New-York tribune., 1896-10-27
MUSIC-THE DRAMA.
THE ITALIAN OPERA.

1t was gladsome time at the Academy Of M,~..
last night Too gladsome. indeed to yield the ri,ns
OF existence t. airy spirit Of discrimination CIR,
icIsm vas banfshed far into the wastes Of unrS.
Broadway and the domain Of Wagner II ALI ~.
Old Guard. 20 whom Colonel Mapleson has ~.
appealing. we.c not on hand (that s the Old cu.ss
OF two decades ago.. there was excellent r.n..
sentation OF lis leaders, md for the rank and A..
there substitutes massc. To tell a. :.
speculate where they all came from were to .r
gest critcism-which Is nterdiced Better to reco,s
how a mutitudinous voice broke into accalr, ~
every sustained tone thigh, Of course) how n -.
into an ecstatic roar at every clamacteric ensemh
and stepped from sheer exhaustion after the s,.
ers. the conductor and the doughty Colonel h.s
made and remade their acknowledgements a, -.
close Of each act.
The opera was ~ a." Years ago. in the palm,
days OF the Maplesci.ian consulship 1t "Aidas
that proclaimed the high-water mark OF the dolng,
| a. the Academy. That memories OF that time lin.
gered ir the managerial mind the choice OF thu
opera 10 an opening piece proved. 1t would hav.
beer pity had it been otherwise and no ous
should ae churlish enough TO withhold the admra
tion which is due TO Colonel Mapleson for having
perceived tie direction In which successful bs.
ginning was to he rnade. lie was sure Of an i'm.
questionable audience, and ne went for h.s
audience boldly Sorority WAS what he asked Of
his forces. ard that he got; but Its best. It was
"A },
did no lock ar i; used TO look. it was still res.
onart ss a drum. and nothing was lost because Of
bad acoustic conditions. Such conditions do not
exist 81 the Academy There every tone can taks
hold of the nerves OF the listeners and make them
| vibrafe in harmony with the vocal CORDS OF the
hea,,tf,,I demonstration OF the value OF sympathy
Only small fraction or tnose "no P".ucipaed
in the performance were on ths ane sr
And MANY man who Matters hlmseIl Win tne
conviction that he knows ne % sue s
formers and auditors Is the most Pu'ssah' o' ~
factors .ossoa ~ m ,,....
curiosity touching the details Of the performanes
How Did the principal singers SIG n9w onH Sc 1ney
What kind OF an orchestra is this that the New
Imperial Opera Company has has ssS RSss ~ n:
and and IL they were answered fully frankly ard with:
Tw. ,wecn Colonel Mapleson and the public hand.
balance would be found a on tne an sss 81 ne
ysnors effort to DO Justice to verdis opera
HIGH aesthetic ideal was in nobody,s mind IN:
thenseIves on amybody's suspicion but there was
! n MEASURE pressed down and running over OF en-
sad qnd Maame IA snf Bsu WHO
carried the title role did so on shoulders 80 ample
| - was fresh and In some respects unspoiled In
the early portions Of the opera she was dlsappoint.
Ing but she did much for the redemption ot he.
BORROWINGS in the third act. The Amneris Of
Madame Parsi was conventional performanee-
| cn vas the performance Of everybody and every.
thing for that matter-but It was vocay s power,
full and had she not been gulity OF some ohehses
| sometimes when German singers commit them
| and they are oimes) she would nave oeeh admi.
| Invited. Signor De Anna. an old acquaintance
| sang better than any Of his companions ne was
| the Amonasro. and his fine, musical tone produc'
! lion his intonation and his cnuncaton were 50
| admirable that It seemed \ pity tnat MS singing
| was NOT Infused with more dramatic fervor.
! The King OF Signor Dado was likewise eminent!
satisfactory. but Signor Durots impsfsona,uon Q;
| his voice. good IN quality but badly managed IN
| the French style was effective only when ne gave
| II the rein In the cmaXes. La lraViata VIII
! be sung tomorrow evening.