New-York tribune., 1900-03-31
MUSIC.
MOZARTs MAGIC rJrrr

Neither rioaldry inspired by cynIcism no-
business rooted In Ingenious and lovely devotion =.
tne beauty OF Mozarts music has yet succeeded -
fixing the point of view from which .rb. NJ.
Flute Is to be judged in our day and xensr,,,e
With Mahatmas making sendings to the 80,
from places as remote and indehnable az N.
Xanadu Of kubla Khan some mystic ouzh, - -
able. now that more than a century has ns...s
since Mozart and Schickaneder concoc,ss 80
phantasmagoria. TO tell US where the incident, =,
the play took place and what they are all aho,,
Philosophers given 10 bottom scraping analv..
have maundered about an aIegorical contest be-
tween the powers OF light and darkness ara
champions OF Freemasonry have hlnted at rnv.
teries OF their order all revealed In the sn,Y
scenes. yet knows what Ibrettst ana nm
sician aimed Perhaps the thought that h..
been bestowed upon the work has been all tn
deep. What at the Metropolitan opera
House last night least suggested that 4, NJ
Grau were to give a childrens matinee and pack
his house. easily he ought with innocents who
know nothing of sun myths or Freemasonry anv
one of the spectators might give enlghtenment 10
the puzzled commentator. To them The Marie
Flute" would be Christmas spectacle zorined
by music rich In blessings for the tortured nocern
ear
I'll Flauto Magico." II has at length b..n
realized. Is the bravest spectacle that operate
stage has yet seen. The pictures copied sssu.
those which earned much comment in Munich
last year. and their gorgeousness is quite beyond
praise. such stage furniture goes. The menax-
erie is numerous and varied enough suggest ,ha.
Mr.. Grau need not close his activities Snowman
with the advent of spring bat may continue Z, with
promise OF profit under tent during the summer
months His Gagged lions awakened lively memories
among the old heads of Van Ambursh. and when
they reared and roared TO PapagenOs drinking
every uncoroneted duke in the house felt ike say
ing Let him again. let him roar again. re-
gardess OF the ladies. With four monkeys four
lions. two crocodies. two snakes. long and sinuous
a giraffe and camel the Metropoitan's audience
enjoyed a great show. And the scenes, without
ception ample and sumptuous as the ami
NAL outfit Enter two men bearing an illuminated
notwithstanding to this effect is the old stage
direction. The stage management Is more
than obedent; 1t equips chorus OF fifty priests
with incandescent pyramids; there Is a larger
lighted pyramid borne by four priests, and the
meeting takes place In stupendous pyramid.
whose sides gorgeousy Illuminated So with
every other detail A garden is made the fore
ground for one OF the loveliest moonlit water
scenes Imaginable and the trial the
close employs a splendidly conceived and executed
panorama. Altogether the scenic grandeur OF the
production Is likely to make Mozart's opera the
dominant feature for the supplementary season.
which begins next Monday To-days matinee will
close the subscription season.
Mozart's music was beautifully sung at the per-
foruance and IL came a benson, barring the
vast amount OF reCitative. which ought 70 be
curtailed for the sake OF the movement OF the
piece for 70 those who do not understand Italian
and do not wish follow llbretto when there
are such pretty things to see on the stage. this
ouasi-meIodious talk Is only bore. Mines. Sem
brich and Eames were pictures besides; but Of
their singing and that Of Mines Ternina Man
teIr Bridewen Adams. Broadfoot, Olitzka- de Lus-
san and NM Plancon, Pini-Corsi Muhlmann and
Dippe there will be ample time TO discourse here
after for The Magic Flute has come TO stay as
long as time will allow.
Nine. Nordica is III. and there will be chanss
of opera this afternoon. Instead OF "Gottertan-
merunx" Ro.sinf's Barber will be given with
the old cast headed by Nine. Serbrch.