The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-12-29
I'm THE WORLD or MUSIC
aDON GIOVANNI" PERFORMED Ar
THE MANHATTAN.

Remand Repeats HIs Artistic IImDersonaalOn
ST tine Gay Deceiver-Mr. Cnx9nRRn
NIMkes Hsla IDebut ~ ''Don OttaVlo''-
rho Women az tAe Cast Not Inspiring.
don Giovanni" was sung at the Man
haitian Opera House yesterday afternoon
before an Rudienoe OF small sine and large
enthusiasm The patrons Of an opera
house naturally applaud what they like, and
while their applause Ia no cOncern Of the
critic IL may possibly be regarded IA q pArt
of the duty OF the reporter to mention H.,
At any rate amusement managers lay heavy
stress on this matter and regard them
selves a. injured when newspaper OBJ
servers do not seemingly contradict their
own structures on performances by noting
that the audience was satisfied.
For that reason It. IL here recorded that
there was continuous and hearty applause
yesterday. But a desire to tell the TRUTH
the whole truth and nothing but the truth
impels the addition that the applause was
not ~infrequently bestowed on singing
which was inartistic. This sort Of singing
received quite as much approval as chat
which had merit to commend It. At this
| point will inevitably be heard the voice
of him who v Every one has q right
10 his opinion" The obvious Justice OF
this claim will never be disputed In this
nIacs. m nsonle wish 10 admire Door sinx-
ing. their right to do 80 10 beyond question.
but their taste certainly 10 not.
Mr.. Hammerstein's ARTISTS I'VE a oom-
mendable performance of Mozart's immor-
tai masterpiece according TO the trsditions
Of tina Dresent time. U~n6ortnnataIv in re-
GARD IN a work az this kind tbese trsditiODs
are not entirely favorable 10 a rsconstruo-
ton of the dramatic illusion which Monart
conceived eomethinR over 100 years ago.
There ia a disposition on the part Of too
mahv singers Of this period TO treat tho
recitatives Of Mozart with p~erfunctory
and meaningless routine instead OF reading
them with variety Of ~elocution, with edo
Rance Of diCtion anArwith dramatic intellt-
Gence.
This lie the case with Mime Russ, wAO
delivers the arias allotted to DOnRG ATaG
with full and vibrant tone. with some style
and something Stimulating breadth. though
it must be confessed that her VOCAL method
is not always capable Of squalling tho do
mands Of MO3art's melodic idiom. Nine.
Jomelli spins on the reOitatives of DonAa
ElUirG as II they were indeed aingBong
recitation and nothing more. and In her
case there is no atonemenO In tho singing
Of the arias. Mime. Zepilli. who fs Eoolishly
singing much too often for o OF her Hight
voice and frail physique bowed some
appreciation Of the music OF Zsvssso and
added to her Interpretation OF 10 q gentle
ness of demeauor and actionDotinconsisesnt
with the character OF the unsophdsticabed
peasant.
Mr.. Renaud's Don Gi0pdnn6 has been de-
scribed in this place already. Il IL q most
engaging im-personation. filed with the
spirit of gallantrv. dashing and bold In pose
and action. i~nsinuating in grace OF manner, |
sensual in glance and vocal nuanCe and
aItorether a composition Of fins stAgecraft. |
His SINGING Of the role was better yesterday
than IL was lase season.
Mr.. Didur was the LeDorsLlo. ThIs ginger
haa a @ilt at the Manhattan. and one must
he admitted 10 ia sacred CIRCLE before he
can understand why Didur Ia great. His
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