New-York tribune., 1905-11-21
dpST NIGHT OF OPERA.
. admirable Performance of LA
o:oconda'' at the Metropolitan.

.. Grand opera opened ar the Metro
he So -. House last night with representa-
pSlilsn 0F Fp,nchielH's La Gioconda- A prosaic
tn !. o..-,ounce1nent. but to many minds it would
s'o1sS 'o,.IIy 10 cover the case For more than two
ssrFe - same scenes have been enacted on the
tscsoes = ~ the season at the lyric theatre in
srsl iasa. ..-,asvay. Different operas have been
srpeT s;4erent years since Faust and
chosen Jniiette' have ceased to be domi-
sRoTsO .bere have been occasional changes
asat 1.s,c,nal singers. but these things are in
9 iae .,sl The function is predominantly a
nses- The interest centres in the hither Of the
sociAi o :, the boxes in the stalls during the
t'oa5+ the corridors between them and in the
scs ~ s,acent before the parting curtain dis
sTsoss mimic world which IS supposed TO be the
t7sss = Interest All these things viii doubtless
1ss nla attention elsewhere. SO far as the
rt4As -. ;.self IS concerned, IL was with slight
gsi--s -eproduction OF that which has special
VIE ,.cs,,se II was a revival of an opera which
rs'ss. s.,,a when the Metropolitan Opera House
hN The stage pictures, admired theh' were
So. FssH ~ snd admired again last night. Several
atra'Sy.S s who ravished the ears OF their hear
q tns - .yished them again last night Your
es ss-o+ee Of the opera grows old with the OBJ
~ - his devotion and it would be ungallant
l-.-,snt on the changes which come with the
- ~ time unless that comment could con-
,...l4 with growth in allurement and beauty
W. :, several respects. year has added
sa.ee ..ood OF age to the appearance Of
go'.- l-o-5,ca and has left the charm OF
N' snd artistic manner unmarried II
% - not added TO the artistic stature
= = ss-nor Caruso. so far as last nights perform
' - Z, concerned il has certainly not lessened II
= p,.,cor, still oozes ponufcal dignity from every
=. spd his voice still falls into the ear like an
p..,-sI - benediction. Nine. Homer continues 10
f'-<' -lo-fo,,s ,-1ica with generous Op1lence.
gs.s 2, the cast there were two: In place
= ,Tss walker as the blind woman, moved
y ersrv dramatic moment TO mellihuous
s,r there was Miss Josephine Jacoby, whose
ice Is beautiful and whose utterance never
sisr,oses an atom OF inner warmth. ana
,,sad OF Giraldoni with much excellence IN ac-
=. ,s also much vocal viclousness. there was
-. s,orti in whose performance there was an
srs blending Of both histrionic and vocal merit
=. s,gror Scott IS every inch an artist in his
-, Where conventional opera rules there IS no
-,.so, why Boito's play and Ponchielhs music
sl5 no- Clip the public with tenacious hold 1t is
ilov II is garish; but It has tune, it has variety
,,s su the quick changes Of mood called Tor oy
=. c-oss contrasts and contradictions which are
bs likelihood Of the play, and II frequently sets 'he
nerves Of its hearers atingle
:, the exteraals of last nights performance there
,ss ,iftlA 70 call for detailed comment. The pict-
-,. u.sra familiar Mr.. Coaried has dropped his
-,bsstra out OF the sight of the occupants OF the
or,bss-ra stalls. and that may prove to be better
roert of artistic conditions An opinion need not
= vsuttred after the single experiment of last
riEbi A silken hood which he had designed as
screen over the conductor as wen seems to have
been abandoned \ new curtain was great neces-
sty and has been supplied in manner that tells
Of excellent Judgment and taste Cordial applause
greeted The singers and the third season Of opera
under Mr. Conrieds management had successfui
leripninr. These were the people most directly
concerned in the representation:
rz cio,onds .... Nine Lillian Nordcs
Ad0rno. Nine Louise 1toHlsE
u C3sca ........-.... Nine. Josephine .acoby
r1-o iss-uai5n - .-...-........-- Mr.. Csruso
psrrsha ..........-........... .Mr- Scott
i-jse T3ssoero ............... Mr. Pol Plsncon
zuspa ..........-. Mr.. Begue
r. rsr-o-e .-.....-.. Mr.. Dufriche