The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-11-27
The MUSIC OF one DAY.
NINE. SEMBRICH REAPPEARS AT
THE OPERA HOUSE.
nOssini's scintillant Comic Opera I'll
Barbiere di SiNtglia"-me Polish
Nightingale In One OF Her Beet Parts
A Rosina Of Charm and vivacity.


Nightingale In One OF Her Beet Parts
Tho second performance Of the opera
season took place at the Metropolitan
Opera House last evening. The opera was
one which afforded immediate relief after
the sombre tragedy Of verdi's 'Otelo,'
sung on Monday night. II was Rossini's
II Barbiere di SiviRlia. work Of good
old-fashioned school. and one Of the very
best Of its kind. Its performance was the
first since March 81, 1900. and II therefore
had all the allurements which come from
freshness. Furthermore. In II Mime. Sem-
brich, the most enchanting Of Rosinds
made her temperance In part perfectly
suited to her lovely voice and her exquisite
skill as a comedian.
These elements combined 10 make the
evening one Of especial festivity. The
average operagoer. who does not like TO
take matters very ser ously, was able to
divide his attention between the boxes
and the gems Of the opera or, If he chose
he could reserve his aural exertions for the
dainty offerings of the lesson scene. The
dampnest of the night did not penetrate the
auditorium. There all was lightness and
Brightness and sparkling gayety, for. with
Rossini's champagne music and Nine.
Sembrch's ozone singing ard acting, il
was a night for laughter and contented
heart
1t was on Jan. ?s, 1893, that Rossinis
charming comic opera was revived at the
Metropolitan Opera Hous, At that time
IL was introduced into the regular roper
toire for it had previously been given only
in one of Abbey, Schoeffel 4 Grau's Patti
seasons, in the spring Of 1880, In that
year the ROsina was, of course, the incom-
parable Patti herself whose memoir y Is
dear to all old opera -goers and is worshipped
bv 40 one more than 10y New Iorks adored
Rosino Of to-day.
Nine. Melba sang Rosina in the season Of
lsos and she was justly admired for an
Improvisation which combined vivacity
Of action with ravishing beauty Of voice.
But no one ever accused Nine. Melba OF
heing a great actress, and II was not till
Nov. 80 of the same year dses, that the
young generation Of opera- goers saw and
birch.
Rossini's opera is thoroughly delightful
in itself 1t was happy idea that led the
arch jester Of the lyric stage 20 build mu-
Vious to the action Of Mozart's mat chess
-Nozze di Figaro" Who 40 stated with
either song or Jest as not to relish the
piquant comedy Of Rossini's music? Who
does not perceive in these days OF stern
treatment of tragic tales that not william
TELL" but this scintillant humoresque,
bears the burden Of it's composers fame?
With the exception Of Mozart. only Italians
have succeeded in writing good opera bufia.
Too little Of II Is heard in these days, and
indeed even in such a good performance
as that of last night there were some evil
dences Of want of skill in the treatment
of the dancing rectatives that make 30
much Of the briskness Of the score. But
men cannot prattle when they are bigger
than football guards and have voices like
church bells.
Suffice 1t TO record at this time that Nine
Sembrich was the same dazzling. teasing,
ravishing Rosind As Of old. The infinite
variety Of her fnesse in action. vocal ex-
preston and facial aspect was In itself
enough to excite wonder and demand
applause, while her unceasing. geefulness
was generally contagious, As for her
singing, that was such she alone to-day
can give us. Her voice seems even richer
and more luscious than ever before In its
lower tones, while the upper ones retain
their fute-like beauty and their airy carry
ing quality Last night she was In most
happy mood. and she sang and acted with
all the gayety Of her sunny nature. In
the lesson scene she sang the Strauss vocal
waltz. -Noce di Prmvera.' especially
composed for her. and for an encore number
10 give a third and this time sang Chopin
song accompanying herself at the piano.
The other members of the cast were Mr.,
Salignac as Airdurd, Mr.. Campanari as
Figaro. Mr.. Gilbert as Bartoio. Mis- Bauer
meister as Morcei6nd and Edouard de
Reszke in his famous iInpersonation Of
Don Bdsiiio. All OF these except Mr. Gill;
bert have sung the same parts before.
MIR Gilbert is an accomplished artist and
seldom fails to do full justice to his task.
He is a competent comedian, and conse-
Guently he was very much at home last
evening In action he was somewh hat
cumbersome. but his delivery was capitally
comic and his characterization excellent.
Mr.. de Reszke had his customary success
with the "Calumnia" song He was In
better voice than he was at the close OF last
season.
Mr.. Almanz. the stage manager Of the
evening. deservesa word Of commentator
for his attention to he details OF the scenery.
The settings were morc acceptable in de-
tails than they have been at some periods
IN