The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-11-05

ILA GEOCONDA" STARTS THE
TWENTY WEEKS SEASON.

AhhCg huNH NhMUNWNhA AUAl NgAIltNs
The second season Of opera at the Man
haitian Opera House under the direction |
of Oscar Hammerstsin began last night.
Public demonstration Of pleasure was
amply made by the size and disposition OF
the audience. It was a big crowd and IL
was plainly glad to be there. IL was Rlnd
20 zee the bright and COMPACT auditorium.
it was glad to see itself, to ask itself who
it was and what it had on. IL was glad 10
see the new bOxholders who had organized
themselves into a little syndicate for the
purpose Of proving that although the
east was still east and the west was still
west these two could meet without animoaity
under the sheltering @gis Of the hat.
1t was g~lad-oh. very glad-to see Cleo
fonte Can panini. who used 60 be- a con-
ductOr but is now a chef d'orchestre,'
and IL was glad to let him perceive shat this
community Of American arian> knew
a good Italian when it saw one. II was
glad to see Nine. Nordica, who used to sing
in three languages ut the Metropolitan
ard il going to be a little Cosima Wagner
all ON her account up among the Hollands
o. the Hudson.
II was glad to see Nine. Flea more de Cis-
nerOs. who belongs TO Greater New York
and looks the part, and who could sing
,Ich "a role as she had last night without
even emitting dinner. 1t was glad to see
ia old friend Mario Ancona. who tried
hard to be a, desperate villain. hut could
not for the life OF him help looking as IL
he we're Eladder TO see the audience than
il was to see him.
" was glad to see the merry, merry
chorus which gave so much pleasure last
- $500 -
chestra which Mr.. Campanini had last
winter persuaded to play a. if the making
Of music was still an art and not a mere
trade. And it was glad to SEQ the new mem
hers Of the company Miss Gerville-Reach
MIR. Zenetello and Adamo Didur, Tor MIR.
Hammerstein rs still engaged in his cheer
ful pastime of showing that all persons
Who say there are no more good singers
in Europe are evasive, Machiavellian and
empire and the eternal verities are beyond
them.
When this glad audience. whose gladness
was very real and u~ndisguised. had sue
ceeded in getting some percentage Of itself
into the house the performance Of Pom
chielli's la Gioconda" was begun and
the opera season of lDO7-OS was under way.
TIE performances of last evening was
conspiCuOusly meritorious in some re-
spects. 1t is generally conceded that
there ia a deal Of villainy i'm the story Of
the opera and hat il should in the natural
order of things stir up a good deal of in
dignation in the souls of the v~irtuOus per-
sonages in the action. But on the other
hand IL is also admitted that the book sets
before the auditor some tender and gentle
emotions and that even a critical Brutus
might be able to catalogue the feelings
to be expressed.
Last evenings performance was strong
in virtuOus indignation and not altogether
satisfying in tenderness. IL was an in
cisive, vigorous, at times eve robustiOus
performance. The artists were generally
agreed as to the desirability of strenuous
ness, but they were not, for at least one act
altogether agreed as to the pitch. Chiefly
owing to the tonal wanderings the singers
we're not en- appOrt throughout the first
act. but matters improved in this respect
as the evening wore on. and then the temper
of the representation became consistent
and infectious.
The genius OF Mr.. Campanini presided
over the entire doings Of the evening. as 10
has generally done at the Manhattan when
all has gone well. The ability Of this adj
mirable conductor to bring order out OF
chaos was displayed on several occasions,
and when he accepted a call to the foot
lights at the end of the first act the audience
let him know that it understood the nature
Of his achievements. AT this same point a
special demonstration was made in favor
Of Nine. Nordica. who made her first APP
pearance at this theatre. -
II was a pity that Mr.. Campanini's skill
could not be extended to the department
Of stage management, which was COM
mendable in spots, but in such minor
matters az moons. ships lights and gon-
dolas was. to say the least. uncertain.
IL is a beautiful sight to see the moon sink
into the sea; but to see II wabble on itS
wav down fills one with distrust, while 20
see il still blazing after il has passed below
the horizon and then to go out like a wind
blown candle might even arouse feelings OF
alarm.
Ten equipped with electric lighting APP
paratus is more astonishing by Tar than
Venetian gondolas without their never
to be forgotten rOwlocks; yet both were
in evidence last night.
Rnt In ante of these small blemishes II
was. as already said, q vigorous and i'm
petuous representation OF la Gioconda.
The principal singers engaged in Il were
Nine. Nordica as LG 0Iocondd, NINE de
az La Ciecd, Giovanni Zenetello as EnzO
Marie AncOna as BGrnGbd and Adamo DiduI
as AIpise.
Il was on the whole a competent cast
Nine. Nordica was not in command OF her
fun vocal resources. h has often sung
this role with a greater plenltude anc
beauty Of tone. but her dramatic lnteli
gence and her experience in her art wer'
with her and assisted her in keeping he
INCORPORATION upon a good level. ID
Mme. dc CisnerOs was not altogethe
suited in the role Of Laura, but she dis
plaved her large acquaintance with ALA
traditions. Mr.. Anoona was the sam,
Ancona, but much Of his singing was good
Mr.. Didur, the new basso, made an agree
able. il not deep, impression. but he MAJ
improve with familiarity.
Ia Nine. Gsrville-R eache the Manhattan
has occurred a very serviceable contralto
Her voice is ono Of beautiful quality. Whicl
would surely be enhanced by finer skill II
the formation Of its tones, but As singing
goes in these lays this contraltO deserves
general commendation. Her delivery o
the lovely air in the first act, though marre'
bysome vocal mannerisms. was well planne'
and had the requisite note OF sympathy.
Thenew tenor. MI. Zeneteilo. Ia purposey
reserved for final mention. because his
method and his style will call for future
and frequent confederation. His Voic'
il a superb organ. q pure Italian tenor o
abundant range and sufficient power. L
III not the enormous voice that has beef
heralded, but it ia big enough. The lowe
Te0isters are not well placed. the chesf
being plainly bad; put the upper tones, -
dear 10 the public ear, are brilliant. peannl
and thorounhIy musical.