New-York tribune., 1908-08-16

Bos+on Ideal Opera Company and other troupes.
but with them these annals have no concern
The National Opera Company. stripped OF tns
prestige with which it had started out abandoned
nv Mr. Thomas and reorganized on a co-opera-
tive basis made it's last struggle for existence
at the Academy OF Music between April and
April g. 1888 The decay Of the institution
seemed TO fill 1t with the enterprise and energy
of DESPAIR. 1t produced (but in anything but
commendable fashion, English versions OF Gold
marks Queen of Sheba,' Rubinstein's Nero.
"Tannhauser' (hrst performance or the opera IN
English in New York on April - and "Lohen-
grin" In the company, besides some Of the
singers who had belonged TO IT in the previous
two years, were Eloi Sylvia. Bertha Person
Amanda Fabbris. Charles Bassett and Barton Nc
Guckin the last tenor who had made notable
career in Great Britain with Mr.. Carl Rosa'S
companies.
This season also saw the introduction OF
verdfs 'Oteno' by a company especially or
sanized for the purpose by Italo Campaninl
who his singing days being practically over
turned impresario. He had been In Milan when
Verdrs opera was produced February 8,
1887 and made haste to procure the American
rights of performance. 1t was a laudable amoi-
ton, but the enterprise was overwhelmed with
disaster Campanini brought from Italy tenor
named Marconi for the tituar role; his sister-in-
law Eva Tetrazzini. TO sing the part OF Desde-
mona and his brother Cleofonte (who was macs
tro di cembalo at the Metropolitan Opera House
during its first season. conductor. With
Galassi emilia and Iago). The first perform
ance took place April 16. 1888. in the Academy
of Music, and four representations were given
on the established opera nights and Saturday
afternoons The publics attitude was apathetic.
The tenor did please the fashionable season
was over, the music was not OF the kind that had
been expected from Verdi and the prices OF ad-
mission were too high for popular audience.
sgnor Campanini essayed a second week and
now threw his popularity into the scale.
Signor Marconi dismissed and returned at
once to Europe, never TO be heard again in New
York: Campanini. who had been the most popu-
lar tenor with New Workers since the palmy
days of Brignoli, took his part; the prices of ad
mission were reduced. All avail; ruin had
overtaken the manager. and the eighth perform
snce was the last 1t was truly pitiable. Signor
Campanini deserved better for his bold embarkaton
in a noble enterprise: but for the failure
were easily found. 1t unwise to give opera
on an ambitious scale after the amusement
son had worn itself out: 1t was nothing less than
foolish to do so with Ill equipped company, IN
a house that had lost its fashionable prestige
and at prices large that fatal blunder had
to be confessed by their reduction at the end OF
a week Two seasons later. the opera an
nounced by the Metropolitan director, Mr.. Stan
ton but was not given, for reasons already
mentioned How IL entered the fashionable home
of opera shall see presently.
After the lapse of twenty years IT is still npos-
sible to say that "Otello" has really been hAblIi-
tated in New York. Its fate has not been quite
pitiful that or because IL has been
more frequently performed. and performed.
over in better style: but 1t has not the popu-
lar heart II Is admired by the knowing. but not
loved by the masses the earlier operas. espe-
c.ally Aida" is loved. The reason? I am still
inclined look for II, when thought found il a
score of years ago At that time IL seemed TO mo
that the public. II it concerned itself with the
ter at all (Which doubt. at loss for point
of view from which TO consider H. Was II an Ital-
ian opera? Certainly not. IL that type was repre-
hv of he Bel lint
Donizetti or OF Verdi himself when he was the
popular idol Was II a French opera? A German
opera? lyric drama In the Wagnerian manner?
To the counosseur IL not 10 the idle prstier about
music each of these designations suggests dis
tinct idea-a form, style, a manner Which OF
them might with most propriety be applied TO this
work? The circumstance that the book was In ths
Italian Language had little TO do with the question