The sun., 1899-03-21
THE OPERA.
Lucia di Inmmermoor'' with sembrich
and n Splendid Audience.


Nine. sembrch chose Lucia d Lammer-
moor as the opera in which to make her last
appearance during the present season at
the Metropolitan Opera House. The expert
ment was hazardous ono in view
OF tho public attitude toward Donizettis
work to-day. The large audience showed
that her selection was judiclous and
the enthusiasm emphasized that Lucia at
a subscription performance was never given
before at the METROPOLITAN to such gathering
excepting on one occasion. That was a month
ago when Nine Scmbrich sang the unhappy
heroine for the first time. Such works remain
in the repertoire to-day only to exhibit her In
comparable voice and art.
Only persons familiar with the drift OF public
taste in musical matters o-day can realize the
Significance of such an audience as that which
heard the opera last night. This one work.
among all others used to presuge rows Of
empty seats. Last night the house was full
No better testimony could there be to the
great imrrossion which Nine. Sembrich has
ESi",'v Eh @ a H,'g m @ no"s"m on me NeW i9rk pubic
ing aria, with wonderful effectiveness. The
unique beauty with which she sings tho
significance she adds to music which has com
monty been made Il mere vehicle of vocal dis
ance of the role this season. The dramatic ex-
prossiHeness OF her singing in that scene would
her voice and the marvellous skill Of her , vocal.
ization unsurpassed on the lyric stage to-day
The fact that she has made Donlzetti vital and
human to-day is sufficient evidence Of her
powers. The music OF the mad scene was
varied by the introduction Of the customary
cadenaas in place OF those Nine. Semhrich
sang at the performance u month ago, They
are more brilliant, but not so appropriate mu-
sicaly a., those she sang before. She delivered
them with her customary facility.
NJ. salGzas Ed0drdo is splendid achieve:
ment He is the best exponent 9f the part
In = N III Hrn
matically. signor Campanari was all admira-
Jean de Reszke in "Gotterdammerung."
"G0tterdammerung" ended the third Wag-
ner cycle at the Metropolitan Opera House
yesterday afternoon. The audience was as
large the previous performances OF the
opera have drawn during the winter. and very
much larger than any preceding work has
drawn. 1t would be agreeable to think that
this great gathering had been attracted by an
interest in Wagners work. Possibly that had
some snare in the result: but 1t must be re-
corded that NJ. Jean de Reszke was in the cast
and that Nine. Lehman appeared with him.
No other opera OF the cycle presents the great
much. 1t might have been most advantageous
to the management to have given two perform
the other operas Of the triIosy. f That might
not have satisfied the persons looking for the
Nlbciungen Rlng Ill It's entirety NJ Jean lie
ReS2ke~ admirers seem, however. Il much
larger share of the public.
He sang Sieqf,Ied yesterday afternoon with
greater volume and beauty Of vDicc than he
has exhibited at any previous appearances in
the part. Obviously. he feels himself more in
the role. as the stage expression i. at cverv
subsequent performance. 1t is certain that he
was vastly better yesterday than he ever had
been before.
Nine Lehman acted Bunnhide "a she alone
can. 1t would be impossible t. say that hcr
singing was satisfactory; The high notes she
In other particulars her voice lever responded
to the demands of the role. 1t was a trem"u-
dous tribute to her powers as an actress that
she held her proud place in II representation
| generally So admirable.
! Edouard de Reslke. David Bsnham and Herr
Muhlmunn were in the parts they have played
before. Mile. Povny. as Gut,rus. was n far
more significant figure in the action than Nine
| SavillC had previously been. The final scenes
| were as inetfective as usual from Il scenic
viewpoint. The chorus of the khine DdugIiv'S
lacked the .dccp beauty and body Of Nine
| Schumann Hcink's voice.