New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-12-19
MUSIC.
OF THE OPERA SEASON.

OPENING OF THE OPERA SHAoON'
The dlspensation which some years ago relieved
the opera-going public of New-York OF the neeo
Of trying to understand somewhat ruoe anu
uncouth tongue dixie our OWN In order 70 hno ah
interest in the golngs-on on the stage also light
ened the labors Of the recorder and commentator
of the opening middle and closing nights or our
annual operatic season. Faust" has hitherto oeen
the Introductory medium, and Faust was easy
for all the patient and amiable reviewers except
those who felt the need OF delivering themselves OF
essays on C;ounod and his masterpiece. Mr.. Grau
dld not make the task much more difficult by SUD-
shutting Romeo ct Julette" for Faust last
rIoh, FORGOT tho scnnt courtesy done to Goethe
in the first instance. forgive the harmless anront
inflicted on Shakespeare in the second. say re"
words about French musicians EFFORTS 10 give
,nus,cal suear coating to n feeble paraphrase OF
words which ring IN every gentle mind ike hooN
of skylarks and nightingales ana make uS,'
which was is and will remain. worio "'hop' Gnu,
mora nelodious than tunes can ever express anu
49, a,,,, 4, dore an far as the opera itself Is con-
carned What remains Is n social chronicle wn'ch
con he left TO others and a record OF the doinsS
OF the singers .,,..
And when as last night at the Metropolitan
there Is only one singer OF importance III ,ne 0
who "a n newcomer the task OF reviewing the per
formance Is also comparatively light; at any ra'e'
II need not strain the intellect Of either writer or
reader Tho representative of Juliette last night
was Nine Eames. and when one writes oi ne,
under circumstances like those which accompanied
the opening Of the metropolitan season one can
No M better than 20 ask his readers 10 recall all
that has been said in past years about the REQUISITE
harmony Of physical and vocal beauty when she
exemplaes. and let the feeling Of National pride
and personal gratitude which It is most pleasur-
able duty to indulge raise appreciation 10 III.
highest possible power. SO. Also Is the case Vi
NJ Edouard de Reszke and NJ. Paneon. what re-
mains then to be done is 10 put down the I'M
prosslon made by the singing and acting or the one
newcomer NJ Alvarez-the Romeo OF the OCCASION
Let there be a truce to comparisons;-at the pese
they are a cheap aid to criticism, ana just now
II the amusing stories OF the newspaper reporters
are 20 be believed they tend 70 criminatlon ana
bloodshed Woe unto him who shall put inc
crimson stain upon our operate shield. Better
that nine and ninety tenors should he exalteu IMAM
that ono should Perish We have need OF them all
Poles Frenchmen. Flamands and Teutons NJ
Alvarez must stand alone; and he can. ne
f. n robust yea, even a robustltudlnods slhsei.
There were times last night when II seemed as IL
b,s ,doals IN singing were those which inspired the
stored Irlshman who played the hddle ny nai"
strength. Yet NJ Alvarez Is an artist OF aiiil',
rable parts and the enthusiasm which ne exci'eu
last night al the close Of the love duet "hch "a'
little deserved will doubtless be repeated Win en-
phass and right when he enacts the roes io'
which his temperamental and other gifts Mt him.
! n
process TO which the French librettists suoJecteu
him, but an ecstacy Of love, while 1t may leao an
operatlc hero as It frequently leads real men, into
eccontricities OF behavior, must not lead MIN INTO
,onal regions other than those In when MS OF
chestral companions arc moving. Romeo must not
sing out OF tune IN New-York even II Boston loves
him I, is sad 20 DO compelled 10 say So because
| BOSTON troubled with prophetic conscience pre-
| dicted that New-York would show want OF APP
preciation for the newcomer and II would De
| Measure 10 applaud Bostons favorable judgment
I even at the expense OF the metropolis, ou'
facts are memorable things. and whether OF
NOT n singer sings in tune Is question
! OF fact and not OF Judgment or taste. Let
/ NJ Alvarez's variations from just information De
recorded with sorrow and attention be given 10
the fact that he has a beautiful and ample tenor
! voice which II Is easy TO imagine VIII prove 10
be more than ordinarily pussant in roles hlied
! with ruder passions than those OF Romeo even
when he f. trying 10 kill him who was more than
| Prince OF Cats"-though Il was In this scene last
| night that he rose to commendable. even TO most
| admirable heights. Moreover no Is an excellent
| and impassioned actor. Signor Mancinei con-
| Quoted last night and the orchestra over which he
exerted his sway is tho best that the Opera House
| has heard for years.