The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-10-19
IRIS" TUI(E I DAY.
Mascasni's Opera Heard Afternoon and
T., pning al the Nctr0politan

Mascagni's -Ratcliie" having been laid
aside for the present. his Iris" was given
at the Metropolitan Y -terday at both mat
Il - and evening performance, Tai.
imposed heavy - IN both con
du ,tor a. d Performers but they az.
Quilted themselves with credit, and il
may be said that, 20 far a, the limitations
Of the organization permit, the opera j. now
ready for pre-enta'ion in other cities A
second and third hearing of this work
were worth While They seemed to fy
certain conclusion, which wor. not much
more dcfrit" than impress, ions after the
first performance First of all, the book
II not good one. The emotional matter
provided for musical embodiment IT, slight
il texture and deficient in breadth Of
dramatic climax The lihretti-t pre- bahlv
aimed AZ contrast in The character. Of
o. and Iris, aud Lee obtained il. but
neither character affords composer large
opportunities. OSAKA fail, because # the
pure an'nalism Of III. passion. willie ms
fails through want of any passion NJ all
The first act i the best of he ,hrcs II
has spectacular attraction There 4, food
for the eye in the entrance OF the chorus
Of women. There j. scenic movement
in TN" pIippct show and n" ballet There
il distinct and wcll-doiIned IN Ovement
toward The dramatic climax, III, ahduc-
ton of Iris. In the second act tho catas-
trophc is awkwardly managed and It.,
ending of tho scene is ahrup, and not wholly
clear. IL Irs had been provided with
something TO say before throwing herself
from the window there would have been an
opportunity for a musical point of eNlltA-
ton, whereas, 30 far as the score j. con-
C1rn"d, the act ends in an anti-cimaX
the third aCt has no dramatic yall, at all;
the opera l. practically over at the end
of the second act.
lu" Ccf '',s OF Inc -1ora are sur IL Nigh,
Dc exp cted from The book, Int l. j. a
mighty Interesting 'o'. for all that Tie
orchcstration il mis;crly. Mascagni has
lost nothing tna' MAJ becI accomplished
in the development of modern inst rneuta-
ton. The score u m-h with warm and
"hang"itll tiris. II l. indeed an iris They"
l. 10 oire altempi TO reproduce Japlao-,
muSl'. Yet lOraf color l. thar, and oven
Sdpancse Instruments nrr "mpgved with
admirable ci'"0i. The pd.-t,,r 10 tnr
opening of IN" SECOND at g. whi IN .ulcd
meta IL instrument, of p'ICu,,ip are
played un the stag" j. striking ard
mighty ingenious, Tn" or'hr~lratiuI f
the puppe'-show mus, in ~" tie, at p.
remarkably -kilful. while tho bale, mus
l. unique and suggestive
B,lt undoubtedly Tn" luos' - r'ing thiu2
in the work l. IN" iatroductiun Al vr.t.r-
day performances there wa, u Ct, a. ir-
proNcmeut IN IN" mdaago;n. nj Of the
lights in this part Of he work, and the COM
pp~prS purpose was almost accent II -hed
That i was not wholly roali. 4 wa, vi,. to
III" utter Inability OF the orchost ra to pls,
in iuao. RoN the siAgcrs ever determined
which OF the many pitches TO fulloS in
yesterdays pcTformaUons was a oark and
forblddug mystery. Maria tarYrti te-
p"ated h"r Commouda bile Interpretation
of Iris. 81" does DOT sag well. but .n.
acts the part cXc"lleatly sad j. physically
we'll suited to n. NnvariiIi again -.ny
the music Of the father wcll I he chpr,i,
was uaiuncful, a. USUAL. the composer
conducted IN u mastery maar.r. The
audleh"cs al b"tn pcrfornl l"es were
small