New-York tribune., 1902-10-17

IN the performance What there Is in its symbolism
and IT'S 0oerical suggestion that Is ingratiatng Is
more effective the fancy than n the experience
There are fewer clogs fewer sta-rart pools. fewer
e5dies which whirl 20 no purpose. II the modern
school with its distempe- music put on IN splotchss
there must be more merit and action Psychology
ca deineatioa IN music which Stimulates action or
makes one forget the want of outward movement.
demands different order or genius than SIgnor
Mas-aEri possesses Mere talent for artful device
Will not suIale. There are many effective bits OF
expressive writing in the score of Iris, but most
OF them are fugitive and aim ar c1l1riLg WORD G
phrase. or - best temporary situation. There is
little A1w of natural fervent melody. What the
composer accompisheS with t-rr. Characteristic
but fluent eloquent Yet sustained. IN "Cavallerta
Rusticana,' he tries 10 achieve in Iris with VIC
lent, dislointed shifting cf KEYS and sp-ashes
Of instrumental color II this he Is sell
dom successful for he IS not master
OF orchestral writing, thai technical facility
" hich nearly all the young musicians have IN the
same degree that al pianlsts have hnge- technlc-
HIS orchestral stream is muddy. his effects ger
orally Grass and empty Of euphoDy. lie throws the
din Of outlanlish instruments ~ percussion,
battery OF gongs, big and little, drums and Gym
balls into his score without achieving local color
once only does he utilize il % catch the ears
and stir the fancy Of his Hstcnlrs-.u the begin
ning OF the second act where there Is murmur Of
zeal japanese melody As a rule. however Signor
Nascagri seems 70 have been careless in the mat
Cf local color properly perhaps. for strict
comedy with irs patty limitations not fo- tragedy
with its appeal TO large and universal passions.
Yet il IN the lighter scenes, the scenes % com
edy. Ike the marionette show. the scenes OF mud
pathos. Ike the monologues Of Iris. IN which the
music helped Signorina Farneu with her gentle
face, mobile. expressive and more than come
ly and her graceful. INTELLIGENT action 20 pre-
sent q really captivating hgure OF sweet iEno-
ceIce walking Unscathed though soaring hres
os wickecness and Vice and the scenes OF mere
I'm 1-a.
the mousne IN the first act, with its puri-nE ngure
borrowed from Les Huguenots and It's unneces-
sarily uncanuy col legnO effect conveyed from
IL Afrcaine'' seemed most effective But II would
not be wise TO pronounce too er1phatcally on the
music after single hearing. Much OF the stress
ful strenuous music that sounded last night only
TOO much Ike irnpotent musical retchng, may OBJ
tain grace with further hearing, much that was
saddening in the instrumental part may have been
due to the work OF Eullihcaton accomplished b.
the orchestra Even the Introduction, which IS
carried out on broadly imaginative lines. which
marked great climax too early in the representa-
don BY losing an iI-tirned and indiscriminate
thusiasIn. was all but Hteless TIL crashing brass
and Changing gongs came 70 the rescue. But il Is
certain that with much that publishes extra
ordinary Theatre talent n the music there are
oreary wastes which must forever cause rewildered
aInazement
The scenic furniture OF the opera will not bear
discussion. All the e1re-nals OF the performance
were slipshod and oTense TO tie eye. With the
poor playing OF the orchestra this failure or
tEo-thlrds OF the representation. It's redeeming
features the really beautiful and effective act
Ing of Signorina Gf that she be) Farneti, which
heightened the fresh quality of her voice and al
most worked atonement Tor her vicious Of II.
ard the singing well acting OF Signori Bel
latts and Navarrtni. Signor Schisvazzrs zeal was
highly ccmmendable, but the blesting quality OF his
voice was rasping 20 the nerves A numerous au-
dlence, largely Of Signor Masca gnrs countrymen.
was present. and the enthusiasm was as unb-fdled
AZ il was Illogical We do not count recalls in New
York To complete the hurried record here is the
cast
Iris Maria Faraeti
-E1et-o ScLiavaZZl