New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-01-05
MUSIC.
.,onERN ITALIAN OPERA.

.bhev and Grau produced "Pagliacci''
MesS,..,seria Rusticana' at the opera last night
ana Nv all the parts In the nahus OF the minor
win Pc ~ their company. the exceptions We're
MEMBER maeno. who appeared as Turddu in the
Sisnor iA md sjenor Ancona. If he can be con-
latter 'p the stars OF the first magnitude as
sidefe' T., the former. Under the circumstances il
Tonic !" 10 tho management was experimenting
lookeo a" lit that js trying to discover to what
win u. - ,c,o works. which have created such
extern o,,r,oiion in the world. are popuar.y at
pr -. ,hsir own sake. If this was Mr.. Grau $
rae" =, l. % be feared that the result was not
P'' i's,,oc The audience was not numerous ana
s.sorr,ance excited very little interest less
the per'o.'' .s.n ever before. The latter circum
Al spo"'e largely due to the character OF the
stance va" which in "Pagliacci at least was
perio'n,,r IN spirit after Signcr Ancona sang
saoH 'aN" - which is pretty early In representa-
the pIV s,sssion to set in The falling off In at
uo'i ~. might perhaps, be as easily explained.
tei'' an extremely wide gulf between the best
i"e =, the Metropolitan company and the rest,
peop tendency of such performances as Messrs.
an. - and Grau have given us has not been TO
Aopey devotion 10 the star system. 1t is no
oiss,, n the generous managers that they have
o~s, the public 10 think that the most brilliant
'..,;s,,on that can be brought forward is none
''..s for New-York; but the results of that edu-
.,n., process must sometimes seem discourage
A.. "a those who have to pay the piper. and almost
Is. n,ty from those who believe that the cause
~o,d music might be more effectively promoted
Snerent system than that now prevailing.
~. nman nature asserts itself over matters
operate .,.-,,..,,.
The best part OF the performance of "Pasliacci
s the work OF the orchestra Miss de Lussan.
- essayed the part of Media. was unable 10
aSa n yocally effective for want OF volume or
1--WE and Signor Russtano seemed puny In every
uav Signor Ancona alone was up 10 the standard
", he Nessrs Abbey and Graus singers last sea-
seu y! The representation OF "Cavalera Rusticana
Sss throughout on a higher plane. Mile. Mira Hell
ragno the Turiddu. Senior Bensaude the Alio.
Hiue Rauermeister the Lucia. and Mile. de Nigne
he ola Mile Heller is young artist OF hne
ccaoaci,v and finer promise Her nature IL plainly
one of great emotional intensity, which Is paired,
Smt not equally with artistic earnestness and IN
,aii,gence She has vivid and truthful conception
y, he character OF Santuzza and frequently re-
minded one last night OF Nine. Calve In appearance
md acting Her neXperience. however. disclosed
,se i'm the fact that she set the PEGS very high at
a. beginning which made IL difficult TO show forth
tha, steady development which Ia essential In the
less II was an impersonaton full of things that
corpelled admiration. and II Will be interesting 10
n,a,rh the growth OF the young artist who could
Nv, such performance to her credit Slgnor IA
nneaono found the character OF the vulgar Turiddu
much "a his liking II is splendid vehicle for the
noneni His defamation except when he yielded
10 his tendency to exaggerate. was superpiy ei-
fsc,iye and had much to do with rousing the
audience out of the lethargy into which Pasli-
ocii threw them The operas for to-day are
elaine in the afternoon and carmen at night.