New-York tribune., 1896-12-01
OPERiTIC MATTERS.

The beginning OF the third week OF opera at the
Metropolitan Opera House finds the season wei
launched and the skies seemingly prop!iious Nine.
Calve Is voyaging hitherward from France ana
her coming will increase the brillancy OF the gala
nights. which. by the way are the only nights
that the regular patrons Of the opera seem to be
willing to look upon as In truth metropolitan opera
nights Mr. Grau's experiment with the German
system Of two sets OF prices IL Interesting one
whose outcome will doubtless be OF considerable
significance in the ultimate solution OF what must
still be called the operate problem. what 1t has
accomplished far is TO present the old and
newer conceptions of operate representation In
form most convenient for study. The representa-
ton OF aida" last Saturday evening was like the
representations which stood 70, the best that tal-
ian opera had TO offer fifteen years ago. IL was
like the recent performances under Colonel Maple
sons management at the Academy Of Music. The
latter performances had the advantage over last
Saturdays of better chorus and vastly more
energetic and spirited musical direction; that OF
las, Saturday was superior In the principal tenor
part Sgnor Cepp. the representative OF Rhadarnes,
is built physically like Tamagno; he Is large man
and Will cut fine figure In the heroic roles when
may fall 10 his lot His voice is ample In volume pure
in quality and true In intonation. We can Imagine
him causing a brief thrill Of excitement with an oc-
casional tour de force: but II Will not warm the
hearts of HIS listeners they like TO have them
warmed But who shall. after Jean de Reszke'
II is a spoiled public that newcomers from abroad
are compelled TO face In New-York-a grevousiy
enored nublic-and Mr. Grau has done and Is doing
so much to increase our impatient fastidioushess
that II IS to be feared that for us there VIII be no
more cakes and ale so the artistic virtue OF
rho DE Reszkes Melbas and Eamcses Is gone from
our stage or shall then have new singers equally
good or better? Wofu will be the day n these
have no succession.
or the new dramatic prima donna II would be
a pleasure TO write with enthusiasm II II were
uossible for she has an important role TO play III
,be hotter part of the Metropolitan regime. AS
valent,n. and Aida however, she has done no
more than TO recall the conventional performances
y, tho mast She has experience. training. a suf-
sciency of voice albeit that is uneven In qiai-
ity, earnestness and willingness she wants tenn
,,oro,,ont She does not offend by forcing her IN
divduallty into notice, but neither dces she c"a'" "
nv presenting dramatic figure that has vitality
The same intensity Of honest effort which M'ie.
Olitzka put forward last Saturday night as
an,noris and on Friday night AZ Ortrud, would
mako any performance Of Nine Ltvinnes con-
yiucine but there Is warm Orientalism III inc
Younger Polish woman which the eider ia'hH ~
toto Az for Mile Ozka. she needs but 10 snake
off her one gricvous vocal vice. trust more 10 III
telligent impulse and less TO antiquated cohVeh-
lions ard all will be well with hcr ana 'ne puo''
90 far as the contrato roles concerned at pres
ent. .>,,.,ar
tos, riob, the opera was Wagner's Meister-
singer" which was presented in the Italian peivei-
sion which has already been discussed III t'''o
nagss II was a performance of the Upper House
Of the Metropoan fof6c' c opera ara was brought
ward This season very admirable SO Idr ~ @ a',o
singing OF the de Reszke hui utterly dis
anpoiniing In every other respect On TINS pom, ~
The Tribune has spoken II Is sorcea rc unpleasanty
unnp ones notice all through the hrst act. pu, a
Question OF putting the fe into the brh muSse seems to
have tre " escaped the notice OF Signor Mancneih