New-York tribune., 1907-11-24
PUCCINI AND VERDI.

Giacomo Puccinrs operas were wholly unknown
TO this public ten years ago, but they have lately
enjoyed popularity here greater than that OF any
other serious musical dramas by living composer.
1t was TO be expected, therefore, that Puccinis 5
name would appear early in the seasons bills at
the Metropolitan Opera House. where no fewer
than four of his works the active list but
1t was due to bit Of misfortune that La Boehme'
had its first hearing at yesterdays matinee In
stead Of waiting until next Wednesday. the time
originally set for it by Mr. COnried. This unlocked
for circumstance was the iudispositon OF NJ.
Chaliapine without whose participation in the tlte
role the propose performance of Boito's ''Mefs-
tofele'' was manifesty impossible large audi
ence accepted the change with no evidence OF dis
satisfaction. To few. indeed, of the hearers could
the presentation OF La Boehms'' have been aught
but pleasurabe. for singers conductor and orches-
ira united IN doing full justice to the work.
For the Mimi OF Puccinis opera there was Miss
Geraldin Farrar. while the principal mems roles
were in the hands of Slgnor Caruso and Signor
Scott-Rodolfo and MarcelO, respectively. Miss
Farrar has improved measurably over her last sea-
sons standard in this music. gained IN and
freedom OF tona emission and in beauty and clarity
of the voice itself There were pose and balance
IN what she did without any dminution OF the
communicative vitality which has marked her
previous singing here. Her former tendency TO
Horce her upper tones was noticeable only once or
twice yesterday, and the improvement was worth
far more than IL must have cost the singer to
compass it. Her acting OF the wayward and pa
thetc little figure of Mimi was marked by delicacy
and restraint. did it lack pognancy in the
later scenes. Caruso and ScottI were in Joyous
mood and excellent voice, and they personated the
Latin Quarter heroes with fervor and relish.
though perhaps with thought too much OF de-
monstrative humor in the first half OF the last act
in Rodofos garret.
There was new Musetta in the person Of Miss
Fely Dereyne. and her Metropolitan Opera House
debut revealed her a vivacious singer of infeo-
tious good spirits and voice light but agreeable.
Her personaton had the Gallo quality that the
eXacts and the newcomer found due favor with the
audience. NM. Journet, Begue and Dufriche COM
pleted the cast. and Signor Ferrari gave further
proof of his firm yet sensitive grasp Of the orches-
tral forces.
Aida served to crowd the Manhattan Opera
House at yesterdays matinee while III Trovatore,'
at popular prices, drew a very small audience in
the evening. In the former the cast al
ready known to habitues Of Mr.. Hammerstein's the
atre. its chief members being Nine. Nord!ca in the
titular role. Nine. de Ctsneros Amners, Zenatello
as Radames. Ancona AmOnasro. ATimOndi as
the High Priest. Ramfis and 9Iugnoz the KinG
The performance was as animated its predeces-
sors but the work Of orchestra and chorus again
suggested the need OF a tempering and refining OF
their vigor Nine Nordica's voice was at it's best
in the Nile scene, and she, with Signor ZenatellO.
carried off the honors of the afternoon.
III Trovatore,"-as sung last evening. seemed to
bark back TO Il dusty musical antiquity. The bur
den OF it's performance was borne mainly by Nine.
Bressler- Gianoli, who. Azucena, sang and acted
with musical rectitude and dramatic potency. Nine.
Jomelli was a Leonora of good routine capacity.
and sang much better than in the Onenbach opera
Of the previous evening OF Signor Albani and
Signor Fossetta, as Manrico and the Count di Luna
respectively less said the better. Sisnor Pareln
conducted