New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-11-19
MUSIC-THE DRAMA.
OPENING OF THE OPERA SEASON

OPENING OF The Ofrfth SCH''A'
The opera season opened at the Metropolitan
Opera House last night with performance Q.
Gounod's Romeo ct Julette." sung in its original
French In its externals the occasion was so much
like 80 many Of .s predecessors, saving the sheht
change noticeable to the practised eye, "hch iasn
ion works In the appearance OF an audience tna' "
might be disposed OF In exceedingly few worns WIRE
It not that the season ushered In has awahe"eo
peculiar hopes In the breasts OF music lovers
While saying little the management has proh'seo
much and no matter how brilliant the achieve
ments may be land last nights representation ih9-
Gated that they will he brilliant indeed) "hen WV
season Is over. the discriminating observer WIN y.
yond doubt be able to say, In spirit OF sta'''""e
for the past and prophecy for the future IL was
merely the prelde 10 the truer and better things
vet 10 come To meet the demands OF the people OF
New-York the opera must be In the pes, se'Se eo
mopolitan There Is no narrow feeling mere "n'o"
demands that beauty OF uttersnce be sacrince' 70
any language. Italian. French and German are al
equally foreign but all welcome so long AZ 'ney
nroye to be tho best vehicles for the conveyance OF
the Intentions Of the dramatic poet ana h"s'oa.
composer But the fact that they are 10 DC used
this season, each In characteristic works 10 ~"''h
they are native gives pledge that. so FAR az con-
ventional limitations will allow the pubic is 10 ger
d.ener glimpse than usual into the nature Of the
music and the purposes Of the composers Ana this
gives promise the eventual destruction OF the oa
and silly conventions and the paving OF the way %
the lyric drama In is best estate, WIN Inv '''"H
lar as its language.
Th,s lies in the promises OF the management
,bbuzh /. did not disclose itself in the performance
last night further thaD IL might have oeeh reae 40
the superb gathering in the AUDIENCE 'oo'"' ''.e
interest VITA which the representation WIS .0'-
lowed and the quick appreciation SHOWN io' e'e'y
specially artistic bit OF work done IN the pi'"0'p@'
roles OF Gounod's opera there were Inosuy la'"'a'
forms and faces Mr.. Jean de Reszke was 'he grace
full. impassoned Romeo Of yore. who by tne Hahhef
in which he went straight TO the heart OF tae
drama and music (what wlzened ana cheapy
bedzened little organ It is when conFastea WIN
.ha ,brohbny heart OF Shakespeare tragedy com
need forge,fulness OF the first impression let W
hts sInging-that his voice wanting ltte IN
ira customary c!earness and brlliancy. lhen mere
was big-voiced and b!g-mannered Eooua'u De
Reszke as the frsr sauve Plancon az OdpuIe' Aho
NJ Mauguiere as the gentle ana puishs Iyoait
There was a new Juliette, Nine. Frances 9a'h'e'
now stenhano. Miss Clara Hunt twhose trepdaton
incident to a first appearance invites '"e H'"-"'
rbch los in mention for record only ana he"
,tou,io N dc Vries OF whom il j. sufficient ~
saw that his BARITONE voice IL pleasant II ho' par
tcularly rotund and sonorous ..o, 49,. O.,
Nme SayiIe deserves larger attention Out "
"a doubtful IN spite of the extremely pleasutaps
impre sson which she made II entire Jusucf "oH.1 We
i,ne 10 her in a detailed judgment Daee4 Upon ner
S,n g,ng and acting last night. Ii was obvious mat
the nervousness consequent on so tys az "a "a "a
o. that which she went through embarrassed ner
%raarb,no and tbs was probably the reason why,
IN the early part Of the opera more nei
voice in the medium register wa ~eaf ouevsr wa.
in intonaton. The higher register noer,i "a
uniformly excellent bright, true powerful am
scntllan,. and ever ana anon ds s Nm. Eames's
voice which must have awakened peassnt uhl''s
in the hearts Of the admirers 81 that la"1, WY
this wear absent from the company. On the "nois
she provided a most agreeable surprise ana VIII
prove a useful member OF the company. io.nsoI,ow
evening the opera VIII De- NN'A''" "'
IN