New-York tribune., 1908-02-02

r,,. o,,v,s operatic repertcry has undergone
measurable enlargement in the last season vi
tro and there are further novelties TO be eN-
pectee n the future including tho Mseter-
unck-Debussy 'Pelleas eft Melsande
AT THE MANHATTAN.
vyn.,e the date for this drama is not yet an
nornced- Mr.. Hammerstein promises for next
wednesday, at the Manhattan Opera House. an
other Of the several works listed in his pros
pectus namely, Giordanos siberia TINS is
rated by some European reviewers as the pest
work OF the whose name first became known
hero in 1896 through his Andrea Chenier. which
was welcomed at the Academy of Music as e
promising when Maplesons last American
company presented 1T. Giordano's Fedora. one
Of last seasons novelties at the Metropolitan
onera House proved Disappointing Siberia"
may give cause for revising opinions Of its 1tal-
ian composer
A dozen wears ago when Andrea Chenier' was
brought OFT here Umberto Giordano was very
Young man. To-day ne is approaching his forty
fifth birthday, and like his colleagues Puccinl
Mascaeni. Leoncavallo, Cilea and the rest, his
measure may probably be taken fairly enough
from what he has already DONE instead OF being
based or what he may do In the future Born In
1853. at Poggia- Italy, Giordano was the son OF g
pharmacist who perceived the boys bent snd
sanctioned his pursuit Of music at the Naples
Conservatory. Giordano was thirty when his
Andrea Chenier" successfully produced at
La Scala. Milan in 1893. This opera has been
heard in numerous Continental cities, and also
IN London. well in New York Fedora
es the Light in Milan in 1899 and siberia" fol-
lowed IN 1903. also at La Scala At subsequent
presentations in Genoa, Paris and elsewhere, the
role Of vassin. the hero, assumed by Amadeo
Bassi. who will sing il Wednesday night at the
Manhattan So pleased was Sardou with "Si
heria" when sung in Paris in 1904. that he
~fote libretto. The Feast Of the Nile" which
Ciordano is said TO be setting TO music for a
Paris production
The story and book of Siberia" by Luigi
composers as their best iibrettist. has been
siderable The scenes laid in St Petersburg
and in a penal settlement in Asiatic Russia
Stephsna, a young courtesan, is its heroine and
despite the attentions OF Prince Alexis. General
Walftzin and other conspicuous personages she
sets her affection Eessili. penniess young
officer. Provoked by Prince Alexis TO duel on
Stephens's account Vassiii kills him and is SEN
tenced TO Siberia for life Act II shows the pris-
the Siberian frontier. where Stephana
insists joining Nassili in his exile Act III
passes on Easter Eve in the Trans Baikal mining
7 district for convicts A plan for the escape of
Nassili and Stephana is overheard by another
prisoner, who has quarrelled with Vassili, and
astray in St. Petersburg. reveals TO the other
convicts the wonan's past life. Stephana, whom
the Siberian Governor has already tried in vain
wealth. is bitterly humiliated. At the moment
when she and Eassili seek make their escape
Cleby warns the officers and they are fired on
Fassin is fatally wounded and Stephana stabs
herself to death with the dagger of the soldier
who has captured her
The cast of Wednesday for Siberia" will
be follows: