New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-01-17
MISS S4NDERSONS DEBUT

There was very effective demon stration at the
Metropolitan opera House last night OF the potency
0: popular interest in a much-adverused woman.
Miss sybil Sanderson effected her entrance on the
American stage in Masserets opera Manon.
The work is charming one. although scarcely
aaant.d TO a playhouse OF the dimensions OF the
operate house in upper Broadway II has the ao-
vantage OF being written IN tongue better under'
stood by the people than Italian, ana AFTER IL oe-
ycoped tina, the fair debuiante could use the Ian
guage with admirable distnctness and charmngy
modulated cadences. 1t was obvious to the most
ordinary observer that there is virtue In French
which deserving OF cultivation. NO doubt II was
extremely ei,icacous In helping Miss Sanderson 10
the pretty triumph which she celebrated at the
close OF the frs; act. That she did not maintain
herself arts;ically the plane TO which the hrst
act raised her not the fault of the opera. bur
due TO the fact which became patent already IN the
second act. that she is wanting in passionate eN-
preston we'll in voice and that her histrlonlc
limitations go hard In hand with her vocal. But
she was a radiant vision, clad IN wondroas gowns
throughout the play. and had she been able 10
bring out the ingratiating character OF the music
she might have held the sympathies OF her audi
ence obviously predisposed in her favor. in The de-
gree contemplated by the composer. This qraity
of graciousness is the most noticeable element IN
Massenets music. AS much anything can co
IL achieves pardon for the book. when Is iaE
less amlable than that of La Traviata' and
which deals with the uniovely theme The
performance last night much superior 70 that
at the Academy OF Music. nine years ago. WHOA
introduced the opera the American people. II
was much more sump;uousy dressed, better acsu
and better sung on the whole. and II the con-
dtions had been better in respect OF the dlnea-
sions OF the place IL certain that it would
have won the admiration which 1t deserves a.. per-
haps the most unaffected. spontaneous. melotlous
and logically developed of all OF Massenets operate
scores As II was. the opera was followed with warm
interest from beginning TO end. and the interest
grew into aneciionate enthusiasm whenever the o.
casion brought NJ. Jean ds ResZke into the lore
ground 1t was SAID e. be his first appearance, ~
II was, II certainly invited as warm tribute "
MS artistic character as anything that ne nass
done. II was full OF passion. an easy, unstud'sA
grace OF pose and action .
or Miss Sandersons performance II Is possible 70
speak with kindly recognition. II not WIN en-
thusasm Her voice is not one OF the Kind 10 "
associated with serious opera. Ii is pure ana rue
IN lntonation. which Is virtue that is comins "
be more and more highly valued AS II grows moiis
and more rare. but II Is lacking In volume anu ~ a
fairly equable throughout its natural register Nhun
not forced. but II becomes alternate as II Soes -
afflicted moreover with an almost distressing 10.
steadiness and is deficient In warmth ihese unNr7j
must be said In View OF the rank which the MI, rss
has been told Miss Sanderson has taken IN IaiSs
among the singers OF to-day That she gives mus.a
pleasure 20 the eye has already been sag, an "a
may be added that when no stress OF feeling ss;I
% portrayed she aes na,nray' audience
, quickly responsive 10 every appear miie 70 nss
miraton AT the end OF the first act thers wa" for
ine demonstration OF enthusiasm when va, ma.
her The tcond neither Invited nor receiver n
tition OF the applause but the third again sa A
forth thanks TO the impassoned s'nghS ., sake Of
the record this having been tie hrs' pe'io'"'"
OF the opera in French In New-York: