The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-12-28
4 DAY OF VERDI MUSIC.
"AIDA" AND "OTELLO" AT THE
METROPOLITAN.

A Tragic Drama turned Into . Pretty
Lyric OperavMme. Eames a Tame
savase-Camiile seysard Appear ~
Desdemons for tho First Time Here
There was an audience Of large size at
the Metropolitan Opera House yesterday
afternoon when Verdi's Aida was once
more performed. The seats appeared all
to be occupied and there was goodly num-
Der Of 'standees' The cast was not in all
details the same as at previous perform
ances Of the opera. Mr.. Campanan APP
peared a. Amonasro for the hrst time this
winter and Mr.. Muhlmann replaced Mr..
Journet as the King. The other singers
we're Mime. Earnes as Alia. Mr.. de March,
as Radames. Nine. Homer as Amnerts
and Mr. de Reszke as Ranf,
The performance was lyric rather than
dramatic. Most Of those engaged in 1t
seemed to be concerned about smooth and
beautiful tone production rather than the
delivery OF the text In a vigorous style.
Persons who 20 to the opera TO hear pretty
music prettily sung were doubtless In
ecstasies Of delight over the entertainment.
but IL was not thing Of JOY TO those who
kept In sight the purposes OF the composer.
" was lovely, but II was not Verdi
II Aida Is anything II Is an intensely
modern work. passionate In thought and
filed With the tragic spirit in its style. To
interpret II In a manner suitable to the
mellifuous measures Of Faust Ii to reduce
Its artistic proportions to minimum. Yet
it il in some such manner that both Nine.
Eames and Mr.. de march, view the music Of
their roles in this opera. To AIia a suavely
l,yy-t ctx Ia tok la In, ha In
There. indeed, Nine Eames and Mr. de
MARCH sang together most beautifully. 1t
was a real JOY to hear their delivery Of the
final duet. % terra. addio.'
For Rdddmes purely lyric singing Ia
suitable in the first scene also; but in the
third act both he and Aldo must pulsate
with passion and act the audience vibrating
in unison with them. But Nine. Eames,
charmingly a. she sings. never reaches the
level Of the music here. She sang 20
patria mia very prettily. though che
modified the difficult ascending passage
so as to omit its highest tone. Perhaps
she was not in the best Of voice, for once
in the ensuing duet she was momentarily
choked. But II Is In design that her treat
ment Of the entire act is radically wrong
She APPEAR to have no realization OF the
no dramatic sopranos left' Must We hear
lyric singers In emasculated versions OF
such musicf
Mr.. de Ma rchi seemed to be inclined
Yesterday to take thing easily He was
Ia no very imrodng figure. Mr.. Campo
nari's AmonosS, is familiar impersona-
ton. 1t is gooa but II lacks savage power
Nine. Homer IL very good to look at In the
role, Of Amneris. but much Of the music is
too high for her and her voice Ia continually
craninc at the obstacles. The paReantry
of Aida as it Is now presented at the Metro
politan IL by no means what II might be,
but II Ia about all that can be expected in
house which depends upon the Rlories Of
ite star singers for it's attractivenese. MIR.
ance with discretion and the orchestra
played admirably. But on the whole the
opera went very tamely. Memory could
not help busying itself with performances
which sent thrills through he auditorium.
The day afforded sort OF illustration Of
verdi's progress In style, for In the evening
'O,ello, the opera which he gave the world
after Ada was presented. A painfully
email audience assembled for the perform
ance, In spite Of the fact that the regular
cast, with one exception, was offered
Naturally Mime. Eames did not appear as
Desdemona. Her place wss taken by Nine
Seygard. who sang the role for the first
time here. Her Interpretation was ac-
ceptable, though 1t suffered somewhat
from her lack OF tonal power
Mr.. Alyael's O,elLo has been sufficiently
described In these columns. 1t certainly
shows no lack OF vocal vigor. A little re-
straint would do 1t no harm, and certainly
II would benefit by a larger consideration
for the pitch. Mr. Scotti's Togo IL always
good to hear. The popular barytone was
at his best last night. 1t makes no differ
ence to him II the audience Is small But
for the matter OF that. It can be said that
none Of those concerned In the performance
showed any disposition to slight their work
Mise Narylli Gang Emilia.
In the change Of scene In the last OF aida .
yesterday afternoon a new device was
emp owed. The change is made with a
dark stage, and In order to increase tho
effect Of the gloom yesterday the man.
aeement used row OF electric lights along
the front Of the stage. These lights shone
directly In the ewes OF the spectators and
dazzled them. This prevented the audi
ence from seeing a. well Is 1t could without
the lights.