New-York tribune., 1908-09-06

old Academy. The phrase NEARLY ALL was an
omnous one. for It betokened the absence from
the company of Mime. Calva The newcomers were
Lucille HILL Sibyl Sanderson. Zelie de Lussan,
Mira Heller and Lioia Drog, sopranos; G. Russi-
tano and Francesca Ta,nagno. tenors. and Victor
Maurel. who had been a popular favorite twenty
years before at the Academy of Music. Luigi
MancIneili and E. Bevignani were the conductors.
and Mr.. Seidl engaged to give eclat to the
Sunday evening concerts Nine Melbas chief
financial value to the management in the preced-
ing had been found to lie in these concerts
which this year were begun earlier than usual and
made part of MeIba's concert tour The first
opera was Romeo ct Juliette." with the cast be
loved of society, and the second night the in
PRODUCTION of the newcomers began. But wofully
The opera William Tell and Sgnorina Drog
sang part OF the heroine in place of Miss Hill.
indisposed. Mathilde (or Matilda-the opera was
sung in Italian), does not appear in the opera until
the second act, and when she has the most ia
miliar air in the opera to sing-"Selva opaca, an
air which then belonged to the concert-roonl rep
ertory OF most horid sopranos. When Signorina
Drog came upon the stage 1t is safe to say that
regretted her substitution, for the English
singer except herself She exceedingly
handsome person, who moved about with attractive
freedom and grace and disclosed a voice of good
quality especially in the upper register. She
began her aria most tastefuliy. but scarcely
had she begun when her memory played her
false. For a few dreadful seconds she
tried to pick up the thread of the melody
but in vain. Then came the inevitable breakdown
She quit trying, and appealed pitifully to Signor
Mancinelli for help. He seemed to have lost his
head completely the lady had her memory.
So had the prompter who pulled his nodde into
his shell like a snail and remained as mute
Sgnor Tanagno entered In character and Induged
in dumb show to a few detached phrases from the
orchestra. Then the awfulness OF the situation
overwhelmed him and he fairly ran off the stage
leaving Matilda alone That lady made final ap-
peal to the conductor switched her dress nervousy
with her riding whip went to the wings, got
glass of water and then disappeared. The au-
dence, which had good humoredy applauded till
now. began to laugh, and the Generalization was
complete. It would have been relief had the
curtain fallen but this did not happen Signor
Tamagno. Signor Ancona and Edouard de Reszke
upon the stage and began the famous trio, in
which Signor Tamasno sang with tremendous in
tensity and power. 1t a remarkable perform
of sensational piece. and had 1t not been
preceded by frightful a catastrophe and inter
rupted by Tamagno himself to bow his acknowI-
edgments, pick bunch OF vlolets thrown from
box and repeat Ills first melody. its effect would
have been dramatically electrifying. There was a
long wait after the act to enable Signor MancneIli
to arrange the necessary cuts, and after the stage
manager had made an apology on behalf OF Sig
norma Drog and explained that she had been
seized with vertigo but would finish the opera in
abbreviated form. the representation was re-
sumed. 1t is due to the lady 10 add that she had
never before attempted to sing the part and that
on the third evening she materially redeemed her
self in Aida" Miss de I.ussan q native OF Nav
York. who had begun her operatic a few
years before in the Boston Ideal Opera Company
and had won a conimendable degree OF favor at
Covent Garden as Carmen. had been engaged in
the hope of continuing the prosperous career OF
BiBets opera, but the hope proved abortive II
was the singer. not the song, which had bewitched
the people OF New York-Calve, not Bizet Car
men, excelIenty given, the charm of Nelba' 6
voice being called on for the music of Micaea' 8
part; but the sensation had departed. and was
waiting TO be revived with the return of Calve In
the succeeding season.
The first novelty in this season Elaine" an
opera in four acts. words by Paul Ferrer music
by Herman Benberg, brought forward on Deoem-