New-York tribune., 1907-12-12
MUSIC.
AN OLD AND A NEW OPERA.

When Mr. Hamnlerstein announced the revival of
Verdi's ''Ernani' that accomplished last even
ing at the Manhattan Opera House it was not
difficult to foresee that whatever interest the occa
sion might possess would be mainly historical
rather than present. "Ernani" was almost as con-
spicuous a milepost along the pathway of nine
teenth century romanticism as was Victor Hugo 5
theatrical embodiment of the OLD Spanish story
from which Verdi and his libretto maker drew their
immediate inspiration And the battle Of Her
nani' as Henley happily calls #, was one OF the
striking victories of the forward movement OF 1885,
won after a campaign of forty-fve consecutive
nights at the Theatre Francais The work OF
magnificent and entirely histronic vugarian' Her
mani is rather a five-act lyric than drama but II
took its place beside lie Cid Thus again MI
Henley and his description might be fitted. with
out seriously straining it, to the opera winch
brought to Verdi his earliest real fame. The KIN
shin between Hugo and Verdi has often enough
been suggested, each being vastly prolific OF loea
and commanding wide gamut or the ernouohs
Each too dealt in generous fashion with MS ma
teriaI and painted his canvas with sweeping
brush in vivid colors In the operate Ernanf
Verdi had not vet reached his full opulence CHugo
had decade the better of him in years., but there
are passages in this early score OF whlcn even III
his best period the composer need not nave peeH
ashamed. .
Whether it would be possible nowadays to recruit
a cast of which every member could be counted
upon 10 feel something of the thrill that hrnaIi
used to evoke in its performers may wen ioe
doubted and so it is too much to expect lhaI any
representation of this opera by twentieth century
singers shall communicate more than small part
of what the composer put into ii or of what II
meant to auditors of earlier generation II IS
fair however, to credit last nights performance
with both earnestness and sincerity, and with a
moderate amount of effectiveness, which would
have been heightened by closer attention TO dra-
matte and musical values. Nine Russ sang Ell
vira's music with fulness and volume of tone
and a nicely of phrasing that must enhance the
regard in which her work is held among careful
listeners Mr.. Bassis style leaned too far toward
the newer school for him TO make much of Ernanis
role but MN Ancona and Arimondi. as Don Car
los and de Silva. respectively, came nearer to re-
viving the form and spirit in which their music
was cast Mr. Hammersteins chorus. like that of
the Metropolitan Opera House, finds early Verdi a
good deal harder to sing than Puccini Mascagnl
and the other composers of to-day. Mr.. Parelli
conducted. and the opera was witnessed by a good
sized audience.
At the Metropolitan there a repetition last
once more presented view in her beautiful guise
as the Japanese heroine. Mr. Caruso again
the Osaka. and he cannot fairly be blamed for
looking more italian and less like a son Nippon
than could have been wished Mr.. Scott a
haIeful Kyoto. and Mr.. Journet personated the
blind father. MI Ferrari's conducting showed SYM
pathetic insight.