New-York tribune., 1907-11-19
METROPOLITAN OPERA.
FWstNight of the Season in Upper
Broadscay.

nsrs were other attractions divide the ALLEGIANCE
~ the deTotees OF fashion, and the weather was
a,sually bad for fashionable well as unfashion-
shle folk: but audience which glorifed the house
,,,s uresent. So the record of brilliant onenIng
Is made Also the record of the representation of an
Ttsltan opera new 70 New York. It was "Adriana
rscouyreur," the book fashioned by A Colautti af-
Ger the familiar French play by Scribe and Iegouve
the musical setting by Francisco Ciea In the cast
v,ers Signor CarJso which ought 20 have been sniff
cIent cause for popular rejoicing; Nine Cavalier
the moving cause Of the Production: NM Scott
and JouTnet, who were spared the need OF making
q good impression by years of work on the same
stage: n. Georges Lucas, new tenor and num-
her Of other singers whose achievements were not
edifying. That an artistic triumph be
corded must be set down to the dscredit of tho
royelty selected for the opening
The work is one OF the latest efforts OF
composer Of the young italian school to put play
Into music instead OF making opera out OF
q play. The result IS for the greater part a sort
Of spectacle recalling familiar things TO the eye
accompanied by an undercurrent OF music,
casionaliy breaking into melody. and buoying up
long stretches of fragmentary conversation, out
which under the best Of circumstances il would
be difficult to construct drama, and which. being
for the greater part unntelligibe, it IS not possi-
bic 10 extract the pleasure which used to be found
IN the old style entertainment frequently and
derisveIy spoken Of as a concert in costume
The manner OF the new work is that OF
Puccni, Giordaui and SpinelI-to mention
the names which preceded that OF Cllea
across the ocean-but II is only in the
manner, not IN the matter, except (as some dis
agreeable seekers after "reminiscences will say)
when that matter is borrowed There is
graceful music in the score and strains which
simulatsg3sssion: but to find In any Of its portions
that kind OF musical integument which is supposed
20 yitalize the word heighten the dramatic stua-
ton would be hopeless task II is melodramatic
music which becomes most fluent when there is
least occasion for It, and which makes its best ap
fha Aar-og oho In
speaking voice las she does when in the climax of
the third act Adrienne recites a speech from Ra-
cres 'Phedre'' In order to accuse the Princess de
Bouillon OF adultery. when 1t inspires the heroine
carefully and particularly to blow out every light
In a large drawing ROOM or when It accompanies a
ballet which is neither part OF the play nor an
Incidental advertisement. but only much needed
device to afford the composer an opportunity for
few symmetrical pieces OF music. This music must
serve foil, however, for the everlasting talk
of the people OF the drama. However. Of that pres
emily.
How poor vehicle the opera is for the exhibit
ton Of Mr.. Caruso's extraordinary gifts and pow
ers may be guessed from the fact that his one set
SODA narrative Of a personal adventure Of the
Marquis de saxe-passed off last night without
hand not G sound was there to testify even inter-
est in the singer who is the wonder Of the world;
WHO in this steel-shod period has been rewarded
ss none Of the great singers of Europe ever were
when London was so opera-mad that noble fami-
lies were divided distinctly in their musical
aIlegiance than In their political. Caruso sang
about his victory in Courland and got never a
hand True his voice did not have its usual golden
lusciousness and compelling power but II he had
been Balfe's Thaddeus and had sung or hoof-
troddeu Poland, his song would have been raptur-
ously acclaimed. 'Adriana" is not for such as
he; rather is Il for such Nine. Cavalieri, who
has neither beauty Of voice nor excellence OF song
TO recommend, but who can make pictures. ana
ect-as opera people act NM Scott and Journet
suffered from the general blight. and only the
7 -7I,o acfa q Da
the Abbe de ChazeuI, succeeded in producing a
dramatic illusion. There were few brief bursts
Of applause in the course OF the evening, the most
generous being after the ballet-a strange fact
which would have been stranger had there been
anything IN the dramatic music TO become enthus-
estic
Alas for the departed glories of the ballet! Why
should they be painfully called back 10 mind by
ouch futile efforts those with which the authors
Of "Adriana" seek 10 provide medium In which
10 hout their dialogue and byplay? Had there
been grace or beauty in last nights pantomirne the
conduct of nbrettist and composer in permitting
their characters talk while the dancing was going
on would have been doubly reprehensible as show
ing small appreciation Of the social amenities OF the
courtly people OF the fifteenth Lous's time The
authors OF the operate Fedora as we were forced
10 observe last season, contrived to put some Oh
their most superheated conversation between nero
and heroine into the middle Of panoforte recital;
but the dramatic exigences great and If long
haired pianist will play in the drawing room When
a woman is seeking to extract a confession from
murderer and he is full Of ardent things Whlch ne
wants TO utter TO her, why they may be allowed a
little license But It is wofulIy bad manners 10
attend a grand reception at the palace OF royal
princess the chief feature OF which is to be grand
ballet d'dcttoH and spend the time loudly gossipng
while the band is playing pretty music and the
dancers (rost likely themselves in the ladys social
book are trying with pose and pirouette. with
woven PAGES and with waving arms" 10 represent
pleasant incident The Judgment of Paris
The courtiers of Louis XIV had better breeding.
The traditions of the Grand Monarch were still
alive In his court. Only few decades before the
tune IL which this drama plays Louis XIV was
taking those daily dancing lessons from Beau
ohsrnps which continued twenty years: only
short time before ministerial decree which had
his sanction, permitted members of the nobility TO
follow dancing a livelihood without loss or dig
nifty; not long before Moliere. Sully and Quinault
occupied not inconsiderable part OF their time and
more than q modicum OF their wits in inventins
Just such balets as that which shufled through
In the mimic salon of the Princess de Bouillon last
night. Only hundred years before Cardinal
ldcheleu had tricked himself out like very merry
andrew, with green velvet breeches and bells on
thoes, and ratified his castanets as he danced a
Harsband for the delectation of Anne of Austria
a hundred years after, look into the volume de-
voted notables OF another kind the elder Vestrs
could reprove his son for not having performed his
duty by dancing before the King of Sweden.
when the Queen of France had performed hers by
esAlng him do So" He wanted no misunder-
standing between the houses of Vestris and Bour-
bon which had hitherto lived on the best OF terms
So the bad manners OF Signori Calautti and Cilea
are anachronism and to be excused only
when the dancers make such a of THE Judg-
nent of Paris'' they did last night. 1t is an old
dance play. and, If the word OF Appuleius is to be
believed. II was done much better in Alexandra