New-York tribune., 1901-01-05
MUSIC.
FAUST" AT THE OPERA.


II there is such a thing In commercial parlance
Mr. Grau may be said to have opened his opera
season at the Metropolitan Opera House on the
uipie entry system There first first night \
when the company gave its first performance: a
second nrst night when Mr.. Jean de Reszke re-
turned TO his admirers. in the character of the
knight of the Grail and last night third first
night when he appeared as those like best to see
him who dote on him-as Faust in Gounod's indie
structlhle opera OF like IT was in this third
first night that the ecstatic feeling before and be-
hind the footlights reached its climax Mr. De
Reszke was again the impeccable singer. the
bodiment of all artistic charm, the mirror of per-
feet grace and beauty OF bearing and utterance;
he waved his magic wand and bound his hearers
to the seat of enchantment as resstlessly as ever
he did decade ago
Nine. Melba sang with him as often in the part
sang gracious Marguerite graciously winningly
but unconvincingly, A charming thing it would
have been had she sung the ballad of the King of
Thule in the careless. topass-away- -the-tine man.
ner that she did in order to build upon 1t dra-
matte figure informed with life. At her en-
trance in the garden the delightful youthfuIness
of her voice seemed the most natural expression
in the world of simple. heart whole maiden un-
touched even by curiosity, unless it concern
ing what earth love could be. Had her ingenu-
Gus manner here been the utterance of a tragic
heroine lew washed in innocency of knowledge.
but soon to be exalted to passionate heights and
thence dashed TO destruction. too much praise
could not be bestowed upon it, but Mime. Melba Is
not born to the dramatic manner and the develop
| ment of a tragic climax is impossible for her
vocally as it is histrionically. In fact her voice
and style lose in charm the moment she strives to
| make them the vehicles of emotional utterance
| and sometimes the business OF her intonation Is
affected. and this is too grevous for discussion
Miss Bridewell disclosed that she is in her noviti-
| ate in her singing. and more In her acting. but
her voice luscious she has learned several things
about correct singing, and she is most promis-
1 ing novice Edouard de Reszse Mehistopheles
attempted TO lead his learned brother TO destruc-
] tion with copious and sonorous Establishments.
| and the public heart beat warmly for him. SiSnor
| Scott mixed his languages. but not his style as
| Valentine. The house was crowded-the spirit
| fun OF joyousness.
| THE PEOPLES SYMPHONY CONCERTS.
| There would seem to be good ground for the
| assertion of those who are carrying the Peo-
| pies symphony Concerts in Cooper Union that
| II good music be furnished for the masses al
| rates within their reach it will be appreciated Al
the second concert of the series. given last even
| ing. there large audience, composed ap-
parenty. of the very people it is desired TO reach
AN audience. moreover. that paid the closest at
tentiOn 70 the music provided, and indicated Un-
mstakable pleasure in the performance It was
not what would be considered an extremely inter
esting programme I'm the more northerly portions
of the city, nor the performance such as
would have received treatment nearly respect
full as was given IL last evening But Mr.. Arens
has made a considerable Improvement in the com
position Of his little band. and the performance
was not without its points of merit The ehie
interest was claimed by orchestral suite thai
Mr.. Arens has pieced together from the Water
Music" and the Fireworks Music of Handels
making at the time various changes in ths
Instrumentation TO fit il better for modern ears
The final test of such procedure, in music o
the kind that Handel wrote for the royal cele
| brations out OF doors and that, without suci
! treatment, is practically inaccessible for latte
| day music lovers, is the effect obtained
Judged by this test. Mr. Arenss worl
cannot be seriously faulted. The diFeren
movements make no quarrel with each other il
their present iuxtaposition they show very lttl
indeed that would reveal the nature Of the occa
sions for which they written. Even the piece
| called LA Paix" and LA Renaissance" that ver
| intended 70 illumine the significance OF symbol
| fireworks fail TO impress the modern ear Wit
any particular poetic appropriateness TO their title;
! II may be doubted whether music that, after a
that has been done It. still sounds so archaic.
best adapted for the purposes Of the peoples sym
Handels art The rest of the programme was
a sort TO go straight TO the hearts of uusic-lover
| of the lower East Side-Mozart's G minor sym
phony of which Mr.. Arens gave a little informe
| explanation; the air from Bach's third orchestra
| suite Haydn's air. with Verdure Clad. and song
| by Scarlatti Haydn and Mozart. Miss Hndegar
| Hoffmann was the singer and even the moderat
! enthusiasm that she called forth was not iustiie
| by her achievements. which were not above tn