New-York tribune., 1906-04-11
"APHRODITE." "
The Musical affair of the Paris
Year.

The great musical event of the Partisan year.
the production of "Aphrodite." took place last
night at the Opera Comique The sensuOus
novel of Pierre Louys Is adapted for the stage
by the poet Louis de Gramont. who wrote for
Massenet the book Of "Esclarmonde." and the
music is composed by Camille Erlanger author
of the legendary symphony saint Jean FHospi-
taller" the Briton pastoral "Kermaria." the
somewhat fantastic opera lie Jutf Polonais" and
the epic-Iyric drama lie Fills de IEtoile." Ca
mile Erlanger. whose attention was first called
to the operatic possibilities of "Aphrodite' by
Francois Coppee, has devoted four years to the
present work which manifests to a remarkable
degree a mastery of virtu Of technique and Of
chromatic effects. Basing his theme upon Alex
andria during the period Of Grecian decadence.
the inspirations are wisely drawn from Greek
canticles or skiIrully evoked by the high regis
tered vocal and reed refrains OF the Orient II
is the purely picturesque side Of the subject that
the composer dwells upon, and, as this long
opera is after all merely a series Of exquisite
living pictures, loosely strung together and
lacking in dramatic or logical sequence the
score leaves impressions OF fauluess technique.
of frigid artiiciality and of exasperating monot-
ony The public longed for few human. pene-
trating captivating thrills that might have been
impaired by a Bzet: they yearned for emotion
Sucn as might nave Deeu given DS q OalAAI-S@
and pined for a few bars of the graceful senti-
ment of Massenet Nevertheless "Aphrodite''
was we'll. even enthusiastically received. in spite
of the fact that its weakest quality is its music.
It is an opera that is far more pleasant TO see
than 70 hear The plastic charms of Alexan-
drine antiquity, the admirable grouping OF the
Egyptian eourtesans the rhythm Of the Oriental
dance, the delicious living pictures and the Won
derful charm and grace Of the acting and atti-
tudes Of Miss Mary Garden. who sings the lead
ing part of Chrysis. the professional beauty. in
sure long at the Opera COmique for this
unrivalled spectacular resuscitation of the most
sensuous period of the domination Of Greece
The first act passes on the stone pier Of Alex
andria, where for the first time Demetrius meets
Chrysis Demetrius is a young Athenian
sculptor. who has just completed the statue Of
Aphrodite for the Alexandrian temple OF that
divinity and is also the favorite of the Egyptian
Queen. Chrysis is a courtesan Of unsurpassed
beauty and grace. of mingled Grecian and
Jewish descent and Of egregious vanity. Dene-
trius is seized with a caprice Of Chrysis. who
turns him a cold shoulder in the secret hope OF
thereby developing the handsome. blase Greeks
passing whim into permanent passion The
ambition OF Chrysis seems about TO be realized
C,hrysis as the price OF her favors. demands
that Demetrius should steal and bring to her the
2
ivory comb of the wife of the high priest and
+be naarl necklace which ornaments the sacred
s+.+ra NJ Aphrodite. Demetrius must thus CON-
~i+ +brea crimes-theft, murder-for 10 obtain
the comb the priestess must be kilIed-and sac
euaee in violating the sanctuary OF Aphrodite-
He accepts the bargain
7, the second act we find Demetrius IN the
+AronIa OF Aphrodite. We learn that he is al
readv IN possession OF the mirror and the comb,
and we see him steal the necklace from the
statue Of Aphrodite. which IS decked with dow-
ers and precious offerings and surmounted by
living doves-a most beautiful effect Of theatri-
cal scenery
IT,, ,btrd ac+ introduces US 70 the wild satur-
,oI;an orgies in the palace and on the terraced
gardens belonging TO the courtesan Bacchis. VINO
discovers that her precious mirror, with It's
Jewels Of fabulous value, has been stolen
slave is accused OF the theft and Is crucined
-,,,.ts "a present at this horrible spectacle. and
,vttb cruel vanity seems impressed by the one
4act that she has vanquished the heart of
0ar,atrtus and that she triumphs because
T,,s.rl,,s serytely obeyed her sacrilegious COM
mands.
The fourth act presents the studio OF Deme-
.-t,s The ubrettist here departs seriously. and
,,-tsal1 from the text OF Pierre Louys. He
,aLas Chrvsis come 70 offer herself 70 Demetrius
s the nronised reward for his triple crimes
Darnetrius with frenzied voluptuousness. ac-
cants the offer long love duet ensues. ad-
rnirably sung by Miss Mary Garden and by
RAvle who takes the part OF the enamoured
Armenian sculptor. Murmurs OF the angered
nopulace are heard without The people have
discovered the theft. and trenble lest the wrath
~ Aphrodite take the form OF revenge upon the
city Demetrius. tearing himself from the en-
braces OF Chryzis the pair recline. enlaced
in each others arms. upon . Grecian couch