New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-10
MUSIC.
Young Italy at the Opera.

Two operas were given at the Metropolitan Opera
House last night-Mascagni's "Cavalleria Rusti-
cana and Leoncavallos "Paglacci" The per-
Torrance OF the first opera implicated one Italian.
besides the conductor; the second three Italians. a
Pole and German again besides the conductor.
Signor Vigna, the conductor. must be recokened
with in all the representa- tons in which he is
cerned. especially with the hot blooded products
OF the young italian veritists When there was
danger of sluggishness creeping into the perform
ances last night through the national procfIvites
OF the singers, he was hand to sweep away the
barrier and let the torrent flow IN the tumultu-
Gus fashion demanded by the music There
IS always something inspritfng about the
work Of this artist. He is full OF tempera-
ment. Others may think the music Of the young
followers OF Verdi and Ponchieln superficial. at
fected and inflated; it is all real to him Not a
phrase, not a nuance, does he slight. His heart is
in It, and he calls out its every phase eloquently
and convincingly. He was not much hampered
last night, except by Mr.. Dippel who sang the
music Of Turiddu in Mascagni's opera That is
plainly outside of the singers sphere. though like
everything he undertakes. it serves TO exhibit his
unbounded zeal and honesty of purpose. Nine
Gadsh was wholly in the spirit Of both the COM
poser and conductor. She sang the music pas
sionately, sweepingly thrillingly, and acted the
character with an intensity of feeling and vari-
ETY. of pose, gesture and facial expression that
went beyond mere Illusion Her companions, be-
sides Mr.. DIPPED. Nine. Homer Qola). Miss
Bauermeister Gucia) and Signor Campanari GAL
fo)-capable people all in their respective parts.
"Pagliacci" brought Nine. Sembrich forward in a
new part, that Of Media, and also added a role to
Slgnor Caruso's list; he the CauiO OF the
evening. Signor Guardabassi also made his debut
in the small part OF Svio. disclosing a promising
voice and vocal manner and exhibiting four eIe-
ganty clad limbs that seemed strive strenuously
but vainly TO get into something like synchronous
correspondence with each other and with the rest
OF his body. The audience one Of the most uu-
merous of the season. was thicky fringed by
Signor Caruso's demonstrative countrymen who
poured the usual infusion of noise into the enthus-
asm with which all the listeners greeted his sing
ing. Cheers went up with the plaudits after the
song which ends the first act of the opera, and he
was compelled to repeat it-absurd as the proceed
ing is. was and always will be from a dramatic
point Of view. II would be well if the admirers Of
Vertsmo' In operate composition would ponder
the benefits which might accrue from the appHca-
ton Of the principle in performance It is certainly
as SHY 10 ask dramatic singer to make emo
uona4 Ia Capo In the new opera It foolish
In the composers OF the eighteenth century TO d.
late with the initial emotion after the allegro in
the old fashioned aria But something must be
allowed to the devotees OF an Italian tenor when
that tenor has the voice and art OF Sgnor Caruso.
Nine. Sembrich, though she played the part OF
Media In New-York for the first time last night
was not new IN the role. She appeared In the
role IN 1856 at the Imperial Opera House in st.
petersburg when one Of her associates was Sgnor
GaruHe. who was the creator OF this character
(as the operate phrase goes. under the composer
himself Later in the same year Nine Senbrich
sang IN German representations OF the opera in
Berlin Since then until last night she has not
sung in the opera. For elementary passions OF the
first act she has not many tones. though both her
voice and art sublmate the lyrical portions espe-
cally the baliatela and the love scene with Silvio
In the second act. however. she is in her element
her comedy acting as arch, piquant graceful
varied and winning as her voice is transporting.
With SignOr Caruso and Signor Scott. whose
Tonic is as perfect in its way his scarpia she
helped to make the representation OF I.eoncavalo's
opera the most spirited that the work has yet
received here