The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-12-21
YESTERDAY AT The OPERA.
"TOSCA" AT THE MATINEE, III:
prophetic" AT NIGHT.
Puccini's sskill IN Composing for the Or.
chestra-Mme. Eames's Ligneous Tosca
--MP. Alvarez - John OF eyvien
Mime. Schumann.Heink % F1des.

Puccin1s 61(1ll In C0mposing for the Or.
chestra-Mme. Eames's Ligneous Tosca
MI. Alvarez - John OF eyrien
Mime. Schumann.Heink % F1des.
The usual two Saturday peri FINANCES
took place at the Metropolitan Opera House
yesterday. In the afternoon Puccinis
'Tosca' was repeated and was heard with
close attention by an audience Of moderate
size. The performance was not one to
suggest much comment In addition to
what has already been published in this
place. Puccinis theatrical clevernees al
ways forces itself home at each new hear
ing Of this work. In justice to him, too, il
must be said that there Is more In his score
than mere skill in theatricalism. A crafts
man In the weaving Of o-~her..-:.... 10
schemes, Puccini k:..~s, ALSO how to make
the orchestra help to tell his story; and
he can even employ with cunning some OF
Wagner's favorite devices. For example,
10 the last act. while Tosca is telling Capd-
rddossi that she has a pass to freedom,
the orchestra is muttering the march after
ward heard when the firing squad enters
to kill him.
The richness and beauty Of his instru-
mentation are one Of Puccini's strongest
qualities. 1t must b confessed, too, that
his operas improve on closer acquaintance
Perhaps he is an acquired taste. Who
knowS? 1t may be that II We all live long
enough we shall think he ia great How
much happier, after all, re the unthinking
than those who are continually asking
But IL 1t art?' Those who do not worry
themselves about art love the cheapest
tricks Of Meyerbeer. Could anything be
easier than thaty
The performance Of 'Tosca' yesterday
was a replica Of the former one. Nine.
Ean,es as the heroine wore the same facial
expression, the same gowns and the same
gestures. She sang as beautifully as she
always does, but let us hope that she will
give serious thought to certain tempta-
tons. There were passages yesterday in
which she let her voice production go by
the board and INDUCED in strdent ori IS.
With less beautiful voice II would have
had the eject OF screaming. II Is too bad
TO hear anything of this sort now when
she has brought her method to such high
level.
Mr.. Scottis Scarpa tears repeated oh
servation very we'll indeed He sings this
season with an immense volume OF tone,
yet without any apparent forcing Of the
voice. This H. admira' 10 In such a part as
Searrid especially in the dangerous finale
OF the srt act. Mr. de Marchi's Cardrd-
doss Is the est impersonation he has given
rs, though the part does not give him such
opportunities for his most moving style Of
singing, Mr.. Gill ert + old sacristan is n
10Y at ell times THERE'S an artist. Mr.
Manc nelli conducted the rerformance wei,
ana the orchestra Wa eff lent.
There a. a large auo.,nce in the evening
for the performance of Meyer GERS lie
prol a'e, The fame Of Nine. Schumann.
He, Tides, Mr.. Alvarez John, and the
rkatiug ballet had gone out to the four
cornors of the earth Mr.. Alvar 2 : impcr-
Sonation had all of ~ usual vigur and de-
clamatory force, but he viii sing ont of
tune. Nine Schumann-He'ik ras also n
ileral sinner in this respect. and some of
her high notes were fearfully and wonder.
fully made. Mss Marylls Bertha was not
50 Rad. Edouard do Rcszkc as the pro-
foundest Of the Anal art'-'- assisted in the
general Cacophonv NJ + IN conducted