New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-22
MUSIC.
CARMEN" AT THE OPERA.

Carmen" without Calve is not a new experiment
In New-York and the experience has It's vaua
There is tendency, which Mr.. Grau Is wisely en-
couraging. 10 make the representations al the Net
ropolitan Opera House expeditions Of operas in
stead OF explpitations Of singers. The tendency
is noticeable not only in the disposition to vary the
casts of admired operas and TO keep operas on tho
active list despite the absence OF singers with
whom they have become so completely identified
that II Is impossible to think OF one without the
other but also In the greater attention 10 the things
which make mp good ensemble. The chorus Is
better this season than It has ever been before in
the Italian regime is the stage management
and there is marked improvement In the stage
furniture II Is than likely that n William
Tell TO he brought forward this season tho
old atrons Of the opera would look In vain for tho
diverting spectacle which used TO he presented ~
an oarsman padding Off with paddle and
appearing moment later halfway across the Lake
rowing American fashion Evidently there has been
n growth somewhere in artistic conscience well
intelligence and the change is suspicious.
The new people who sgni6ed In last nights repre-
sentatlon Of Carmen" were VI. Salsa In the part
Of Don Jose and VI. Albcrs rs Escamillo. The
bearer Of the titular role was Miss DE Tussan who
essayed It for the first time the Motropotan's
stage four years ago and disclosed an amount ~
promise In # which might have been realized fully
n there were more sponaneity and less artidce IN
tho talented young woman's acting. II Ia an un-
happy conviction that Some stage-fok fall into that
acting consists in movement. and that unless they
are strutting or staggering swinging their arms
the public will think they arc "out Of character"
II Is much easier 10 get out OF character by doing
too much than too little and Miss De Lussan, who
can look the part to perfection and sing much Of II
beautifully lessons the full measure Of success
which IS within her reach by exaggeration
or the two important newcomers NJ Saleza was
as admirable as NJ Albers disappointing The
barytone bore himself well and reached something
like a satisfactory plane after he had disposed Of
the Toreador song but In that bit Of catching vGl-
garity Uhe omission OF which would tend to the
nobling OF one Of the most original and fascinating
of modern operate scores his voice seemed 10 hs
void of vitality. VI. Sa.ezas beginning not
much moro effective. but he warmed To his work
marvelously and after la heur cue IN r'ava.s
ietee" the second act tide OF enthusiasm set in
which made him much the hero OF the evening
as did his first performance Of Romeo. His IL a
voice OF great amplitude. beauty and capacity FOR
passionate expression: and there IS art and heart
back OF It, Nine. Eames the Mcaela NJ the
play, which means that the music Of the part
sung exqusitely To discuss tho other singers
would necessitate a setting down Of the pegs which
can easily he spared Though not so nominated
IN the house bill II Is reported that Nine. Senbrich.
instead OF Miss Suzanne Adams. will he the Juet'e
TO NJ Jean de Reszkes Romeo on next Monday