New-York tribune., 1906-12-29
MUSIC.
METROPOLITAN OPERA HOUSE.
a Revival Of "Iakme."

Last night at the Metropolitan Opera House.
after sonnolent rest Of fifteen years. Delibes's
"Lakme" revived. perhaps It would he better
10 say awakened-for the notion Of revivication can
scarcely be brought into harmony with an opera
which never showed real life in America Pos
siby there ought TO be license 10 inquire too
curiously into the reasons why operas which have
long ago lived their little spasm Of life are
brought back az intervals 70 confirm the tudg-
nent which sent them into the limbo OF undesired
and useless things; but cannot help thinking
that managerial eNigencies have much TO do with
It. Singers OF the first rank engaged on their
repertories. and II companies are 20 be disrupted
or are IN danger of disruption every year, it is
practically impossible to bring forward works that
unfamiliar TO those singers. happy con-
Junction of stars may have turned the attention
OF Mr. Conried to the work NJ. Rousseliere could
sing the part OF Gerald; Nine. SenlbTich had sung
the tular role IN German and IN italian, and since
she is an exception the rule OF prima donnas, in
being willing always 10 study, she was ready 10
add the original French version also TO her list
Given basso for the character Of Nilakantha and
little more IS necessary 10 revive Delibess HindOo
opera on a moments notice. There are three other
women who injected into the play FOR no other
reason than TO make It possible for the composer
to spin ont an ensemble. and they can be spared,
as they have been in the past. for the betterment
Of the work; stock people suffice for these and the
rest. and stock people filled the parts last night.
Il ought 10 be easy TO love Delibes's opera for
the sake of Its gentle beauties. IT'S external prett
reSses Its giitteTCg tinSel and tropical pictures;
but L does not 70 be, either for the critical
student or the music lover who goes TO the opera
20 have his emotions stirred and his senses ca
ressed Somehow the whole fabric, dramatic
we'll as musical. floats restlessly about IN hot
end stagnant atmosphere. and irriiates where Il
ought 20 warm and soothe the fancy and the senses
Long ago Il was said in this journal by this
viewer that the Of the Il-devised and IL
told story which the composer utilized 70 the best
advantage IS its local color. The music is saturated
Wit q ne
all OF the principal melodies Cthe exquisite
"PourQuoi," the duet in the first act-(ieralds
''Fantasie aux divirs mes0nges." the slow meas
ures Of the Bell Song for instance) are exquisite
inventions. lovely in idea lovely in execution; and
the first half nou- or more OF the opera ia apt
70 take the fancy OF the listener completely captive.
But this dreamy trance soon gives way 10 weari-
Iress and oppression The music will
down and get vitality BY putting foot mother
earth After an hour of "I.akme" one yearns for
a crashing chord OF c major a person suffering
suffocation must long for gust OF fresh air. The
lyrical moments are filed with 4 singular beauty
which would be fascinating II they paired with
dramatic life and energy IN the other portions.
Nj Cor1ried's stage furniture ample If not
strikingly artistic stmulative TO the fancy.
There was color a-plenty, and IL this could have
produced a dramatic poetical Illusion we should
have had It. But to this the appearance and ac-
ton OF the English contingent among the plays
sonages fled an effective demurrer. Such English
men and Englishwomen never existed even in the
frigid Imagination Of Delibes and his ubrettists.
Save Nine. Sernbrtch all the people were mario
nettes or caricatures. The duet went pretty,
though Nine. Jacoby's contrato. which should
have caressed the warm voice Of Nine Sembrtch
with its graceful arabesques had the pliancy OF a
wrought iron rod In "PourQuoi" Nine. Semb-iCh
was near the song element which is that in which
she lives her truest life, and again IN the canti-
lena OF the Bell Song, but too much Of the burden
Of the opera rested her shoulders. She could not
infuse dramatic life into the sluggish accompani-
g-+o = aYrt+a of
seliere which were convincing only when they were
bo!sterous, nor fire the imagination Of NJ. Journet,
who was the bloody minded priest And SO II
is impossible offer fecitatons 70 the public on
this addition TO AIr. COnrieds ist "LakTne' has
not been revived It has simply been again put upon
raoo-d II. Z. K.