New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-10-11
VI USIC'
THE FIRST MELBA CONCERT.


The METROPOLITAN opera House opened its doors
last night and the musical season OF lssiso ha'
ia becinning In all respects the affair was APP
uronriate and suspicious. 1t gave hearing TO 'he
singer who as such things once were measured
must be set down as the finest living No'a's"
1, Was the first Of Mime. Melbas concerts uhaer '"e
MANAGEMENT OF Messrs. Abbey, Schoenel urH"
If ought scarcely to be necessary At TINS gay "
explain what is meant by such a phrase as ,he
Greatest living vocalist" 1t does not mean wv
greatest dramatic singer. except In countries VIZ
the ideas touching dramatic singing are thoss
which were created by the style OF opera cum,
waited a century or more ago Here ana J" "
the countries OF Europe. except possibly 'pA,'
the public. the singers ana the mus'd' w.
nossrs have earned to dferentate between w
calization and singing. and have marked oroa'"
the line that separates vocaliZation from s'"e'9
Rut This does not argue a want or appiecia"o.@
or even admiration for excellence in either uep"'
ment and when an artist like Nine Meloa eo''..
SIN. wins the recognition she deserves as supreme
I'm her genre. Ii gratifying, therefore ~ =.
the cordiality and enthusiasm with when sa'
was greeted last night when she sang uhue' =.
cumstances best calculated TO exhibit her "S M.
and altogether remarkable gifts and accomp"'"
ments In its general features the cohce'.
very like the form Of entertainment "NN =,
longs 10 an earlier age in the artistic histof! "
New -York--the form which Nine. Patu perpe.A
after music lover tnouBnt i'S N"
been rung. There arias and orchestral 80 W.
lures and songs and an act or opera anu ~,
ANYBODY should forget that II was the peo, ,.
NJ a series of concerts designed TO carry aoH
ton for the principal singer into what ior w"
venieuce's sake is called the Provinces '"
to be hoped without offence) Nine. Me'O' .,n
THE O,d Folks at Home In response 10 a..
Surely demonstration could go no iur'"e'' =,
know now what it Is that VIII GRACE the '''e"
Sun
But this is the side OF the affair that ~.
necessary to dwell upon. The great 'Sn'S s, a,
whose voice Is exqusitely lovely ami whose a. svef
near perfection as any lover OF singing hee' hssr.
expect sang delightfully."- and entrance bar sins
ers II was peculiarly gratifying 10 neu "a, IN
the horid air from Handlers l. Aues,or FOR
English instead of French as she dii last y.ior 10
IN truth Millions music is scarcely nierlo' are
Uandeis and all English speaking peOp',,sr be.
entitled TO the original text when the sinesi also
longs to them, as in this case Sne liz an AVE
waltz of Arditi's, In response TO rccais G"unods
Maria" written In palpable imitation OF "nInent
10y Cooper. with harp and organ 3raeadv men
and violin bblgato. the Foster ballad arden
toned and the music Of Marguerite III ue - also
Scene from Faust Nine. Sca, nh though she
sang Clicks "Che faro ssnza Eurydice Wiz called
extravagant and false sentiment. she w"aSowledgs
back time and again to the stage TO acnii an ar
the audiences applause. Finally she auu rkabls
things so far vocal execution Is conceim, were
other artists who took part In the conHI, aid 10
NJ. Plancon. the basso, VINO could scdIN.',f
the reputation he has already won het,,, FABIAN
for whose participation In the concert no w night
musician would like to answer io-nIiin.tIvn Soo
the company will give concert In DrooA""
on Saturday afternoon another here'