New-York tribune., 1907-12-13
MUSIC.
METROPOLITAN OPERA house.
Rossini's Barber" T"


The presence of Signor Bonci in Mr.. Conried's
company raised last nights representation Of III
Barbiere di siviglia' to higher power muscally
than 1t has Illustrated for many years; the pres
ence of Mr.. Chaliapine heightened with dubious
propriety the comedy on its farcical side His Don
Basilio amused the public and he evoked laughter
and even applause where he should have created
disgust by his appearance and conduct. There was
nothing necessarily dscordant with the character
Of singing teacher in his gigantic stature, nor
offensive in the grotesque comedy which the con-
trast in size betweel him and a singularly diminu-
tive DR.. Bartolo (Signor Barocch) invited. But in
appearance and behavior he was a repulsive carica-
ture. blear eyed, besotten and reeky with snuf-
Rossinfs comedy needs vulgarity OF the klhu
which Mr.. Chaliapne appears to delight in to hold
the admiration of operate public Singing CO.
medans like Nine SembriCh, Signor Bonci ano
Signor Campanari, do that The boisterous en-
sernble Of the second act amused the thoushtIess
but the moments of artistic pleasure which could
bring humiliation reflection were those de-
voted to the singing of Nine. Sembrlch in her air
and the delightful conversational duet between her
and Signor Campanari The latter always appears
rejuvenated by this sparkling opera.
In the first act the supreme moment was reacheu
IN Signor Bonca's singing of Ecco ridente cieo,
wherein his horid song WED in limp1dity, ease anu
loveEness with that of the Rosina whom he was
serenading. The Of the rorarZa ana cilaso
made by Nine. Sembrich from her old custom III
her chief Interpolation in the lesson scene of the
Third act recalled incidents in the early history
of the opera 'Ecco ridente IL celo was not writ
ter for I'll Barblere' at all. but was put into the
the second night because Of a hasco maoe
by Garcia at the first performance Originally there
was nothing to fill the place now occupied by the
romance. Garcia very correctly felt that II was
a proper place for song from the Count and 10
give the seems local color, he. a SpanlaTc' sot
Rossinis consent to the Interpolation OF Spanish
Song with guitar accompaniment played oy hlhi-
self Unhappily forgot to tune his instrument De-
fore going the stage. While the audience "alteo
impatiently he began setting the pegs A SITTING
broke and while he drawing up new one lile
audience Uttered. Then Figaro came ooundhs Oh
the stage also with guitar, and the house went
into an uproar. The opera made so complete a
dasco that Rossni refused to conduct 'le eecoL.
night but he had the wisdom to put In an estoppd
against a repetition OF the Garcia guitar eplsooe-
In place of the Spanish song he put Ecco rldenle
IL cielo" which he lifted out of an opera Aulei-
ano in Palmyra" which had been born anu oieu
three years before From that opera ii touno llS
way into Giro" which lived out its little life only
a wear before the Barber made its appearance
The artistic conscience sat easy on the composers
of ninety years ago. Not only is the tenor solis
an INTERPOLATION the overture had also done service
for two operas before the Barber -the SAN
s.Aureliano' and ''Elisabetta." Those were Guy
when composers gave no heed 10 posterity ana no
thought to immortal longings. They wrote ior 'he
s+actora-for tha season-and happy when
their work outlved the carnival, primaVera OF
ouaresima for which II was written io-udy
numberIess operas are printed which are never
perror1ned: then hundreds were periornieU' or"
successfully too, which were never prinoeu,
Scores and parts were piled away in the theatrcd'
,,,,ber room and sometimes when they were
wanted parts could not be found. FerhHps -
had been conveyed into other scores That IS lhe
reason that III Barbiere'' has no overture ana ''
tr,o which originally made up the lesson scene
must now be replaced with other music acco'O-
ing to the taste and fancy OF the singer -l0
se-phrich's selections are sort OF
view in spirit not IN matter ol
doinrs of the best of her predecessors Last ist
she departed from her custom OF recent years 50
,ar as 10 substitute Rosslnis BEL raggio for An
non pirnge" Once she followed the fashion SET
bx, C,risi Alboni and Bosio. and sang an ar WIN
variations hut this she quit years ago TO take Up
.ba .xarnnle OF Gassier and Patti. who sang
vocal waltz. This she did again last night on
recall after the noble old cantilena OF Rosshl Out
q 1yas strauss's .'voce di Primavera-" or course
tbis was not enough 6or the dainty lady was In
e. ,,oica and high spirits and so the tumult had
=. ba silepced in the old way, with CHOPIN vocal
r,ay,,rka .'Maiden's Wish" with the pialoforte
,Iaved bv herself The fine audience dubbed over
with enthusiasm all evening IL r. -