The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-12
OPERA NEWS FRoAr nUnopE.
Nassenet's 'sapho - in Paris with Calvs as
the Heroine-The SterN Of Cnin,a WORK.

- " w NtANe -
'he Hsroine-The stery or Cain,a work.
The production Of Massonet's 'Sapho' at tho
opera Comique In Paris has been the most
notable feature of.tho musical world abroad, and
II IL 90 true that the composer has declared
Inat no Will not write another opera, the work
mas an especial significance. There is no par.
ucular reason 10 believe that this latest opera
VIII rank Us tho bcst Of Massenet's work.
mere was enthusiasm at the fret performance,
ana that would have attended any work which
came with the authority of three such we'll
known persons as, Alphonse Daudet, Jules Mas
seneI and EmmaCalv6. Those three names would
have assured a favorable reception to any work
In Paris. But whether or not tho piece will remain
popular with the public Is a matter still to be
decided. 1t is not expected that in my case
0Sapho' VIII become as popular as "Manon,'
which Is acknowledged to be tho best of the
French composers operas.
Tho play of "Sapho" made by Daudot from
his novel for the use of Rejane is already known
In New York. Mmo. Rejane played in 1t hero
threo years ago. Henri Cain, who is the author
OF the operate libretto, has made some changes
In tho arrangement Of the story which do not
appear to be In tho nature OF improvements.
In tho operatio version Of tho story the first act
passes OF tho artists ball. where Fanny Le-
grand for the first time meets Jean Gdussin.
The music of this act is said to be full Of the
color OF the scene, and Masscnet himself prom
fsed that even tho.popping Of champagne corks
should be heard in tho orchestration In tho
second act Of the opera Jedn's uncle and aunt,
who are made his father and mother in NJ.
Gains ~libretto, are seen in their nephew's
quarters settling him there for his work in
Paris. When they have gone Sdpho comes to
join him. This act is practically identical with
the first act Of the drama.
The third act, as in the play, is laid at a restau-
rant near Paris. There Jean is told by his friends
that Fanny LeOrdnd is n character in Paris.
In an outburst of rage she turns on tho group
and denounces as towards the men who have
betrayed her secret. In disgust her lover has
thrust her off, and in the next act he is seen in
his homo at Avignon preparing to marry his
cousin Irene. In a striking departure from the
story as well as the play Henri Cain in. his
hbretto sends Sdpho after Jean to induce him
to return to her. She tries to cajole him, but
he refuses. So soon, however. as Sapho has
left him. he follows her to Paris. The last acr
passes in the villa at Chaville and is an entirely
original ending Of tho story. 1t is winter and
Sdpho is alone. Sitting before a fire, she ro-
calls tho incidents OF her life with Jean and is
to her there and Wishes to resume their old II
But Sdpho has decided to return to the forger
who was sent to prison on her account. So
on a sofa, she steals away to join her older lover.
T MIis act %t, Is said d to DO extremely pathetic; and
RASSS VI DSS ~
The play made from Daudet's novel was a
remarkably strong play and as clever a speci-
men of the dramatized novel as one could nope
to find. From the published synopsis NJ. Cain
or two of the most dramatic incidents. and de-
yised other3, whenever it seemed to him or Mile.
work better. This was to make the character
81 Sds S@pfG 70 d %p1a rnIv a and t.1 to keep It Il. always
Massenet kept the same idea in View.
There Is said t., be little orchestraIion, and
nm musician %any a sssnes ih9 se1Ff to aP PBBs wo S5iy as Th q
brief hrst act contains only the ball room mu-
sic, which is interesting. The second and
third acts are said to be quite uninspired, and
the fourth and, fifth are described as excep-
tionaly beautiful. They contain the love
serves to supply tho motives throughout the
fnal scene, is said to be the gem OF the opera.
have told his friends that it contained the best
work OF which he was capable, No definite
PRESENT On the opening nishf; Mn. Dsudes;
N. Cain in the nbretto. were present.
Vienna, after having heard Smetanas "Dal-
i hss ba at the the dpaor,ani 1pe of H for the fret 1s t !
kowsky's "Eugen Onogin, which was selected
as the first OF the Russian operas 70 be given
indeed. tho first to be heard there. The crit
les agreed that no better selection could have
been made. The opera, It seems, was written
pupils Of the MOSCOW G Conservatory or might mig be
hSoa "oS ~ II hCad " IL
annual performance. Tschaikowsky was his
ing for the MbsFetto .PusoEEin's romance niH; Il 10
verso "Eugen Onegin."
acquainted with the work through the piano
score, and he was SO charmed with the music
Opera House in st. Petersburg. Since that day
II has been one OF the most popular operas in
h Rus a To not the subject 81 ECtt some o. a Of this I, is certainly
There are. other features OF Herr Mahler's
control OF tho Vienna Opera House which are
not meeting with such general favor as his en-
terprise in producing new operas. He has made
g rule forbidding persons to go to their seats
during the progress OF an opera, and II they
roach the theatre after the curtain has risen
they are compelled to wait in the Hobbies until
the end of the act. This has aroused especial
complaint from those persons who have been
tardy at those operas in which the acts are long.
One excited correspondent asked what was to
happen at "Das Rheingold,' where the act lasts
for two hours and there is but one intcrmission.
But he made out u poor case. as this opera OF
the tetralogy Is very rarely sung in Germany
AS II to make the Viennesc realize what a serious
thing music really is. Herr Mailer is gradually
operas until tits expected that they Will al be
sung eventually without a cut. There is scarce.
praise which has greeted Herr MAILER 5 efforts
70 bring back the Opera House Of Vienna TO its
ces Sayille has lately been singing there as
Juliet, Marquette. and Elsa.
Bresleu. and the accounts of The performance
say that only one sensation was experienced
during inc WnoIe evening, ana thht came In Inc
last act, when n lamp fell from the table and,
still burning, rolled ABOUT on the floor. There
was nothing furnished by Massenet 10 equal
this incident, and the work Will soon be with
drawn, II, indeed, it be repeated again. Tho
same opera was sung recently in Milan at Son.
zogno's, Lyric, Theatre, and lie. Cid" has also
been given there. but neither seems to ha SO
throughout this season OF Sonzogno's, for which
80 much was promised, have proved very dis
appointing. "Manon" was also sung there,
and Ricordi produced the Pucc!ni "Manon,"
which has been announced for production in
several German cities this winter. The war OF
the two versions OF la Vie de Boheme" con-
tinues, and il begins 10 look as il LHOncavallo
were winning the fight. His opera is said 10
have in all cities u greater success with the pub
lie than Puccini's work on the same subject.
Berlin has this winter had more OF the Wagner
operas than usual, and is to'yary this with "A sea-.
son OF Italian opera, to be given by italian
No city is SO ,hospitablc to Italian talent. Leon.
c~avallo's !"Roland Of Berlin" will soon be ready
for production at the opera house there.