New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-02-14
MUSIC.
Il Ne5c Tenor at the Opera.

Mr. Naval. a tenor. effected hts entrance on the
American stage at the Metropolitan Opera House
yesterday afternoon in performances OF BoieIdieus
Ia Darne Blanche II a OF mixed
pickles with a vengeance. Tie French opera with
Scotch subject was sung in German. the castle
OF the Laird OF Avenel on the possession Of which
the plot turns. proved to be the wartburg IN
Ihurlngia where Tannhauser came 20 grief IN n
famous singing match and Luther translated the
Biole into German IL is thus that the promises
OF fidelity TO the artistic veritiss wh.ch were 90
loudly trumPeted last spring and summer are be-
ing fulfilled But perhaps matters Ike these do
not signify. Few Of the regular patrons OF Ma
Conrted's opera were il a position to know OF their
own experience what BOieIdeu's old opera ought TO
have been like. Tor the reason that IL has been
absent 70 all intens and purposes from the current
lists for whole generation. When II was new
seventy years or 30 ago. IT was sung here and ad-
mired Then it fell into state OF somnOlency out OF
which It was awakened at long intervals by cir
cumstsnces like those to which yesterdays revival
was due. a German tenor came who wanted to
warm the hearts OF impressionable matdens with
George Browns song Of the joys Of soldiers life
and his invocation OF the lady in white-the latter
aria a veritabe classic which ought 10 have main
tanned itself on the concert stage n II could
the operate. Therefore. Habelmana produced 1t
thirty years ago. Wachtel after him. and that
feeble imitatOr Of the coachman tenor B6tel at the
Thala Theatre, IN ISIS The two performances
which the opera received then were. believe.
the last heard in New-Tork. Now comes a new
German tenor. inspired by old traditions. and We
have Die Weisse Dame" redivivUs
This simple statement OF the case might suffice
to characterize the new conner. Mr.. Naval IL a
lyric tenor. with a pretty voice and a way with
him calculated 10 fascinate the German fraulein-
Neither his vocal equipment his artistic style
is commensurate altogether with the conditions
set by the Metropolitan opera House. but both
in their way amiabIe and admirable. The
voice is pure and Negotiating in quality.
ample in range Though fetching up in falsetto
in every passage which is both high and
soto, and iS used with charming and
grace. Throughout the opera he sang with
delightful abandon and spirit. and not once did
he fail OF his purpose. The audience not
numerous usual but it sincerely apprecia-
tive Of the good singing which Mr. Naval. Nine.
Gadski. Nine Homer and Mr.. Blass put to their
credit, and the clever character acting OF Nj
Ress and Nine Seygard. Boieldieu's music is
charmingly meodious. and Mr. Mottl read It with
obviously sincere sympathy and affection Care had
been bestowed upon the preparation OF the work on
its musical side. and It made quite excellent an
impression could have been expected That It
IS wholly out o. place in the Metropolitan Opera
House need scarcely be said That its music and
comedy could give much pleasure they did
emphasizes again the need several times discussed
In this place. when Nine. Sembrich's revivals Of
Donizetti's operas were under discussion. OF an
adjunct 10 large operatio institution adapted
20 the requirements OF polite opera comique.