New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-02-26
THE GALA OPERA NIGHT.
SPLENDID DECORATIONS FOR
THE OCCASION.
THE PRINCE ARRIVES AFTER THE
FIRST ACT-CALLS AMONG THE
BOXES IN INTERMISSIONS

When the country is trying to show its guest.
Prince Henry OF Prussia, as much Of what II
has worth seeing as his time will allow, il would
be wrong not TO give him an opportunity to
Judge what the country is capable OF musically.
Hence the appropriateness of the gala perform
ance in his honor last night at the Metropolitan
Opera House. Moreover. If New-York wished TO
give him the most elaborate brilliant and artis-
tic exhibition Of which il was capable. that
hibition would naturally take the form Of
operatic performance. Again. the advancement
OF this country in musical art is perhaps its
least understood claim to distinction in Europe.
Hence once moro tho appropriateness of letting
the Prince see and hear little Of the best Of
Yankee opera A glance through the list of
Nance OF last nights programme may cause
the designation Yankee opera to seem face
tious. The fact remains that ii is opera de-
signed and brought about for Americans, even
II It is not of or by Americans It is such opera,
too, as Americans may be glad and even proud
20 exhibit 10 a representative of the nation which
holds the foremost place in modern music.
The opera house has never looked beauti-
full before as it looked IN the garb which it wore
&c welcome the Prince. The decorations were
so elaborate, so rich. so lavish and at the same
time so thoroughly tasteful and artistic that
they merit the fullest description. Only.
fortunately description cannot convey the ptct-
ure or give TO the mind the feast which the
display gave TO the eye.
SOUTHERN SAnLAX PREDOMINATEs.
The material most used in adjoining the house
was southern srniaX, which all but hid all that
is ordinarily seen OF the interior Of the audi
forum and the entrance halls. All the box and
balcony fronts were covered with it, and strings
of IL hung at the sides of the proscenium open
ing from the top OF the opening 10 the stage.
These strips Of green foliage were thickly stud
ded with white and green electric lights. The
same scheme was carried out above the stage
opening, where long garlands of smiIax, gleam-
ing with white and green lights, were hung in
festoons, while in the middle and high I'D the
apex Of the design formed by group OF
American and German flags and shields.
On the balcony and box fronts the screens Of
sniIax were relieved with frequent punches OF
azaleas and uarguerites and with stars Of white
lights shining through the green leaves. The
royal box was formed by removing the parti-
tons from five boxes in the middle Of the lower
circle. The front decorated with American
Beauty roses, in addition to the green. The in
terror Of the box was hung with crimson velvet
and across its front was a canopy Of crimson
velvet and white satin. Behind the royal box
the corridor which It opens was cut of from
the other boxes by hsngings of tapestry.
One OF the beautiful effects Of all was
the ceiling. where the chandeliers shone through
a network or strings OF sInlIaX ana Whlle anu
green electric lights, radiating from the centre
TO all Sides like the strands of a cobweb.
In the vestibules the scheme was the same. the
decoration consisting chiefly of smilax inter
spersed with white and green lights. The stair
ways were further embellished with azalcas,
rnarguerites and palms, and the rails were
twined with American beauties. The chandelier
IN the middle vestibule was hung with garlands
Of red roses. In the outer lobby were more Of
the snlilax and palms, with the addition Of
bunting of the German cOlors.
CHIEFLY LIGHTS OUTSIDE.
Outside the house the crowds of Broadway
needed TO be cheered with more glaring effects,
and there the decorations consisted chiefly Of
lights White electric lights marked out a great
square over the entrance. At the upper corners
OF il were American shields, in the proper colors,
and at the lower corners were shields bearing
the device of the Prussian eagle in blue, crowned
with gold This design repeated at each