New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-01
MUSIC.
" aida at the Opera.

VerdTs Aida" was a brave show at the Metro
politan Opera House years ago, when it borrowed
the glittering pageantry left behind by king
Solomon" after he had given his last word Of
advice to Assad. +he unfortunate, and the Queen
of sheba disappear ed in a mirage of the desert
leaving the Ioyelorn youth to perish beneath the
solitary but Delsartian palm tree. After that II
grew in bravery through contributions conjured
up by THE Magic Flute" and last night it made
another advance in the scene of Rhadames's tri-
umphal return. through the agency of ''Salammbo."
There were also some new costumes for the ladies'
of the chorTs, and the debUtante of the evening
Miss Edith Walker, who enacted the part of the
Egyptian princess, diaphanOus garments
which for a moment suggested the thought that
she had dropped into the opera from one OF Mr.
Rice's spectacular pieces When the ballet emerged
from one of the hundred gates Of Thebes, however
it was enforced on all who had harbored that
notion that apologies were due to Mr.. Rice. Evil
IDENTIFY some antiQuary at the Metropolitan is dis
posed to give a literal Interpretation to the an
cient Egyptian artists device of outlining both
figure and vesture in his mural paintings.
Otherwise the stage furniture of Mr.. Conried's
production of the opera was familiar. So also was
Nine. Gadslds fine inpeTsonaton of the Ethiopian
slave VI. Plancons noble, yea, thrice noble, sing
ing, and statuesque bearing as RANTS, and Sigr9r
Scottfs thrilling and picturesque performance as
Amonasro. The newcomers in the opera were Miss
Walker as Arnneris. and Signor Cartso as Ria
danes. The latter plainly still suffering from
the indisposition which worked such shipwreck in
the representation of La Boheme'' last Friday
night and ''Rigoletto' on Saturday afternoon But
his skill in overcoming the drawback helped to a
keener appreciation of his knowledge of the art of
singing and invited still greater admiration for the
superb beauty his voice. The pleasure which his
singing gives is exquisite. scarcely leaving room
for curious Questionings touching his limitations
He is to be accepted for what he is with gratitude
and no one who loves the art OF song ought 10
miss the opportunities which his presence at the
METROPOLITAN offers. Miss Walker is cOnely, IA
mar with the conventions Of stage department
and the possessOr of a voice Of lovely quality,
though not of great volume. There is a decided
charm in her singing. tlle most marked artistic
grace Of which is the perfect evenness of its quail
ity up to the point where the pitch puts strain
upon her. Her voice is also capital vehicle for
feeling an extremely essential attribute of the
dramatic singer Miss Walker left her hearers II
doubt as TO her gift this respect until the
with the priest in the act, but then she made
most moving manifestation of it. Indeed her per-
Torrance of this feat was probably the finest that
the patrons Of the Metropolitan Opera House can
recall and was only equaIled in the evenings rep
reservations by Nine Gadskts superb singing and
acting in the Nile scene
Miss Schafer. pupil Of Mr. Conried's
opera school, sang the music Of the inVis-
ibIe priestess It is a pity she was not in
audible as well as invisible for her untunefulness
was painful The audience was numerous, gorgeous
20 look at and more deonstratively and genuinely
er thusasti, than any gathering thus far this sea-
SON