New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-11-26
MUSIC.
4 Neso Carmen.

Time was when Minnie Hauk with her fine voice
and pretty petulancies, was the ideal Carmen OF
Biget's delightful opera for the patrons of Covent
Garden and the Academy of Music In Paris
where Mermee's novel was better known the pub
lie found n more harmonious adjustment between
the novelists conception and that of Calli-Marie
who created the operate role at the Comique
NEWCOMERS. INDUCED in infatuation for Nine
Hauk and refused to be comforted until Nine
Calve came with new and more compelling charms
Meanwhile they had been compelled TO endure
divers and diverse struggles with the part. Even
Nine Lii Lehman stalked through the
part like tragic queen, dwarhng the brigadiers
toreadors and smugglers with which she was sur
rounded, and no doubt making them all heartily
ashamed Of themselves and their mimic occupa-
that memory is too painful TO be dwelt upon. The
world IN which the creation of Merimee. filtered
through such librettists as Mehac and Halevy. and
reyitalized by Bizet. lived very far beyond her
artistic horizon and ken. Nine. Calves charm held
out until her eccentric treatment of the exquisite
music began TO irrtate the lovers of the and
until her erratic treatment Of the character with
no two consecutive moments OF dramatic con
sistency, and her rnpertnent obtrusion OF herself
wearied the admirers OF the drama.
Last night a new Carmen appeared at the Metro
potan-one infused with spirit; one which.
as Heines tailor said OF the coat he had made for
the poet had ideas In it The new representative
was Miss Olive Fremstad. She did not the
OF one with her German training; mimic
single one Of Nine. Calves Alterations, nearly
every one of the interpreters OF the part has
done since she set an ininitable and unlaudabe
fashion. With some excess Of gesture, pardonabe
under the circumstances, she glided through the
opera with the wicked siuuosty Of a serpent, and
presented a character at once insnuaung and
morally repellant-a gypsy, all selishness, with
the seldshness of lust, creature who would not
have baked AT any of the crimes which the novelist
attributed And she
luscious voice and compelling charm. as well she
could with much Of it lying Justly within he-
range
Miss Fremstad should rehabilitate the opera and
make ii a prime favorite IN the season. especially
she has excellent support in Nine Ackte who
was the Michaela Of last nights production. and
NJ. Saleza, who returned after an absence of three
years. and re-enacted the part of Don Jose. in
which he won great and deserved admiration on his
last visit. Nine. Ackte seemed under something
of q restraint her entrance, but her singing
OF the air il the third a remarkably
fine piece of work. and from the interpretative
side of the most perfect performances yet
heard in the part in local halls, The other prin
pals NJ Journet Escamillo. who met the
fate OF a score Of predecessors; Paula Ralph
Frasquta Josephine Jacoby Mercedes, Mr.
Parvis Morales. Mr.. Begue Zuniga- NJ. Du
friche DancaIro and Mr.. Refss RemendadO.
Most delightful the, character acting of the
last two gentlemen.
A hoarseness and q lack of resonance seemed 10
threaten disaster NJ Saleza's voice the be-
ginning, but they disappeared he warmed TO
his work and at the last there ali the fire and
intensity in his singing that used Undue ii when
he hailed the only TO replace Jean de
Reszke Miss Fremstad's acting and defamation
aided him in making up his thrilling climax the
close. Here praise must end. The ChOruses were
stnguary sloveny. and il Mr.. Vigna's conduct
ing discouraging TO The singers 1t
the listeners. it is wonder the opera went
through, it did, without a serious musical
r1ishaR.