New-York tribune., 1902-02-21
1fUSIC.
4 REPETITION OF "MANRU."

4 REPETITION OF "MANRU."
Mr. Paderewski's opera achieved a greater tr-
umph at its repetition last night than on the
occasion Of its first production, last Friday. There
were a few hundred persons less in the house but
the performance outside tho subscription, and
the subscribers alone make handsome show with
out the help Of transient theatre goers. as is well
known: but there was almost much enthusiasm,
and IL was evoked by the opera and the perform
ers. not by the presence of the composer. "Manru"
submitted by Mr. Grau TO the severest test
that could he applied. and came ont OF the trial
vctoriously. Let much he recorded without
prejudice to all the righteous criticism that has
been spoken and written upon it-criticsm appre-
ciative Of it's beauties and criticism in dspraise
of the weaknesses Of its book and score a sec
ond hearing made for its advancement In the
good opinion of the judicous, The consistency
and continuity Of its structural plan was
better brought 10 notice the charm Of its orches-
tral color. and the pregnancy OF its themauc con
tent were more compelling and the interest was
closely held by the greater rapidity Of move
ment. The action freer and more convincing,
and passing weaknesses were prevented from be-
coming assertve and dscouraging. The first rep
resentaton Of ''Mauru' disclosed many crudities.
so many, indeed. that to have pronounced Judgment
upon the manner in which the various artists had
conceived ard executed their tasks then would have
been manifestly unwse and unjust. Everything
vas still In state Of huN Those OF the singers
who knew the letter of their parts still search
ing for the conceptions which ike Aradne's thread.
should lead them through the dramatic labyrinth
created by the brettist. The chief difficulty con
fronted Mr.. Bispham. His vas the opportunity %
create a distinctive and picturesque stage charac-
ter bat every glance the printed page must have
brought him face TO face with a problem. Urok is
outwardy a reflex Of familiar operate Character
Rigoletto. AIberich. Mime Quasimodo dn Goring
Thomas's 'Esmerada' but he IS greater bundle
OF contradictions than any of his prototypes.
ard. a matter of fact quite irreconCilable with
any one moral or psychological notion. lover
who Is willing commit murder for his love, yet
in her presence seems take a hendsh de-
light torturing her soul; sorcerer. who
riGcules his art yet practises It IN behalf OF
the object OF his affections and against his
own desires and makes half-success; a man who
does his best to preciptate catastrophe which
brings with II the death OF object of his adora-
ton and then kills that she who IS almost
much his victim her visible destroyer's may
be avenged-such a character would tax the ckill
Of any metaphysical novelist, dramatist actor.
It could not be brought within the field OF the
operate Iibrettist and composer or compassed by
any singer. II was plain that Mr.. Bispham had
sought out two characteristics and devoted himself
TO bringing them to notics-J-rok's love for UIana
and the physical barriers to a reciprocal passion.
He conceves Urok a cunning, mischievous, al
fectIonate paraytic. and works out his conception
with much detail but without conviction. without
producing q definite impression Of sympa thy or
tipathy. Of cheer horror in the mind Of the OBJ
server at the end. OF the sUpernaturalism IN the
character which probably haunted the minds of
both nbrettist and composer in the guise of memo
ries Of Marschner's Hans Hciling and Wagners
Dutchman. Mr Bispham seems to have had
conception; despite his msconception he has
created the most pervasive and impressive dramatic
figure i'm the opera. Pity that he overburdens II
with disturbing detail
Nine. Sembrich's Uana complete and
gentle a conception from the beginning that
large improvement was not to have been expected.
She did not have bring about symmetry be
tween the elements Of her !mpersonation,
ton and song because that had been created in her
mind by her study Of the book and embodied i'm
her performance the outset. Unhappily. the
part is dramatically colorless. and its appeals
interest and sympathy rest upon the pathos and
loyelness Of Nine Sembrich's acting and singing
The role Of the hero is burdened with dramatic
difficulties but Mr. Won Bandrowski overcomes
most Of them by the intensity ard variety of his
acting and the sincerity of his singing. He pre-
sents a picturesque and moving figure, and
bodies the Idea which is the base of the entire
story eIoquently and Convincingly Miss Scheff.
who threatened to force the part of the gypsy Asa
into the domain of opeTetta by her dress and con
duct a week ago. last night joined her
panions Mr. Blass and Mr. Muhmann. in keeping
the representations of the wandering Romanys
strictly and beautifully inside the poetical and
musical frame.