The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-11-28
"AIDA" With RESERVATIONS.
BRONCHITIS INvADES THE OPER.
ATTIC NILE COUNTRY.
Nine. Homer Has II and Miss Bride~ell
Takes Her Piace-Then Mise Bride.
well Gets II and Nine. Mantelli DOes
the Rest-Max Hirsch rs an Orator.

Takes tier Place-IueO nt1o OTtue~
well Gets u and Nine. ManteI,i Does
the Rest-Max Iiirsch as an Orator.
| The inundation Of the Nile must have
| left the country roundabout in a very damp
| state just previous to the performance OF
Aida" at the Metropolitan Opera House
| last night. II was the first Of Mr. Grau's
attempts 10 give extra performances, and
| a Thanksgiving audience responded. The
house was one Of those top-heavy ones
which always turn out when MIR. de March,
is announced and prepares to hurl high
| tones into the upper air. The role OF No
| danes gives abundant opportunity for such
| fireworks and the Italian cohorts always
shout for joy. The box Office cash drawer
waxed fat and the impresario smiled in
| his sleeve But he VOTED not of the troubles
that were stored up for him in the gran
aries Of the Pharaohs.
Ii was the wtching hour when con-
traltos yawn and begin TO toy with q few
Il vocalizations TO see if they are in voice when
Nine. Louise Homer made discovery.
She was to impersonate Amneris, the I'M
fortunate Princess who fell il love with a
tenor and loved in vain. Amnsris has so
much emotion to express that she cannot
get it into the compass Of an ordinary
voice, but vents her feelings through about
two octaves running far beyond the limits
Of a contralto organ
Now Nine. Homer never found II easy
TO sing Amneris at best Of times, and yes
terday she discovered that she could not
sing II at all Her voice had gone visiting
and had left in its place congested bron-
chial district Nine. Homer sent word to
Mr.. Grau that she could not sing ANN eris
last night She could not sing the old
songs, not any old songs. She could not
| sing at all
| Mr.. Grau at once informed Carrie Bride
well that she would have to sing An,neris.
Now that was just what Miss Bridewell
wanted. She was lying in ambush for just
such an opportunity; She had gorgeous
costume all ready. She had had her pict-
ure taken in it and was just aching to see
il in some of the newspapers that print
pictures Of opera singers in war paint.
| Miss Brdewoll went over into corner
| and emitted a few scales. Then she turned
white and gasp+d Bronchitis had claimed
her for its own But she tackled the scales
again Not 80 bad" she thought So
she determined that she would try il. any
how. Maybe her voice would warm up
after little exercise. They do that some
times Sic went to the opera house and
made herself look stunning enough TO cap
tivate any tenor with eyes. Then she
tried some more scales. The betting was
now even on bronchitis So Mr.. Grau
was informed of the state Of affairs, and he
promptly sent. not for a doctor, but for
Max HIrsch orator in ordinary for the
house, and directed him to speak a little
piece.
and dignifed, STROBE out before the curtain
and did not pause till he reached the centre.
: There he halted and said that Miss BI ide-
well vas suffering from a severe cold,
but that rather than disappoint the au-
di.nce she had consented to sing. The
audi nee was ~ glad that II applauded
The performance began and when Miss
Bridewcll appeared she was encouraged
by applause TO do her prettiest. All through
the first act she tried hard. but she could
sing only in a whisper She wore an agon-
lied look She saw her long coveted OPP
! portunity fading slowly into the distance
! She finished the act Betting was now
three 20 one on bronchitis. and no takers
Z Presently the proscenum door few open
and Max Hir-ch strobe forth once more
: He looked Ike alto when lac had elected
the losing side, or Mr. Hill after the recent
Democratic misfortune This time he said
that Mis- Brdcwells cold instead Of be-
coming better had taken a turn for the
=. worse and that consequently the duet
| between Amnor,s and AIDA in Act H. and
A | the prison scent. Of Act ri. would be cut
out This time some of the audience eX-
pressed disapproval As Mr.. Hirsch went
! of the stage big Edouard de Keszke said
e what did you Get?"
Q Got hlsi,d." answered tie orator
4 laCoI ically.
The secord act logan ard Mrs Bride
well was revealed sittir x on the Prircefs r
private thrOLe. Sic tr!cu 70 sing, but
. her first ,oLes were cough. She finished
y The phrase in n low, bass murmur After
hat she was Ioither rOr Tor prefered nMt
u SIZE was jllst a silent picture of despair
\ The curtain dcsCei ded at the point whore
d - Ia should have entered ard begun al.
!. AZ mated discussion with her Of their
claims to Rdd1mHs. There was nothing
= doing Bronchitis won in n walk
I In the third act Miss Bridewel stood
d about and looked miserable while the
: orchestra played what she ought to have
- sung But the audience liked the act
o full Of brass band and procession and
ballet. There was plenty of applause.
After the curtain fell there was a long
wait Then Mr. Hirsch appeared again
What was going TO happen now? We're
. they going 10 GU out the rest OF the opera
No, an energetic management had not
been idle, Telephones, messenger boys
II and cabs had been AZ work, and Mr. Hirsch
r. announced that Nine. Eugonia Mantelli
had leen found and would sing the rest
- of Amneyis Bronchitis was scratched!
for thus race,
Y Nine. Mantclli appeared in IN" Nile scene
:. and ihe sang the prison scene, which var
: t. have been cut. She II under engage
,, ment to Mr.. Keith, and thus vaudeville
a came to the rescue OF grand opera. In
II these circumstances n criticism Of last
nights performance would lie out Of place
G Nine tamrs was III dtid, NJ de Marohi
G fdouard de Reszkc the Ramps and Mr.
J. Gourmet The Kmg. 1h,y all worked hard
# and, with the aid Of Mime Mantelh mad,
G strong finish. The audience was tre'