New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-12-12
CALVE SINGS IN "SAPHO."
THE FIRST PERFORMANCE OF MAS
sENETS NEW OPERA IN PARIS.
DOUBTS AS TO THE LASTING SUCCESS of ii'n'
WORK-M. CATUILE MENDES ON CALVES
IuPERsONATION AND HER SINGING.

Massenet's "Sapho" which was produced AT
Ae Opfra Comique on Saturday Is by no niea''S
the unmitgatcd success which many OF inc
Paris papers so promptly proclaimed Inc s'e"'
interest for the audience OF the iirst h'sh' pc
formance-composed largely OF friends anu au
,nirers of author composer. lbrettists and sing
nrs-was not so much to judge the work on us
merits but rather to note the erect OF .he ooi
1aboration Of two such eminent faiiSianS 40
Daudet and Massenet, and to learn ny """'
r,ocba nisp the literary "Sapho" would be trans
formed into a musical "Sapho." The result Is
sunrise not unmngled with disappointment
Massenct has sacrificed everything 10 insure TIC
vocal performance of the great centra' liz uie =,
.Sanbo" The chorus is almost suppressed anu
oven the instrumental music is reduced 10 mere
winning occompaniment TO the text. Massehe''
broucht ND in the school Of Gounod, where'
without initiating Wagner 1t was always Po'i'
of honor to walk hand in hand with hitf' mas
now made a low bow to the Ideal OF IL,
The French composers new departure "hi0"
has lust taken shape in "Sapho' Is charac'e'
lied by a sembance Of realism and by the e'h-
ployment of music merely as casual ahho'a-
tion or exclamation of Daudets literary cohceP
ton.
Massenet in "Sapho" has devoted MS mas'er
full gifts and inspirations to the parauoA'od'
toe Of
Quoting them to a closing scene without infusihs
into them more than the absolute minimum Vi
music The first act. representing the masked
hail is especially disappointing. for the trivial
and commonplace incidents-Often PARTISAN
ond at times even "Montmartose are too dls-
jonted TO be capable OF musical Development
and the mere defamation to which this act ~
reduced degenerates into abrupt expressions anu
,mpertinent EXPLANATIONS. In the second ac'
which takes place in Jeans room In fars' "he"
the parents arrive from the country Win HIS
Young cousin, Irene there Is an attempt III All
original melody for Irene which is not par"cu-
larly successful But the duet when ehsues pc
tween the young couple is charming. Inc th''u
act passes at the rustic restaurant Oh VINE
d'Ayray where Jean discovers that his much-
loved Fanny Is the notorious Sapho. whose CITY
or distress Ills ont parle les laches?' affords
an excellent opportunity for Mic CaINe
dramatic power. but the music ana the We'oo'
do not develop in proportion.
Taken altogether, one is forced to the con-
c,ueion that the exciting romance narrated in
lie fuu warmth Of color in Daudets novel be-
comes cold and -insipid in Massencts opera
There is delightful prelude to the last act en-
titled solitude" which In its few bars. contains
the inspiration OF the whole composition ana
this is Massenet at his best. "Sapho' Is far De-
hind "Manon." and is less satisfactory IMAM
GA Navarraise" or lie Ro de Lahore" At the
Op6ra CONTINUE on Saturday night the remark
was overheard, After ALL it is not worse than
.Traviata' translated into French" But what
will become Of this MontmartOise "Traviata' a
dozen years hence?
without Mile Emma Calves dramatic and I'M
passioned impersonation Of Sapho 1t is difficult
to imagine how the interest could be sustained
during five acts The honors Of the evening
fell to this accomplished cantatrice. who was
cordially greeted only for her brilliant crea-
ton" but also on the occasion Of her first APP
pearance before Partisan audience since her
return from the United States In order to OBJ
tain an essentially Partisan view, NJ. Catulle
MendGs the well-known French poet and critic,
was asked to express his opinion Of Mile. Calves
INTERPRETATION and also to say whether he
noticed any influence that Mile. Calves season
in the United States may have had upon her.
NJ Catulle Mendes said:
1.-THE fault that find with Mile. Calve on her
return from America is her indistinct articula-
ton. | made every effort to catch the words
She uttered ] listened with close attention. |
heard melodious sounds, but | could not dis
tingush a single = liable l could divine what
she meant to pronounce by the expression of
her face. by the crease assumed by the mouth
q crease by the way that Is slightly exagger-
ated and which. once in a while. might be made
to change sides-but the words themselves re-
manned naudible Mile. Calve. in my opinion.
also makes the mistake OF yielding to too much
abandon in her attitudes. Thin persons may
indulge in heedessly bending forward the body
Onclinaisons nonchalantes) which are better