The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-11-21

A NEW RUSSIAN BASSO ar THE
METROPOLITAN.

B0ltO's Opera Revived After a Rest % six
1ears-9cenic Presentation Excellent
-Nliss FaFraP slnga Her Isird Marguer-
tie ana MP. Martin Appears 40 Faust.
The second night Of the season at the
Metropolitan Opera House. which was last
night. brought with IL a spectacular re-
vival Of BoitO's ~MeistofeIe." The opera
had not been heard since the season OF 1901.
when Margaret MacIntyre. Louise Homer.
Msssrs. Cremonini and PlancOn appeared
In the Leading roles. Once IN 1904 the
prison scene was sung by Nine. Calve,
Measrs. Dippel and Jour net but that was
all. -MefstOfele' 10 not a popular work,
but certain singers a TO no RccOmmo-
dated In this world Of lyric consultations.
For example. Geraldine Farrar has 70
sing so and so many times. and it will
gladden. her juvenile soul to make the record
OF having sung all three Of the Bdr0Gcrites.
Gounod's. Berlioz's and Boito's. But it
was o to crafty the unsatisfied artistic
aspirations OF Miss Farrar that ~Miistofele"
was prepared at a cost which has caused
Mr.. Conried to heave many a deep sigh.
No, the production was arranged to ex-
plot a Russian basso. Theodore Chaliapine.
who has played the devil all over Europe
with immense success.
h exploitation came p~erilously near
to disaster through the vigorous and Ill
timed demonstrations Of Mr.. Chaliapines
c~ountrymen. However. let US be joyful.
It Is a novelty to ave a Russian claque.
and the quality Of the noise is different.
The new basso was cordially received by
that part Of the audience which will have
most Z do with his real success here. He
was welcomed and his Mefsiofeies was liked.
He is a tall man. well suited physically to
the embodiment Of such dominating char
acters rs Boito's fend. Furthermore. he
has a voice suitable to such roles and q COM
mand of theatrical portrayal valuable IL
not unique. Exaggerated reports Of his
acting have reached America. and he will
nave TO live these down. When he has
done so he will be sure OF his position in
public esteem.
Mr.. Chaliapine had been suffering from a
touch of grip previous to his debut last
night, and it may be that his voice showed
the effects Of the indispositiOn. II is hkelys
however. that the ~roughness heard in II is a
part Of its normal quality. 1t sounded like
one Of those raw. heavy basses which are
not uncommon in Russia. A big. rumbling
bass, which resounds immensely in the
lower register. yet becomes traotable hn the
upper ranges and can fine itself away into
very musical head tones. In other words.
Mr.. ChaliRpine manages his big voice
with a good deal Of skill. and while its
natural quality makes his singing seem to
lack refinement. perhaps he may be said to
have paraded that condition as a striking
factor in his performance.
The basso's imp~ersonation OF the arch
iiend was bold, but it was by no means
so subtle. 80 Psychological use a por-
tentous and even hazardous word-as
report has it. Given a big mar with a big
voios and a lively appreciation Of his phys
ical characteristics n a Mefstoteie OF
the Chaliapine is pretty sure to result.
IL was imposing in its way, but il was not
Boito. There were sustained power, con-
sistency and Conference in the character
ization. Real acting is difficult in opera.
and Mr.. Chaliapine presented a sufficient
measure Of II to make his MefistOfele a
very red and black portrait indeed.
IL ought to be added for the information
Of those who delight in things that are
freakish that Mr.. Chaliapine in the Brocken
scene wore a costume which made him
look like an Internal ~cockatoo, II there is
such a bird Of Hades, and that presently
he threw most Of this OF and displayed a
~pretentious expanse of assumed n~akedness
This piece Of cheap CLAP trap has been
much advertised. Even European capitals
nave been stirred by it. IL will also he
talked about here. and that will be the end
Of il.
Richard Martin. a young American emo
made his first appearance az Faust. Ihis
singers career is mostly before him. He
has one very valuable asset in his true
tenor voice OF pretty quality. His singing.
generally correct information. was that
of inexperience. little Of color or style
was displayed. but MIR. Martin has plenty
OF time. With strict attention to the study
OF operate art he may yet arrive.
The other principal singer. Miss Farrar.
looked lovely indeed as MGrDVCrj;e. Her
costume was picturesque and very be-
coming. She acted the part charmingly
in the earlier scene. and with dramatic
force in the later episode. Her singing
was Of the kind she has taught this public
20 expect from her. Nine. Girerd as Marta,
Mime. Rappold as Helen. Nine. Jacoby
as PGntGlis and Mr.. Tecchi as Wagner and
Nereo we're the other members Of the cast.
MIR. Conried provided excellent scenic
attire for the opera. Unfortunately he
mishaps Of a first night we're numerous
and these married some OF the effects Of
which much was expected. Eut on the
whole the pictures were good. The setting
Of the Brocken scene in particular wss
wild than IL might nave been. ~
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