New-York tribune., 1902-10-09
MUSIC.
NIGHT OF MAJ AGNI.

e-a threefold conseQuence-to satisfy pul
tlriosity 10 30 famous a man. 10 shov
"a, opera Is given In Italy. 70 acQuaint faI
,ay but liberal and appreciative people with
more Of his music than managerial exigencies
have permitted them 20 hear. The first OF these
denominations must be set down wholly
snisble: the world loves not only a lover. but
every successful man. The second would have
provided. or will provide, a standard OF com
harrison with the annual offerings at the Metro
poitan Opera House. and. as the Judicious and
experienced already knew. humor that compla-
osncy which has long marked local appreciation
n the performances given by Mr.. Grau and his
admirable company Of artists. The third will
before The present season is help a curious
peope 10 understand how Il is that man can
urite masterpiece OF sll-compelling force and
labor in vain for decade TO touch the lost
chord again. Here Is the outline Of 2
more than pretty mission which was
fulfilled only In part last night The people =
vast houseful, a joyous and undiscriminating
sssemblage saw popular idol and celebrated
his presence with demonstrations which ranged
from oecorous applause TO frenetic shrieks OF
delight generally out OF place and utterly sub
versive Of the purposes in art for which the
famous visitor Is supposed 10 stand. They heard
an utterly oacophanous and hopelessly shaky
they made the acquaintance OF what fondly
hope must be the dullest OF all OF Signor Mas
oagni's creations. To dispose OF this latter feat
ure al once let IL be known that the new work
was a one-act operate sketch entitled. IA
netto." Measured by the watch. the piece en-
dured probably three-ouarters OF an hour: by
the feelings Of those who heard f. Il llled a
long and wearisome evening. In its original
shape. as Il came from the pen Of FRANCOIS
Coppee. under the title lie Passant" the story
is a gracious and graceful idyl. woman of
the world. stated and weary with life OF
amours. meets Young singer. feels the sensa-
lions OF pure love pulsing in her veins and
sends him out Of her presence uncontaminated.
Here is poetry and beauty; but no matter. for
three-quRrters OF an hour Of a rambling
musical dialogue, such as the nbrettists
and composer OF 'CavaIleria Rusticans- have
strained and tortured Il into. A drawing room
sketch OF fifteen minutes duration might have
been tolerable. To add 10 the deadly dulness
MascagnL aCtuated by conoeit which would
have been dainty and effective In the brief
sketch hinted at wrote the instrumental parts
for strings. harp. and an extremely spsring
use OF the wood-wind choir and horn. over
end over again the energetic conductor worked
his waving arms into tempestuous commotion,
only 10 reward expectation with as mild a
chord ever stirred the listeners 10 Haydns
string quartets. Harrnonies there were OF the
strenuous kind but they were dessicated:
not one juicy chord was heard from beginning 10
end, and the vitality OF the listening ear was
exhausted long before the long drawn thing
had come 10 an end
The performance Of ''Cavanerta Rusticana -
out OF all proportion poor compared with the
performances 10 which the patrons OF the
Metropolitan had been accustomed. had two
brilliant points OF light. nevertheless- one was
the conducting OF Signor Mascsgui He is &
master or dramatic expression. OF sharply con- |
uasted and also carefully graduated nuance
and he Infused wondrous vitality into many por- |
tons OF the representation, IN spite OF q |
wretched orchestra The other was the acting
and declamatory singing OF Signora Bianchi- /
tspelL The operate Santuzza has had no finer
representative this side OF the water. unless
be Nine. Cslve. who seems. indeed. 10 have /
stood as this Italian wonan's model How
dangerously near she approached her who
mas set the American ideal may be discussed 4
hereafter. II was a thrillingly pathetic i'm 1
personaton which made one overlook her
unfortunate figure and the distressful wab-
DE In her voice. both Of which were fatal 20 all
Illusion IN "Zanetto." In this sketch and IN 4
Cavaller1a" her most satisfactory COMPANION /
vas Nine Mantelh who was heartily greeted ,
ny host Of friends And now what has this /
''-N' esNd6il evening taught US
Except as II increases popular knowledge OF /
Nascagns own works, II is not likely that the /
coming OF the composer will contribute any /
ming 10 the interesting problem which .'Caval- /
'ella husucana' presented To music students A /
uO1eh years ago. IL came upon the world like /
'he bursting Of bomb, and its effect was 50 1
s'aruihg as 10 hewilder and confound the radi-
al leaders Of musical thought. There were few /
'"oeeo' VINO retained calmness Of vision enough \
" perceive that a was less a change OF manner
uan OF subject matter which had Nhirled the /
"o'lu on Us critical feet Outside Of Italy there
vas no means ~ seeing the work Of preparation
Nnich had preceded il The annual output OF /
uhuieas OF operas made no impression beyond /
N'e Aillne barrier. and IL was easy 10 believe /
"at the entire output was formed after the old |
u humdrum manner. 40 sooner had .Caval- /
'''a hustioana' broken down the old confines, |
"'"eNer than Il was discox cred that an entira
0ou OF young musicians had been brought up /
- '"e same blood heating food and a dozen /
,'poseis We're ready 10 utilize the same for
,t 'los' OF them. indeed. got the virus from /
same apothecary who uttered the mortal |
10 Mascagni-from Amilcare PonchieIu |
"e We 0ut listened twenty years ago 20 .Ciia-
-a as We are alle 20 listen 10 "CavaIleria /
oehR and It's swift and multitudinous on
s now We might have recognized the he- ]
Nes OF what has been termed Mas
's not In an essentially new manner OF /
n-s,'a A composition, but in the appeal TO the |
.-D,'''e passion FOR violence and blood which |
ouho expression in the operatic paraphrase Of /
~ husos story and the invitation which 4
- passion extended 10 the modern musician /
.N elnancipated from a lot Of cumber- |
ns, 'ihuar1es and endowed with 8 mass Of |
uh,.. A'ln'onie and instrumental pigments with |
sus.. Produce the startling contrasts and |