New-York tribune., 1905-07-17
A NEW ITALIAN OPERA.
Signor Leoni's Setting for an Amer-
ican Fantasy.
London. JuIy L

American tragedy OF the Chinese quarter OF san.
Francisco. ''L'OracuIo'' is the revised title oci
Mr. Ferna1d's The Cat and the Cherub' and &C.
overemphasizes a minor Incident in the original
melodrama-the rich merchants consultation
with the learned doctor respecting the future oe
his son, and the wise mans reading in the book
OF the stars that tragicaI events are Overshadow-
ing the cherub. What Mr.. Fernald contrived 10
create was a tragical situation, in which i'm
passive Orientals did the most blood curdlinz
things and suffered in the most agonzing way
without appearing TO have passions. TO be
other than helpless puppets in a mechanical
order Of fatalism as real as the squalor and
conmonness Of their surroundings There was a
distinct Greek motive for this weird romance
Of the gutter: but * has not been suggested By
the musical setting provided by the italian COM
poser Signor Franco LeOnL He has illustrated
this fantasy of horrors as Chinese variation
OF 'PagliaccP' or "CavaIleria Rusticana." and
while some OF the themes are Oriental and much
Of the Instrumentation IS ingenious. he has lefe
it an open question whether Mr.. Fernald's story
is that is suitable plot for opera
Certainly "reminiscences OF Mascagni or PUccint
do not offer adequate compensations for the Ioss
Of the characteristic qualities OF the original
medley OF Oriental squalor. irFesponsbiiity and
fatalsm.
'LOracuIo'' is however. a novelty with q
stage setting and costumes such the oldsss
operagoer has never before seen After a few
resounding thumps upon big drum the curtain
rises upon dingy row Of lantern lit houses In
the Chinese district OF San Francisco. with be-
lated jewellers crawling into opium rooms Or
gambling dens and pious people directing their
steps to the temple at the fifth hour Of ths
New Year. At once a story Of intrigue and
rival claimants for the hand OF All Yoe Is un-
folded Chin Fen. the owner Of opium den.
seeks to induce the nurse in the merchants
! house TO steal the ian on which San Luy has
written compromising words Of love to the fair
one. The wise man of the quarter strolls tow
ard the temple after discoursing OF philosophy
and the stars; and the policeman on his beat
tries the doors. fourishes his baton and examines
the gratings; and the dawn lights up the
scene San Luy is underneath All Yoe's window
with snatches Of song and words of ardent WOO
ing. The religious refrain from the temple IS
heard; the days traffic opens in the quarter.
and the opium seller. when his addresses re-
tected steals the merchants little son. who has
been left by his nurse unguarded In the street.
The restoration OF the lost child is made the
price OF All Yoe's hand and San Luy is mur-
dered by Chin Fen when the cheru6 Is rescued
from the opium den: and the far one. finding
the corpse in the street. shrieks and loses her
reason. The wise hears the voice OF the
child opens the trapdoOr and restores the cheTuo
to the household: and when the murderer ap-
proaches, heavy with wine and drugs, ths
avenger lures him to n wooden bench and stran-
giles him with his pigtan. The policeman makes
his rounds and takes notice OF the philosopher.
who ia talking to the dead man propped up
beside him, and when the guardian OF public
peace is out of sight. the corpse falls to tbs
ground. The avenger creeps away. There Is a
final shrek from the mad woman and q cock
crows Nothing like this in cPlOr or in move
ment has been seen at Covent Garden until
this week. and II is fresh and interesting. even
IL the Chinese performers have the Siciian or
Neapolitan way OF crawling about the stage and
gesticulating wildly over their intrigues and
amOurS. -.,- -..---.
The composer has adopted the modern Italia1
method IN illustrating the actions and emotions
Of these two nights in Chinatown and while he
varies his motives and rhythTrs. he avoids stsrt-s
ling changes and anything like fantastic exag"
gerations. The music is scored for a large or
chestra, strong IN brasses. woods and drums
Yet the instruments are not accumulated IN their
effects. Light touches are preferred to hammer
irg, even at the most dramatic moments 1t is
coIorless music. even when Oriental and bizarre
effects are attempted in the choruses; but IL
does not lack hexibility and melOdic grace.
One OF the best passages Is the serenads by the
tenor, introduced with harp and accompanied
by a celesta: and this is followed by tender
aria by the soprano and a fine duet with skilful
arrangement OF strings There IS also q melodi~
Gus passage for one OF the barytones. which "a
repeated at the close OF the opera when the wise
man Is nodding and singing to the corpse and
avoiding close obsGrvation OF the policeman
Tragic intensity is neglected when the heroins
finds her lover dead and chants dismal re-
frain; but in this instance. at least. the COM
poser is IN accord with Mr.. Fernald's original
scheme. by which the Orientals represented
as the playthIngs OF fatalism rather than human
agents with passions and emotions OF Overmas-
tering power. The music Is thoughtful and In
genious without having distinctive claim
TO consideration than the intense modernity oe
the score. This characteristics was more notice.
able on the first night since the opera pre-
ceded by Gluck's "Orphee" old fashioned music
written for an orchestra with only half many
instruments. yet pre-eminent for dignity, sim
pIcity and power.
The new opera was well enacted and sung by
a competent company Of artists. Mile. Donalda
was most thorough in transforming herself by
makeup into a Chinese maiden. and she nOt
only sang sweetly and tenderIy. but also acted
with exceptional spirit and with fine variety.
She we'll supported by the contraltO. Nine.
Paulin. the cherub's nurse. who neglected her
charge at the fatal moment and was overcoms
with remOrse and anxiety. SgnOr Scott en-
tered completely into the impersOnation OF
the crafty opium dealer that those not familiar
with the original form OF the fantasy Identified
him with the cat in the first title especially
as the cherub played with large Chinese doll
In place OF kitten NJ. Dalmores the tenor.
acted and sang with excellent effect and "
Mareouxs impersonation OF the old doctor was
the triumph OF the evening. Even IL the scora