New-York tribune., 1903-01-29
Music.
4 Re0ioal OF "ErRarai. .

LII WSdfE-
AFTER sleeping. like Rip Van Wrinkle. for twenty
years. Nerois Ernanf was awakened amid scenes
of glsdscneness At the Metropolitan opera House
last night To judge by its reception the vror l,ves
pleasantly IN the memory of old operaros-s. It
would be Instructive to know the thoughts and
emotions o. the men who have grown up since the
staff OF empire was taken out of the hands or
Mapleson and the Strakosches The walls OF the
Metropolitan Opera House mad never before echoed
the strains CT the opera When old Silva last
blew his fatal blast IN NeH-York there was
Metropolitan Opera House in existence. Italian
opera ~ss ssssseTing about like Sinbad under the
weight OF three managers who seemed TO be try
ing 70 keep II alive; but with three doctors 70 ad
minister indictments and attend the
bleeding Il was soon moribuRd Upon the
spectacle OF Mapleson at the Academy Of
Music strakosch at Booths and Abbey
with PattD at the Gernania Theatre ''Er-
mani closed its weary eyes. Paola Rossini and
Miss Abbey Darlington were the last reprWesenta-
tives OF Enrra in New-Tork before Nine Sernbraeh
bloftse out even the memory Of their singing last
night The record (which may need revision. for
memory summoned in haste is not always trust
worthy reses something Ike that OF revolution.
For thirtyfve years that Is, since the Havana
Opera Troupe with Bediaii as director and Arditi
conductor. came the old Park Theatre, IN the
spring cs 1sf7. 'Ernani' had held its place the
local stage and IN the hearts OF local opera
Al entire generation had been brought up on
'fErnani involami" "InfeIice" and oh soulrao
and singers Of the Metropolitan Opera House
Nerdfs opera has remained book seemingly
sealed with seventy times seven seals What
prompted their breaking Rer7 Sentiment inspired
by the death OF the composer? Remotely, yes;
though opera managers the leass sentimental
persons IN the world More directly it the
presence in Mr. Grau's company Of Nine sembrich,
who mas done much TO aeep alive appreciation
~ oPerztic music which was popular before the
triumphant and benehcent German invasion. Nine.
Senhrich is persuasive teacher Of history. and
there could be loveiier tribute her skill than
the obedience with which q latter day public has
followed her from the heights Of the modern drs-
1nsI1e manner 70 which IL was born down 10 the
suuny mesds where her exquisite art is native.
Eruani' is the oldest Of verdi's operas that
have survived outside Of Italy. All the works that
preceded it. and most Of those that followed. are
dead to she traas-Aipine world When It went
out 70 conquer foreign lands for its composer II
rrao-e against a11ianIe traditions with mailed
fist il spoke Tudely, he5ly. passonately. to ears
that had Just grown accustomed to the gentle
measures Of Beini and the eIegancies Of Rossini,
While cherfshing tenter memories of placid and
pellRcid PafsielIo zad Pergolese. A helmeted
r1uscian." declared the composer Of II Barbere.
who could not understand how Italian could
dare 10 &C crashing through the conventional oper
atic veneers Verdi did in his striving for drs
matte expression "Eraani7 reached London in
1ss5 the first Of Yerdis operas achieve hearing
there. Long years after Chorley, writing down
his -'RecoIiecticns thought that rant was the
The attraction which his Instrumentation exerted
on first hearing was due to its naked ferocity-"
There has been deal Of ferocious Instrumentation
and vocalization. toe. for that matter since,
e. il perperated by Verdi. but most Of il by
his younger countrynen who thought they had e-
bowed him out Of the way when he was looming
I'D over them as the greatest of all Italian com
Posers: but last night Chorley's indictment held
good The brutality OF his style Of expression came
again. not because it contrasted with that
1rasted with 1he OF his ripper yesrsthe years
that gave US Aida, 'Otello and that opera Of the
future -Faistan II even possible that its rude
forcefuln-ss II evidence last night than
4 used 70 be fifty years ago Then the traditions
Of song were more general than new. and singers
not prone 70 tear passion 70 tstters and
leave melody distorted and shiveriHg. as most Of
Nine. sembrich's companions did last night What |
ar example she them. and how little was il re-
Earde6r TIE tenor sna-lcd and wfnnedi the barry 1
tone storued choked himself with the rage Of g, |
dozen Scarpias; the bass labored ike q Spanish !
EaIleoa IN the trough OF heavy ses- But Efv1ra
sang with g voice that giorihed the music. and a
styIe that all but disproved the old charge OF
Verdi's tyrsnnous n1aitrea tnent OF the voice She
fred the magazine OF popular enthusiasm with her
air. and laid bare the sensibitfes Of the audi
that the elemental potency Of FercTs tunes
could not fail of effect Ths old opera was rapt-
Irously greeted, but II Nine SeInbrlchs sing
ing that acted as first mediator between the al
most forgotten strains and the people Extraordi-
nary interest was displayed by the public, the |
house being crowded almost 10 the extreme limit OF
Us CAPACITY and rapturo1s applause following near
" every scene. with recall after recall after the
acts. Si-nor Mancinelli conducted with obvious 4
Eyrnpathy for the strenuousness which marked /
every feature Of the performance, except the sing
irg Of Nine Seubrich-
Here the cast 70 complete the record:
MISS Ha1ei
- Ils - - M Scott !
Esrv f,-oez Dc Efivz----..-.. Edouard Reszke