New-York tribune., 1900-01-13
MUSIC.
THE oPERATIC WEEK.

THE OPERATIC WEEK.
The fourth week of grand opera at the Metro
politan Opera House will end to-day with repe-
ttions of Carmen in the afternoon and Romeo
Juliette'' in the evening. Both operas have in
vited the turning of pretty phrases the part Of
the recorder and Of operatic doings often
that It is scarcely worth while to wait until they
before indulgng in some brief comments
the weeks offerings. The list is stately. varied
and inviting: Don Pasquale.' "Cavaileria.' lie
Prophetic "Tannhauser'' and the two operas al
ready named. In the first instance there was the
revival Of form Of operate entertainment which.
If It has any vitality at ALL owes 1t to class OF
singers whose most amiabe and effective repre-
sentative is gladdening us-Mme- Sembrich In
"Cavalleria" is embodied what. in spite OF praise
and cOntumely both extravagant. has yet held its
own for pretty period as the truest expression
of the spirit OF modern dramatic music that the
younger generation of italian composers is capable
OF. In LIE Prophste' we saw that periodical enort
to galvaniZe a much bedizened corpse which has
often been commented on In this journal Finally.
last night had the oldest yet freshest OF Wag-
ner's works. the that not only leads all Of
that poet-composer's old works in popularity to-
day. but leads them all, old and new. II the sta
tistics of performances to be accepted as
criterion.
The grounds of that popularity were presented
with real vivdness last nights performance.
Not only the music well sung and played
to pusate with feeling in it's every measure but
the fine old universal tragedy, dealing with pas
sions that old the hills and as new
every dawn, presented knowingly. powerfully
and convincingly. Let dispose OF the perform
ance now. for though It all plane of
excellence that made shreds and patches of the
memories left by LIE Prophete. it still had feat
ures which lifted it into special prominence For
these features praise be equally divided te
tween Mines. Nordica and Gadski. with
tribute 0he prettier because the lady seldom in
vites one Fraulien Oltzka her singing OF the
Spring song in the second scene and Messrs. Van
Dyck. Van Rooy and Plancon respectively the
Tannhauser Wolfram and Landgrave of the occa-
sion. Since 1t may be assumed that tine people of
New-York have learned to appreciate the fact that
singing in the Wagnerian does not mean
dramatic defamation TO the exclusion of just in
tOnation and proper phrasng Mr. Van Dycks
work though far beyond the average that he has
put to his credit cannot be put level with
Mr.. Van Rooy's, which equally gratifying to
the ear, the intelligence and the emotions. Mr..
Van Dyck is marvel In the distinctness OF his
enunciation OF the text under all circumstances,
and in his presentation OF the tragic hero he Is
thrilling he is picturesque in pose and action;
but his vicious habit of peppering the poets lines
with aspirates is nothing short OF exasperating.
Last night he found for all the "haches''
dropped within sound OF Bow Bells within the last
month This is much of offence against
Wagner a similar procedure would be against
the most mellihuous Of the old composers to whom
tn. operatic text a stalking horse to
hang tunes upon. All his companions last night
including even the complacent Planeon. to whom
German Is a sealed book. were kinder TO the Ger
man language than he, in spite Of his distinctness
OF syllable utterance. Especially might he have
followed the example set by Mr.. Van Rooy and
Nine Nordica last night Nine. Nordica. as Venus
shared his first great scene, and again made
wonder at the stature to which she rises when she
is employed In doing Wagner's work. Mime. Gadski's
Elizabeth is sympathetic end ingratIating. winning
dignifed and always musical. Mr.. Paur showed
disposition to whip up the tempo in the entrance
march OF the second act which is threatening to
become traditional at the Metropolitan, other
wise he conducted wisely and well.
To Mime. Sembrich and the revival of
Don Pasquale" which her presence in Mr. Grau's
company invited Does 1t indicate the possibility
of restoration Of that charming old opera or
any of its companions that linger pleasantly In
practicable list? We fear not. 1t is not only that
the environment OF the Metropolitan Opera House
is wholly unsited to works OF it's character. Pub
lie taste has surely drifted far away from every
thing that Donzetti wrote. serious we'll as comic
In a chapter dealing with the opera generally
and the present attitude of the English and
American public toward 1t read that ''the con-
tnued existence of Belnl and Donizett to
be as closely bound up with that of two three
singers as was Meleager's life with the burning
billet which his mother snatched from the flames"
When Nine. Patti was with us she occasionally
gave us Norma in Don Pasquale'' and Adna in
Il Elisire d Amore' and Linda as we'll as Lucia.
Nine. Gerster did the same. but since the begin
ming OF the Metropolitan regime have heard
only Lucia and La Favorita." the latter as a
concession to Nine. Mantelli and the large element
in the Saturday night contingent that admires her
THE Daughter of the Regiment marched OF the
old Academy stage into the limbo OF forgotten
things more than two decades ago and has
,lred to show herself only since in English
version at the Fifth Avenue Theatre in the
first wear of Miss Zele de Lussan's con
nection with the Boston Ideal Opera Company.
The greatest two Of Nine. PATHS successors ef-
fected their American debuts with "Lucia'-Mme.
sembrich In 1889. and Nine. Melba in lSss-and
I'll Nine. Sembrch's experiment last Monday Doni-
zetti spelled Lucia" so far these marvellous
singers are concerned Yet we have seen Lucia
curtaiIed OF Its last ect in order that hot
blooded modern music might be introduced TO suit
the patrons whose tastes were formed after those
of the last generation. IL is well that those whose
education began with the German list should hear
some of the old works, just ii is that In instru
mental music Haydn and Mozart should be per-
mitted to stimulate understanding OF the lOvelneSs
of simple beauty, and sensuous charm be not
wholly lost sight OF. Therefore. long We
have a singer with the witching graces Of Nine.
Sembrich every revival OF the old music native to
her art Is more than welcOme-t Is a blessing.
Doubly grateful ought we all TO be that when we
hear the old measures their Rrchaism is quickened
by opuent musical sense freshened by SO
much beauty OF voice vivihed by 50 much charm
of person, movement and facial play. We would
be glad TO forgive all the anaehronisms were she
delight us before the season ends with L Elsire
d'Amore' and LII Figlia" as we'll
nm TDr4v,e 90 non cyrr To ID UAlfTT rOO