New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-02-08
MUSIC.
MANHATTAN OPERA HOUSE.
A Revival of "Mignon."

More pleasure was promised by the published
cast of 'Mgnon" (Which brought forward at
4 special performance at Mr. Hammersteins opera
House last night than realized. Perhaps pop
ular taste has been weaned away from Ambrose
Ihomass opera; mayhap only voices Of especial
beauty and art of unusual excellence can put a
charm to-day into the superficial prettinesses of its
measures. or have the memories Of the singers
who first burdened the air with its graceful tunes
become n little sacrosanct and do we cherish them
too jealousy to harbor the thought that any
can ever take their places? Those memories
tainly fragrant and the most pious desire
not find anything to replace them in the latter day
history or the opera. Nelson's and LucCa's Mgnon
Carys FREDERICK. KelloEE's Filina, Capoues Guglie
mo and Jamets Lotario-shall hear their Ike
again? II IS not probable. any than # IS likely
that If TO hear them should find the old
fascination In the music. Every performance OF the
opera since those Of that early day seems to
have left fainter impression than did its prede-
cessor. only the romances Of Mignon in the first
act "a setting that Is really worthy OF Goethe's
exquisite Words and of GuglieImo in the third
seem TO have retained the warmth which used TO
set our hearts to beating and suffuse our eyes
with amiable moisture Filinas measures
sound hollow her character and when
Arlmondi began is unsteady detonatons in the
swallow duet last night wondered whittier tho
old loneliness had fed. But Slgnor Armondi was a
ridiculous figure, and would have had to sing Ike
angel 10 eTace the impression made by his
absurd appearance. Mime. Bresser-C ianoH played
the title part sympathetcaIly end with complete
appreciation Of all the poetry which brettsts and
composer PVT into It. but she deficient vocally;
her voice unsteady and unstable in pitch and
all that really admirable in her singing
the dicton-an element in which N. Gilbert was
an embodiment Of perfection. Nine. Pinkerts tech
meal work might have had allurtng qualities had
II been possible TO hear her without seeing the
facial Erimaces which accompany her utterances;
but that Of course, out OF tho ques-
ton. There remained an arch and graceful
FREDERICK in the person OF Mile. Giaconia, and an
always tunefu always delightful singing Gugiielmo
IN Slgnor Boncl, whose music alone seemed to come
convinGngly the footlights. notwithstanding
the marvellous with which Il has been found
possible heretofore 10 establish sympathetic in
timacy between singers and listeners IN the acous-
tically excellent house which Mr.. Hammerstein has
built. Nearly five years had elapsed between the
last preceding performance OF ''Mignou" and that
OF last night. There interesting coinci
deuce in the fact that IL was the French company
Of which Nine Bressler-Giauou was then member
which performed the opera on tho earlier occasion
az the Casino Before that II had been heard az
the Metropolitan Opera House In the season %
English opera given by the united forces Of Colonel
Savage and Mt Gruu In 1850 But. has been
intirnated al memories OF the work fade alas IN
the presence Of those Of generation ago.