The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-12-22
AT The TWO OPERA HOUSES
a NEW MARGT ERITE HEARD At
THE MANBlTTAN.

Mime. AsOsilnem Makes Her First Appear
amer Mere I'm GOunOd Opera 'TOsra"
&C the metropolitan for Ghc FIRST Time
with flames, CarusO. and ~coitI.
As man Of Mr.. Hammerste ems soprg nos
as were not on the sick list crowded into
the Manhattan Opera House yesterday
afternoon to hear a performance OF Faust"
Now this saccharine opera OF Gounod ia no
novelty. even 10 Mr.. Hs mmerstein's IT. Ian
prime donnes. &C there must have been
some other attraction In this case il was
the soprano who sang Marguerite.
No that she was a worldwide celebrity,
for she had never before been heard OF
IN this village, but just because she was a
soprano. The contraltos did not go 10 the
performance. because what sopranos may
do has no interest for them.
This new soprano, just arrived from the
sunny land OF song. was Miss AgOstinelli.
She was cordially received by a select
audience and enthusiastically applauded
after her singing of the jewel song. Al
Margueriies are applauded for singing this
Song. II they v ere to cut il out they wOuli
make failures. Miss AGOstinelli has a pretty
face and also a pretty voice.
IL 10 light lyric soprano. cool, but charm
ing in quality. sufficiently full bodied. well
placed in the medium. thin in the low reg
lister. and good. but not at its best. in the
high tones. Miss Agostinelli sang the
music OF Marguerite correctly and with
taste.
The Faust was Mr.. Bassi. who is far from
being at his best in this style of music. Mr..
Didur repeated his i-mpersonation of Nephis-
,opheIes. Many persons have been deeply
impressed by his conception of the part.
ust what his conception il, however.
'ould be somewhat difficult to define.
II In certainly not that OF Gounod. How
YER, In opera everything goes except
ritical discrimination. and that ia highly
Unpopular. At any rate il may boldly
be asserted that Mr.. Campanini conducted
the opera admirably. and II the orchestra
did get away from him once hat was not
his fault. In the evening -The Tales or
Hoffman, was repeated and was enjoyed
AZ a large audience.
-Tosca' was sun for the first time his
season at the Metropolitan Opera House
yesterday afternoon. A large audience was
present and should nave enjoyed the per
Torrance. for IL was one in keeping with
the best traditions Of the Metropolitan.
Nine. Eames. who sang the title role. was
in superb voice and never sang the music
better.
Mr.. Caruso had one OF those afternoons
which he alone can have. His tones we're
never richer, never better controlled. never
e,ore artisticaIly delivered, II was a treat
70 near his CaDdrGdOssi.
Mr.. Scotti's ScGrpiG has long occupied
a place Of honor among operate portraits.
10 was shown in a good light yesterday.
Mr.. Ferrari. who conducted. displayed
excellent discretion in his treatment Of the
music. giving sufficient scope TO the tints
- me orchestration without permitting
the body OF tone TO drown the voices OF the
singers.
In the evening Der ~Fliegende Hollander'
was performed. Owing TO the death OF
Nine. Gadski's mother the distinguished
soprano was unable to appear in the role
Of Ssrta and Bella Alien was called upon