein has Challenged sue.
cess on other grounds than these which ale set
forth I'm the opening words OF tnS review
H. is OF course st possible to see in the orsanza.
ton OF his artistic forces good deal OF the cudeness
and ineffciency which had such frank publication 10
the old Harlem performances and OF the hope that the
public will be willing 10 accept glterng tawdriness
for real brilIancy but 1t would be unjust to dwell
upon these things the face OF the real magnitude OF
the ACHE, ement. Moszkowsks opera had representa-
lion which disclosed 1t to be work Of much Intrinsic
merit and tho deficiencies OF the representation In re-
spect OF action and pageantry both Of which elements
are exacted In large measure by the Play, werc
ntoned for by the honesty OF effort and the success
which crowned II, in the musical performance. The
evening was therefore, productive OF hope for the
future OF the enterprise since it disclosed that ito
skct.n
be remedied. The audience which listened to the per.
Torrance contained a fair representation OF the old
opera patrons of the city. ard their attitude toward
the enterprise sympathetic and kindly.
The opera Is supposed to deal with the downfall
Of the Moorish dominion In spain Its title Is pracu'
cally Identical with the only other opera which has
como under our notice OF which BOabdil Is the hero
This Is n Spanish opera which was produced In Bar.
celona forty seven years ago. Its title is Boabdi,
ultIm0 re Moro de Granada and its composer was
named Saldoni. Tho book of Moszkowski's opera was
written BY Carl Wittlowsk, who called 1t Boaool the
Last OF the Moorish Kings Whether he made Use OF
the early Spanish book cannot say. The historical
element In the story however, Is not calculated 70
inspire much curiosity. Mr.. WlttkOwskis Boaodu
might as well be IIotentot in Africa or an lroquos
in America lie Is Moor merely for the sake o.
local color and possibly because just now the ceic
brotIon OF the discovery OF America by Columbus brings
the verftable Boabd back TO mind The fall OF Hraa
ada and the expulsion OF the Moors rom Spa4H
took place in the same year as the discovery:
80 persons Of not too serious mn@
NAV attribute something like contempoaneous nuniSA
interest to B6abdils operate shadow Inc oPeis'
moreover invests its hero with that spirit OF chvary
cbieh WAS characteristic OF Moorish civilization In i9s
highest estate, and thus creates sympathy ior niln
and his story which Is essential to enjoyment nv
fact that he shrinks TO the dimensions OF an ope'
marionette and joins that innumerapie paha in'o
hntA
great heroes Of the world. from Agamemnon 10 freo-
orck the Great ought to give no one pause We
do not On 70 the opera to study history. Inc lncl-
d.nts with which the last OF the Moorish kings nave
been surrounded are also reflections OF old and Well
tried operate devices. As the panorama OF tae opera
moves past the observer, parallels VIII present ,ne
selves TO his mind by the score. There Is the oia u
vice OF the recovery Of longlost daughter ana oi
that daughters love for the man who Is hated by her
father The denouement Is the slaughter OF the dausn
Ter instead OF the hero by the father-the grewsoms
Incident which winds up Vcrdis "Rigoletto' Inc
story goud take longer in the telling than the ie"
real situations in the drama justify IL begins VIII
+, victory over the Moors by Ferdinand Boaodh' ior
lava NJ Zoraia who has been brought up by the Moors
and f. recognized the daughter Of Cabr Fertnahu
successful general, becomes yassal OF the
spanish Crown. lie keeps faith with Ferdinand, SUD
duos the re5cl Zaga, and Is united with Zoraa ac'
cording Ia the rites OF the Koran. Cibra plots MS
death. and Zoraja, who has overheard the plot "a J"
Valentine In The IuguenOtsD, seeks to save his Ire
by mufing herself in his cloak. She draws the hro
~ ber father and falls dead Boabdil kills Cabra ana
falls under the swords Of his followers. The rest Oh
tho opera is devoted to professions ceremonaIS IN"
feasts which have been provided In generous quanuy
for the sake Of the brave shows which they enap's
the stage manager to provide. and the marches ana
dances which are native to the genius oil the COM
poser ,
A very large portion OF the opera consists OF i's
personages meeting under more or less spectacular
circumstances and talking, always impressiveN a9o
n,s.,onately about what has taken place. is taking
nlace or will take place. On almost all these oc'
casions the Obliging chorus is on hand 10 m'ns'.
lis harmonious shouts with tie speeches OF the chle'
personages whenever climax Is reached. Only IN
ne last act indeed, Is this rule departed FROM ~