The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-15
carmen" WELL PRESENTED.
AN ADMIRABLE PERFORMANCE
AT THE MANHATTAN.

Tho opera We'll Rehearsod and the En-
semblc Strlkingiy GoOd-Campsnini
Has Another Triumph-Mme. Bressier-
GlanoIi Successful In the Title Role.
At the Manhattan Opera House last nigh
Oscar HAmmerstein treated a good sized
audience 60 one Of the best performances
OF Carmen given in this city In years.
II he had begun his season with il he would
have made a much more powerful bid for
public favor than he did with the Iugubrious
Il Puritani.' such a performance as that
OF last night, il it had been the first IN a
new opera house, would have been the talk
OF the town the next day.
There was not a single singer In the cast
whose individual performance has not been
excelled. History will not forget Lucca,
nor Hauck, nor Calve, nor Fremstad. nor
even Selma Dolaro, in the title role. As
for Don Jose from Campanini to Jean de
Reszke. he has had mastery impersona-
tors. But il il not necessary to nominate
in the bono Lassalle and Del Puente and
the other EscdmilIos, nor all the Micdelus
from Dotti TO Bessie ABBOTT, from Valera
to Eames.
But the excellence OF last nights per-
Torrance lay first Of all in its vital spirit,
and second in the even level of merit which
never allowed the representation to falter
for one moment The stage pictures were
full Of color, life and significant action.
The eye was charmed by a constant change
of tableaux n every ono on tho stage
was in the scene. To borrow the expressive
language Of the football field, every one was
in every play.
Tl- - --A1
II was not a chorus Of vocal statues. And
II was good to look at. Mr.. Hammerstein
has brought together young and animated
women, and his stage manager utilizes
the ballet in such scenes as those Of Car
men" to fill out the pictures.
Again the orchestra played admirably.
1t is not often that New Workers. hear the
score as they heard it last night. Mr..
~Campanini conducted, and again 1t is the
precious privilege Of criticism to invite
attention TO his mastery art. He knows
Carmen Just as we'll as he knew Don
Giovanni, and proved himself to be as fine
a scholar in this wholly different school of
picturesque and passionate music as he
was in the serene and lofty classicism Of
Mozart.
The chief merit of this performance, then,
lay in its faithful and spirited embodiment
Of the feeling of the opera. In ensemble it
rose to notable heights and fave joy to
all lovers of his beautiful mast erpiece
VI "hA~ NV AuN nv ~ hSAIo
singers all contributed their full share to
the result might be a sufficient record for
the day, but perhaps a word or two may be
added in comment upon their doings.
Nine. Bressler-G ianoli, who appeared as
Carmen, has sung the part in this city be-
fore Two years z she sang II at theo
I Casino will a French company from New
Orleans. Her Interpretation was praised
then in this paper for its business of con-
ception, its te-mperamental vigor, its graphic
action and its interesting singing. A good
deal Of the music lies in the weakest part
of her voice, but she makes much Of the
rest of il. Hers is an elemental, utterly
frank, physical Carmen, a Carmen of the
cigarette factory, not of the world Of poesy.
1t goes far toward conviction.
Charles Dalmores sang the music Of Don
jose most unsteady, with grace, variety
a~nd-where required-with passion. He
sang the flower song beautifully. Mr.. An
coma, who is the ard working member OF
the mpan was the Escdmi lilo, and was
entirely acceptable. With the help of thf
chorus he made an unusually good effect
with the Toreador song, which is a death
trap for most baritones.
Nine. Donalda was perhaps a trile too
wise a MicdeLd, but she looked well and
Ddncdiro and TO him must be accorded
the record Of effacing memories Of all
previous approximations of the part except
his own at the Metropolitan. His COM
panion, Mr.. Daddi, as ~Renendddo. was less,
perhaps least, happy. Miss Trentini was a
piquant and attractive Frdsquitd. The
other minor parts were respectfully per-
formed. II was a good night for the new
opera house,