The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-11-23
OPERA In PLAIN CLOTHES.
THESE ARE REHEARSAL DAYS
At THE METROPOLITAN.
Rosina Finds Herself singing on the
Grand Canal. and DesdcmonaS Bed
Makes Mischief In Seville -- The
Ballet In Shirtwaists and Trousers.

Harmonious pandemonium r.igns now
in the dim spaces Of the Metropolitan Opera
House In the dusky auditorium "Otello
gives place to " II Barbiere di Seviglia and
that in turn is followed by .Lohengrin
and Aida" Carmen" is being prepared to
the left of the auditorium and La Trayi-
alta" to the right of it; while in front of it
there trips through the invariabe steps
Of ballet suited to any opera under heaven
corps OF young women shirt WASTED and
otherwise normal from the belt upw ard but
clad in tights and short linen breeches and
stockings from the waist down
heheaI sing for any ballet after the women
have acquired certain experience must
seem super er1 gatory 10 any spectator no
recalls the s!ereotyped pirouet,ngs Of
the dancers. But they do rehsarse ard it
was Aida that absorbed them yesterday.
The agile Albertieri, youthful veteran
of many struggle with a raw ballet, stood
in front OF long line of women.
Now, the old step, like this, he calls out
in English, a. he starts to cross on his toes
the room Of the old Naudevi Club, where
the rehearsals Of the ballet are held. You
all remember the third act of 'Aiua.'
With his hands crossed on his breast ard
his head thrown back he makes a semi
circle &C ross the room.
Now, all together, after me.
The man at the piano pounds out with
especial accent on the rhythm the Egyptian
music from the third act of Nerdi's opera
The women 60 through the dane. 10 the
apparent satisfaction Of the master. He
watches them move through the figures.
rushing mp 10 some girl who seems un
certain and showing her lust W hat she is
expected TO do.
After he has finished with one he spies
another who is beginning to bunge He
sets her right nv the same graphic ilustra-
ton OF what she is expected To do and fin
ishes lust in time to stand in the middle of
the group az the prem, ere il expected TO
pose.
English, occasionally spiccd with French
and Italian prevails at ballet rehearsal=.
Many Of the girls are English and American,
and most OF the others spend their time
dancing here or in London. And they know
the terms in which ballet rehearsals are
conducted
Rehearsal over, the short skirtei bevy
starts down the stairs and in groups finds
its way To the dressing room behind the
stage
A view Of the Grand Canal is there. al
though ROsind, in the person OF Vino. SEM
brich, il supposed to be singing IN her own
home. hut there il no time to change
scenery at rchearsals ard the procession
Of women in tights ard linen breaches is
seen lodging In and out OF the palaces on
the Venetian canal, where only few min
u'es before Nine Eames was rchearsing
Dtsdemonds prayer.
Wi.h the departure Of the ballet from
the second tier rooms the music doea not
end. The rhythmic piano IL no longer heard,
but there is chorus Of feminine voices
floating through the corridor. II floating bee
the word that describes exactly siag,ug
that is brought 10 an end al certain fire.
quent intervals and then resumed The
women are going through the music Of the
chorus al. the beginning Of the last act of
-Lohongrin
Seated at the piano in the middle of the
1af huf Ia, Il tod
cream and lemonade are many women
In the centre " the group is the pianist
Most Of the women hold in front of them
seoraet OF the opera. sonnet ines two divide
a book between them. )lost of them are
familiar with the music through frequent
-epet itions Of tho opera. But il Is necessary
for them to run through the chor1ises again
before they get on the stage, Experience
has shown that II is never safe To wait until
that time, however accustomed 70 the music
the women may lie.
They sing phlrgmatically and are relaxed
TO n degree that would satisfy the most
exacting teacher Of that scheme Of physical
culture. Glasses arr surprisingly frequent
among them Some Of the women are
Italians, They are no more animated than
the others
Ditto, meine pamen. etwas mehr leb-
haft," cries tho eSasperatod MCrgenstern.
who has vainly been endeavCring to inst,,
some spirit into the Proceedings, ~Or We
viii sleep werdcn allie glcich Elm, chafenl
Noch einmai"
He strikes the piano inspiringy, and the
women sit up with creator show of in
terest They go through the music without
an interruption
The American singers called in at the
Metropolitan to reinforce the regular
routineers have studied and are familiar
with their music. The old guard eyes hem
somewhat contemptuously. So much on
thusasm is hard for one to understand after
twenty years Of life in the chorus That
even takes away the sense of peislrc NJ
being relieved from work So there il, mo
genera sign of relief when Herr Morgen-
stern announces that the rehea rsal has been
sufficient for the day. The newcomers
button their coats with eagerness while the
veterans arise slowly from their chairs and