New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-11-25
MUSIC-THE DRAMA.
pENING OF THE OPERA SEASON.

The regular season Of grand opera at the Metro
-7itan Opera House began last night It was the
.-rth, believe, under the consulshiD Of Mr.
--au though the vicisstudes Of the enterprise
.ince the Metropolitan was opened some nineteen
vasrs ago may cause curious inquirers TO look bit
sskance at the statement. For the first time since
he season Of 1858 the opening Of the institution
which ministers once the social and the ar
.sr,e needs Of New-York began at an auspicious
me Of the year The three seasons Immediately
needing began a month later and after a cam
,aig2 II the West equally damaging TO the physi-
al and artistic health Of the company Last nights
,e-forunance benefited by the change. The opera
ras Verbs "OteIlo"; il had an unusually fine
-e-f9r-nance-the audience was brilliant in ap-
egrance and character. keenly appreciative OF the
ax,elerce Of the representation kind and generous
n is expressions OF grateful appreciation, yet
ss-possessed and conscious OF its rights, Met
-apolitan audience ought to be. For this reason
# did not interrupt the performance either to vel
.o1ae the singers, whom II has learned TO admire,
-- 70 applaud eruptively whenever those singers
sf5 rheir lovely duty towards yerdrs splendid
position.
though the opera was performed by the same
s-ts-s il the principal roles, who appeared in It
last season II received finer performance-in fact,
the temptation IS strong TO say that it was the
enest performance that NEWCOMERS can recall,
and they can recall none but good performances.
7 vas not alone the fine zeal Of Nine. Eames. "
Alvarez and Signor Scott that brought the graft
fy5ng result about Il was largely the excellence
If mat cooperation Of ali the factors concerned,
that ensemble which chronic faUlthnders like 10
-ra1e about whenever they are asked 10 match the
7Far-opolitan representa- tons in the capitals Of
rr-ope The chorus sang spiriteGly and well; the
o-rhestra played with admirable eXpTessiOa-buoy-
srtIv with many and elastic gradations OF nu-
s,oe. Signor ManCiuelu conducted ike a master,
5esnIy and thoroughly versed IN the matter Of the
,,-e- zvrpatheticaIly. anectonateIy interested IN
han vol q
-rando!ins were brought into the second act and
BEAUTIFULLY effective they were in the gracious gar
5sn music and they babe Us hope for an eventual
soroducon OF Terdis wishes in this score in their
integrity. Then shall hear the drone OF the
ragpipes supporting the characteristic twangling
~ T+aIv's favorite instrument and the pretty song
Of the countryfolk
.rOteIlo' vas orce before the opening opera OF
season al the Metropolitan Opera House, but 1t
-vss not : regular season That was in March
80 when Iessrs. Abbey Grau supplemented
The regular German season with four weeks or
Italian opera. sung by company headed ny
Adelna Patti In that company was Tamagno
who created the part of Oteo for the composer
and remained its chief exponent the world over
ever since At least that has been the impression.
which received e rude shock last night. after
Tarzp-o found himself the phrase goes
Beginning with the second act II was possible 10
forget Tauagno, 50 large, assertve. comprehensive
and thrilling vas N. Alvarez's performance, both
--o-slIv and dramatically In the love music OF
she s-s- srt he was less satisfactory, his besetung
sin Of vicious information asserting itself whenever
me music called for tenderness Of expression The
gentleman is strenuous artist ard for the fierce
ness and brutality Of Oteo's character (Which are
practically all the elements which BoitO and Verdi
eft n Shakespeare's creatOn) he has ample and
convincing equipment, vocal as well as instru-
mental Because Of this one-sidedness his imper-
sona-ioa strong and lurd IL is, falls far short
Of Signor Scotti's Iago. That is finished TO de-
gree Scotu is Z singer well as a Tagedian
He need not resort 10 untuneful shrieks 70 pub
lish his vengefulness and hatred Toicecolor, eo-
ouent eIocurion subtle accentuation. serve him,
and BY their aid he conveys the steel-hke, cool
Intellectual remcrseless Unfeelirg ualignIty Of
the ancient with marvellous force Signor Scott
has done many things admirably, but none Of his
other achievements. not even his Barone scarpia,
can rank with his Iago.
TirrazzIni AIbanf and Eanes have impersonated
Des1ernona in New-York The first came when, Of
Al tie European cities. only Milan. Munich. Ham
burg and Vienna had made the acquaintance Of
Verbs work Nine. Alba1i came with the revival
made BY Abbey & Grau and the Patti company;
Nine. Eares. in December, 1884 when she had
Just added the part 70 her repertory- It was an
addition that has been delight 70 her friends and
the lovers Of the opera ever since, 50 she was
dou6ly welcome last night-welcoTne for the sake
Of her charming personality, welcome Tor her beau
tlfuI singing Of the music. She never sang more
loneliness Of tone yet she left the old longing for
warmth Of sentiment unsa tisied- The house was
crowded n stalls boxes and balconies.