New-York tribune., 1908-12-26
MUSIC
OPERAS OF A CHRISTMAS NIGHT.
"otello at the Manhattan Opera House.

Otello at the Manhattan Opera House.
Mr. Hammerstefn redeemed one of his promises
Of this Season by the production Of Verdis "Otel
To- at the Manhattan Opera House last night.
and incidentally rewarded opera lovers for one of
the many appointments Of Mr.. Co1rieds admin
istration at the Metropolitan. He did the same
thing in the of another opera last year, and
II he continues in his phiIanthropc course there
will be less cause hereafter to deplore the pauctty
Of novel incident at the Metropolitan Opera House
than there used be. any of M. Ham
Hersteins new productions last season made
'Adrsna Lecouvreur'' and Fedora sink into in
significance. so "OteIo" this season Is likely to
wipe cut all memories of ''IA VIII and ''Tiehand
There were several incidents which awakened
pleasureabe memories IN connection with last
nights performance. 'Otello' has been more or
less a child of sorrow in New York during the
twenty years that It has been known here vet last
night it conducted by the artist VINO d.
rected its first performances at the Academy OF
Music on April Is 1855 Then Signor Campa-
MINIS wife the youthful representative OF
Desdemona, and his lanented brother Italo the
impresario. In OF the boxes last night sat
NJ. Maurel, who though not the first Isso hearo
by New Workers incon1parab1y the finest
and the original creator OF the role i'll Milan
BY his side Nine. seygard, to whom fell
the melancholy duty Of performing the parr or the
heroine when last the opera was heard at the Set-
ropolitan Opera House. In the season Of l9o-Vz'
though at earlier performances Nine Eanles
had enacted the role. Then the two ladies' were
associated with Alvarez Otello and Scotti as
IaEo. Between the hrst performance, in 1888 ana
last italian one 1902. there were representa-
tions of the work with Albani and Tamagno IN lSsz
and also IN the season OF fS94-95 Since theh
there have performances in English oy MI
Savage's singers. but with all the admiration ana
affection which Verdi's superb composition has IN
spred among local opera lovers of discrimination
and taste its fate has been only little better
than that of "Falstaf' After last nights per-
formance it would seem have won a new lease
of life, At least long as Nine Meioa remains
with US for the representation was in many thlngs
thrice adnra Bile and the enthusiasm aroused oy II
great and indubitsby sincere. There was nothing
perfunctory CT artificial in the demonstration
which brought ZenatelIo and Sammarco before the
curtain over and over again after the second act
and compelled them to share their well deserved
hcnors with Sisnor Campanni. and eventually MI
Hanmerstein well.
In a sense 1t wcs Sfgnor Zenatelo's triumph,
though vher Nine. Meba's scenes were reached
there was disclosed the finest Of the
evening. Her voice. with its original fresh
and purity despite its want OF emo
tionaty. and her tnpecCable vocal art came
like soothing balm after the rude blows dealt
by Signor Zenatelo who in his brutal, but still
thrilling. fo-cefuness Of song and action IS really
an admirable successor of Tanag gno. the first and
by BOito ard Verdi 1t is necessary 70 say in
contemplating this n1eodramatic creation that all
thought OF the Shakespearian original would best
be kept OF mind. But even so. the tremendous
ira Eical puissanCe Of the operatc Ot1ello may be
felt and proclaimed without shame Tage is in A
different case. That character is far beyond oper
attic expression Signor Sammarco sang well but
his impeTsonaton was not much more than that
Of an operatic uarionette ennobled by much fine
dramatic music The Emilia OF Nine. Dorta- Cassie
Signor Venturint, Roderigo Of SignOr MOutanari,
Ludovico Of signor Segurola and Montana Of NJ
Crabbe do not call for discussion For the ex-
ceIlence of tie choral work Mr. Hammersteins
forces deserve, however. special word Of praise