New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-10
IA RENE FIAMMETTE."
a Romantic Opera Received scith
Enthusiasm in Paris.
Paris, December IS.

last night at the Opera Comique, and Of the
new musical compositions so far brought out
a Paris this Is decidedly the most
pleasing and most successful A dozen years
ago la RENE Ftammette,' IN the form Of
drama. and written IN that flowing Alexan-
orlne verse which II. Catulle Mendes handles
with a masterful hand. was produced at the
Theatre Libre. It was then recognized by lit
era-y men and amateurs as a most vivid color
picture OF the Italy OF the Renalssa nee. On
that occasion NJ. Capoul. forsaking opera for
drama. played the part OF Danieo, the hero
OF the tragedy. and NJ. Antoine. for the only
time IN his dramatic career. appeared in the
silk hose and velvet doublets Of the Borgias.
The stage Of the little Theatre Libre was. how
ever. too small for the broad poetic conception
OF the author and in 1895 La RENE F4arn-
Irette." IN more ambitious framework, was trI-
unphantly given at the Odeon and afforded
the beautiful Mile. Cecne sorel an opportunity
20 win her reputation a comedieIIne and TO
secure an engagement at the Theatre Francais.
Last night la RENE Fiammette," IN the
form OF opera, again proved a mascot"
for II definitely places Miss Mary Garden, the
American soprano whose previous successful
parts at the Opera Conique in Louise"
'Melsandre" and ''Traviata" have already been
highly appreciated by Paris. IN the foremost
rank OF French artists. The leading critics do
Mary Garden IN her capacity as songstress, as
well in that Of an actress Miss Gardens
reputation Is fully established Seldom IN
Paris has a singer OF foreign birth ELECTED
from the French press such unanimous praise.
The American prima donna is described by NJ.
Henry Gauthier-Villars. the musical editor OF
the Echo de Paris a figure OF Botticelu
rstouched by Burne-Jones."
La RENE Flammette." moulded into the
form of On opera by n Xavier Leroux. will. &C
cording 10 present arrangements. be produced
next season in London. and also probably N
New-York- NJ. Catulle Mendes is a poet of
sensuality. He is classed between Gauthisr
and BanviIe. and has Inherited something OF
the dramatic radiance Of Victor Hugo. In La
RENE FIammette" NJ. Catulle Mendes gives us
living picture OF the Italian Renaissance not
equaIed IN French dramatic literature since
Alfred &c Musset wrote 'LorenZac cio.' II.
Xavier Leroux. the young composer OF -As-
tarte," has enveloped the drama IN the light.
graceful music OF lyric comedy, unconfned by
Ieit-motif. and bursting forth here and there
with what seems like fanciful exteuTporizatiOn.
The weak point in NJ. Xavier Leroux's music
Is the perpetual use Of harmonic ascending pro-
gressions, which at times become distinctly
monotonous- There are love passages that re-
call rather too distinctly the moonlight airs of
''WertheT." and some OF the themes evoke the
rlannerisn Of Massenet. II is doubtful whether,
from dramatic standpoint. the fairylike
ception OF NJ. Catulle Mendes. stripped OF its
superb flowing Alexandrines, has gained By the
new setting IN NJ. Xavier Leroux's music The
opera Is. however. accepted IN Paris a brill
liant success The story may be briefly outlined
Queen Orlando. surnamed Fiammette-little
dame-reigns over Bologna. Fiammetts is
young. beautiful and frivolous. Her favor1te
companions are three very gay and dainty fe-
male testers, Viola, Violine and VIoIette. The
3rfsky queen has, nevertheless. been provided
with prince-consort, the Duke Giorgio d'Ast
an ambitious nobleman. instrument OF the
Vatican and pupDet in the hands Of the ter
Tibly austers Cardinal Cesar Sforza, who hates
Fiammette. not much account OF her
raeretricious hrtations as because OF her ten
denotes towards LutheranIsm. The Pope him
self has enmity toward her. Intrigue Is
rife TO eKtnguish the too ardent F1ammette
and annex her dominions TO the Papal States.
Cardinal Sforza wishes TO have the Queen as
sassnated. He persuades young man in holy
orders named Danielo that the Queen has
caused the death OF his brother, and as a
means Of revenge induces the young Danielo
10 undertake TO stab the Queen during a COM
ing festival.
Danielo is however IN love with an unknown
and beautiful young woman with whom he has
clandestine meetings in rustic cottage near
q convent where the Queen makes frequent
visits and scandalizes the good Sisters by the
antics Of the irrepressibe trio OF female testers,
Viola, Violine and Violette. As may readily be
anticipated, when Danielo is about to stab the
Queen FiamInette az the garden festival the
discovery that FiamInette and his inamorata are
one and the same woman unnerves his hand.
and the dagger falls harmlessly to the ground.
Danelo for forms sake is condemned to death
by the ecclesiastical court; but the Queen IS
Informed by Cardinal Sforza that the would-be
assassn's life viii be spared provided the
Queen consents TO abdicate.
There IS beautiful scene and delightful
music when Fiammette removes her crown
Chatting the while with her three female tri-
boulets Viola. Violine and Violette. and dur
Ing a plaintive solo distributes the pearls from
her crown TO stroliing gypsies as they pass be-
meath her windows. The relentless Cardinal
puTsues his victim still further. for, not salts
lied with the Queens abdication. he has her ar
rested and tried hereto account Of her
conversion to LUtheTanism- The Franciscan
tribunal sentences her TO death. The young
Priest Danielo obtains permission to act aa her !
eonfessor. The young lover learns that Fam
inete never had anything to do with the
oeaih OF his brother.
me last act passes in the prison at Bologna. /
flammette and her lover Danielo. IN each |
o'hers arms, sing a beautiful duet that will be
heard before long IN many drawing room. /
me bloodthirsty Cardinal Sforza, surrounded
py his gorgeous court and preceded by the !
HoIy executoner," appears Fiammette and
D4ihelo seek IN vain 10 escape by cord and by
WINDOW Fiammette sinks TO her knees before
e cardinal and implores his pardon This is