New-York tribune., 1908-03-29

Novelties taDsClltet --'-'--'-'--
The performances were pretty evenly divided be-
rueer7 French and Italian operas; OF the former
there were sixty-one, Of the latter slKty-1hfee'
Counted by their places OF birth, the hst sno"s
seven Italian composers, six French ano three
German Mozart Meyerbeer and Onenbach); the
ra-,onal3-x Of the operas indicated by the Ian
e1age in which they Were composed 'not AWAY 3
sungD was Italian. sixteen; French, seven
V-he,, Mr. Ham.nerstein issued his prospectus IN
the early autumn he promised 10 proouce 10 leee
-har eight operas which had never been performed
I, America MANAGERIAL promises of this kind are
generally made and accepted in a Plck"lcAlan
sense and Mr Hammerstein came nearer tilan 5
the custom keeping his, though the season cose
with his subscribers waiting for Ooio,eA
Rrerou. lie Jongleur de N0tre Dame, by MAS
sene- and Helene" by Saint-Saens. de also
promised performances of three German operas
f-I.ohengrin' ''Tannhauser" and tristan una
lsolde") a new American opera In Engisn 10 De
cornposed by Victor Herbert. and the following
o,eras from, the standard list viz. lie Prophete.
Nassenet's "Manon," Romeo ct JuEette, Men3-
tosele' and La Boheme-" he had Fought IN the
courts for the privilege of performing the last
opera in the preceding season, but ABANDONED II
without contention this season in the face OF MI
Conrieds contention that he had purchased the ex-
elusive rights 10 all Italian performances OF Fuc-
cinrs operas in the United States 1t is not hkeis
that the statement about Mr.. Herberts opera was
taken very seriously in any quarter: he Is promo
snd rrarveIlously ready writer Of comic operet'a
scoes t,,r = is not likely that will attempt
10 find a suitable grand opera book and set IL 10
music within six eight months while occupied, as
he is with multitude Of other enterprises MI
Herbert does not shake the serious music which
he corrroses out of his sleeve The German part
q the managers scheme went by the board early
in the season IL was contingent upon the presence
in the company of singers familiar with the three
works Wagner. OF such there was only one
when the season began. and she. Nine Nordca'
remained member of Mr.. Hammersteins forces
OILY SIX weeks during much OF which time she
vas Idle. Nine Schumann-Heink, thongh an
nounced & member OF the company, interrupted
her activity only long enough 10 sing onc'
and then she sang IN an Italian opera III ifo'a-
tore'). albeit she did her part In German
Up to the coming of Signorina Tetrazzini MI
Hsmmerstein pinned his faith on the iheeieS'
which might be aroused in his French noFeilies'
On the second subscription night he came Tor
ward with Berliozs "Dsmnation de fausi' WIN
which he had contemplated adornng his hrst sea-
son and for which he had prepared the Scenic ou'-
mt The unoramatic character OF tHe 't"i'
Formed cantata had caused its failure at the
Metropolitan Opera House in the season OF l'Vo-
N, and The fine performance oi ~.
sensud whose impersonation OF Mephfstopheies
% Of the nobest memories left py 'he sc"
son. the excellent singing OF M Daiihoies az"
Ae beautiful pictures could save H. IheIe "As
ionG wait between the first and second iepi.
sentation. and after one more trial the work
sas abandoned. Meanwhile however, onenoach
Conses dHonnann." which had had Few per
formances At the Fifth Avenue Theatre twenty
ase years before, brought FORWARD Asain
Aeesrs. Renaud and Dalmores were aonlfeniS
nesed with parts and scant justice oone 10 .he
opera In the distribution OF the womens roies'
Cut the charm IN Ofenbach's music overcame inc
oefecfs Of performance and the opera achieVeo
10 Pronounced q that IL couio De give"
with profit eleven times before NJ. Renauds oe-
parture from New York after the performance on
February 4. Massenet's 'ThaIs." with Miss Car
oen. 81. Daincres and ~ Renaud in the principal
perts and with il French opera. won It's SECOND
naamph The charm OF Miss Gardens personahly
Vas felt. but her singing compelled less tribute
and though the opera had seven representations
se1ose the departure OF N. Renaud compelled It's
s1thdrswaI its success was due much more 10
MN than 10 hi fair companion. Miss Saroeh
had indeed established herself as a popular Ia
.essss. but 6. was not until the production on
sooASy . eS "Leulse" IN opera with which her