New-York tribune., 1907-12-29
MUSIC.
FOUR oPERArIc PERFORMANCES.

Had yesterdays fomc opera audiences been DIS
tributed in proportion to the inherent 1uay or the
several works chosen for performance, MI Hdil-
merstein's patrons would have ia outnumbered
those of Mr. Conried, for the Manhattan's list COM
prised old and a modern masterpiece. Mozart S
Don Giovanni and Bizet's Carmen, while the
Metropolitan offered Giordano's iinsy Fedora IN
the afternoon and BoIto's 'NIefistofele at popular
prices in the evening. 1t Mefistofele alone OF
the four that attracted audience of more than
the usual sze-there was scarcely space enough for
comfort at the Metropolitan during the presentation
by Mr.. Chaliapne and his associates OF bolto
picturesque episodes from Goethe's Faust Inc
peculiar reasons for ''Mefstofele's' sudden vogue
have already been hinted at in these columns. and
last evenings crowded assemblage was but a fur-
ther Illustration of the operation OF the fnouVes
underlying public taste. Fedora, onereo as d
substitute for t"Marta.' owing to the 1ndlsposltloh
of Nine Sembrich drew a goodly number OF mat
inee goers, and Miss Cavalieri. Mr. Caruso ana the
others did what they could with the ungratefui ma
teriaI the composer had provided Whlie hei'h0i
of Mr. Hammerstein's casts of yesterday coulu nave
asked for better opportunities or more cordlai ap-
probation the audiences were smaller than might
have been expected especially for the splrlteu
evening performance of Carmen, in which Nine
BressIer-Cianoli and Mr. Dalmores were famlhdF
and inspiring musical and histrionic hgures-
Don Giovanni" sung and acted for the Nnrse
time this season. gave in certain aspects as ihueli
pleasure as anything the operate winter mas yer
brought forth. Assuredly the aristocratlc' hu-
horous fascinating hero of the da Ponte-MozarI
musical drama has not often been realized mere
more vivfdy more delightfully."-, in recent years
than by Mr.. Renaud this occasion FROM lie
u1Iick sword thrust that ends the Commentators
life to the heartIess manouvring by which ne SEEKS
TO gain possession of Zerlina; from his reilsh oi
I.eporeo's comic disgust at being compeAed TO
personate his master, to the waning bragSaoocio
of his final encounter with the avenging statue
this Don Giovanni was living and an engrossin8
figure Mr. Renaud avoids all hint of unrestralneo
passion. it Is rather refined cruelty and cunning
tempered by a sense of humor, that marx MS con-
ception of the character Vocally and physically
the French barytone is well fitted to carry out TINS
idea of the role His Don loses none OF It's strehSl
on account Of this suggestion of self-controi ana
poise while it gains in delicacy and inslnuatloh-
Mr. Renaud was in excellent voice yesterday after
noon and his polished yet never merely conVen-
tonal singing left memories that will not soon 1dde
There was a new Leporello in the person OF MI
Didur and he proved acceptable, conforming 10
established standards in capable fashion. A little
more lghtness of touch would have made for stlil
higher efficiency. Mime. Russ, as Donna Anna, ana
Nine Jonelli as Donna Elvira, fitted we'll into the
pctlIre though neither suggested the tragic power
that lies under the surface of these roles MISS
ZeppiU was a dainty Zerlina, and Mr. Gihoert
capital Masetto. The Don Ottavio Of Mr.. Cazauran
showed signal incapacty Mr.. Campaninfs con-
ducting supplied the stimulating pulse and move
ment OF the music in authoritative fashion