New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-29
LONDON NOTES.
oprN1NG OF THE SEASON - GRAND
OPERA AT COvENT GARDEN-REAL-
ISM IN PORTRAIT PAINTING.

Avntr 49, er0
s.ota ball coming on. Covent Garden flash
81, Jewels night after night. great mus
,o~ ., riders IN the Park every morning, PIC
,,, ,,oored with carriages In the afternoon,
-, 49,. .brao months series Of dinners. parties
-, do,cas already fairly begun. the London
- o,srs1 with unwonted brilliancy
- ,u y. m great town show this year
-,., .,o,o-or,ic effects and Jubilee excitement
49,. a,,hrsiasr,: and wars alarms Will hold
-, 49,, ,s,,sl enforcement OF wealthy Amer
-. ,,, while rents have fallen and not
g west End houses are empty. London Will
-, 49,. o-sirarv round Of gayety with undi-
,.i..oa ,es, and the manageable daughters
-, Ar,+ed with better chances for match
,.. .Ns, the hurry burly Of last year al
80 The Jubilee was an exhilarating revel
:. ,a,,o,.v and Imperialism. but It involved dis
-soa ~ ordinary social functions and
..-ooraa the bushing array Of debutantes from
.,..,,.etion This season. as the dowagers be-
10 there WILL be fewer distractions and
,,ore active marriage market
The Queen has opened the season by coming
70 town, smiling graciously upon throngs Of
s,sh.seers IN the streets. inviting members of
bsr family 70 lunch and dine with her, and re
ce,,,,ng the inner circle OF presentations at the
drawing room. Returning speedily 70 Windsor.
she Will revise the list for the state ball, and
arrive at Balmoral at the end OF another week
,or quiet month In the Highlands. While
there are now signs OF mourning In her
dress on state occasions. no Grape being worn
and the effect OF black being relieved by spark
ling Jet and beautiful lace. she has little heart
for these great social ceremonies, and turns
away from buckingham Palace, goomiest OF
royal residences with feeling Of relief. with
the Princess Of Wales and Princess Christian
10 represent her. the functions are carried on
with stately splendOr. This weeks drawing
rooms have been largely attended. The hrs'
one was the more brilliant, being remarkable
for the swarm OF duchesses IN attendance, the
magnihcence Of the Jewels and lace and the
lavish use of orchids in the trimming Of bodices
and skirts The only notable change In the de-
tails OF these royal pageants is tendency TO
discard bouquets. Many great ladies no longer
carry them.
The world Of fashion has entered toyously upon
thecarnival Of pleasure which with a single break
at Whtsuntide. Will last well into July. Safety
comes speedily with overlooking and excess Of
amusement when there are three or four en-
gagements for a single evening and every day
Is bcspoken weeks IN advance Possibly 1t IS
the sober second thought against the folly OF
ure-lovers TO enjoy satire al their own expense
There is no play at the theatres so popular in
the West End as Lord and Lady Algy" at the
Comedy with Its horse talk and domestic quar-
rels over cigarette brands and Jockeys tips.
There is little genuine humor in 1t. but It Is
died with the vacuous inapity of ainless pleas
ure-seekins and enables a fashionable audience
20 laugh itself There IS perhaps, one really
good bit Of satire in II. The fancy-dress ball,
which is the chief scenic attraction, presents
q rich hostess who has accepted the patronage
Of leader OF smart set He has invited the
guests and drawn them in, and the ambitious
little lady in her magnificent costume remains
IN isolation and neglect, despised by those who
have accepted her hospitality. There IS q touch
Of real life about this performance which ex-
cites the cynical amusement Of boxes and stalls.
Mr.. Maurice Graus second opera season at
Covent GaI den has been opened this week with
q tun subscription list and material assurances
Of social support and financial success. The
Prince and Princess OF Wales were present on
the first 'Lohengrin" night. with their daugh-
ters Princess Victoria and Princess Charles OF
Denmark. and there was brilliant company In
the boxes and stalls, including tho Duchess Of
Portland. Lady Cadogan. Lady Agernon Len
mont. Lady Pembroke. Lady Jersey, Mrs Cav
endish- Bentwck. Mrs George Keppel. Mrs.
Colgate Mrs. Adair, and many other leaders
Of fashion. The audience equally large on
the second night. when Miss Suzanne Adams
had a most enthusiastic reception on her first
appearance at Covent Garden in Romeo ct
Juliette" Every box and stall was filed, and
there was a wonderful display of Jewels. On
the third night the Wagnerites rallied In force
in stalls and galleries for the first partial in
staluent Of 1.-THE Ring performances. die
Walkrre," with cuts. Faust" and Carmen
received splendid sociai patronage. and tonight
Tristan und Isolde" is to be produced before
the largest audience OF the week. with every
reserved seat taken long In advance. Not even
the versatile Sir Augustus Harris ever sue
ceeded In opening season with more prestige
and brilliancy.
The artistic results are as satisfactory as the
social support The chorus. which even under
Sir Augustus Harriss management was the
weakest point of grand opera at Covent Car
den. has been strengthened with German and
Belgian voices and greatly improved. II is now
large body OF singers with dramatic instincts
for stage business The orchestra is certainly
the best which has recently been heard in opera
here. II IS stronger In strings reeds and
brasseH- as It needs TO be when Wagners music
isthe chief feature Of the season and symnet-
ncal development Of all the resources OF an
orchestra is required. Some effective changes
nave been made In the arrangement OF the
musicians. the brasses being removed to the
background underneath the footnghts and tho
0onouctor being stationed close TO the stalls.
""n better command than he formerly had
oVer all the forces Of the band. The stage man
e''nsns Is also excellent. new scenes having
provided even for some Of the most IA
.'''As operas, and works like Die Walk1re''
being adequately staged
in' ar1nts who have sung TO delighted and