New-York tribune., 1908-11-15
MUSIC
OPERA IN BROOKLYN.

OPERA IN BROOkLYN.
The new Academy Of Music in Brooklyn echoed
70 operate strains for the first time last night
II pleasant 10 see the old name on the house
hill instead Of the Opera House" which has fig
ured in SO many announcements during the last
two months. Academy Of Music continues an
honorable history and recalls pleasant traditions
and Academy Of Music the new home Of music in
its larger forms ought to be and ought remain
Time was when the name had attraction for
the serious music lovers Of New York, and may
hap the time may come again. Such hope
held out, al least. by 2 restoration in a measure
of the oldtinne intimacy which used TO exist be
-weea performers and listeners in the old house
IN Montague street-an intimacy that has not ex-
listed since the historic establishment VAS burned
down Architecturay the new house suggests
nothing that was characteristic OF the old. The
latter grew diaFv long before II was removed, but
q had about II d sense Of mellowness which the
rev viii be long in acquiring, with its many feat
ares Of the modern commercial theatre and its
cold, and uninviting mot to say repellenO
color scheme: but its acoustcal qualities seem to
be excellent, and IL IS pleasant in listening to a
lyric drama TO be little less remote from the
mimic people OF the stage world than the audience
IS at the Metropolitan Opera House. But on this
point nothing be said until a more favora bic
opportunity than was offered at last nights per
formance presents Itself. One thing however
was made plain: It will be easier TO take the
artistic measure Of the Metropolitan forces in the
transpontine house than in the local The new
singers who sang in Faust last night displayed
larger stature than they ever Will at the gilded
opera house in upper Broadway. It may be- how
ever. that some VIII beneft by being presented at
the greater distance. Mr. Didur's extravagantIy
spectacular embodiment Of the operate Mephis
topheles ought 70 be seen at the end OF a long
vista-the longer the better. The gentleman Is an
artist Of excellent potentialties but his making Of
dannabe faces belongs TO Bowery melodrama. not
TO polite opera 1t has nothing to justify it. either
IN good tradition modern taste; metropolitan
audience had quite enough Of It at the Manhattan
Opera House last year Yet there is that in his
voice and his unquestionabe histrionic skin which
may make him p useful member Of the Metropoi-
tan OEsera House COMPANY An acquisition OF un-
questionable value was disclosed in the oarytone
Jean Note who appeared in the role of Naleutln
although his greatest merit is his voice ana
his use of il. finely resonant voice II IS, WIN
that pure musical quality which carries Il
10 the and the feelings Of every listener
There WAS anotIaes newcomer in Paul AnanlaEl-a
utility singer who presented the CCnNeiition-I
Wagner and nothing more The other persons
concerned IL the performance were familiar figures
on the Metropolitan stage-Ailss faTrar. MISS fo4-
MIA Miss Nattfeid and Nj Caruso. Ihefe were
signs toward the close Of the second act ot the
opera that the 1enor'- voice was not IN rs heSl
estate: but Why burden the record Of notable
51cjdent-thrice notable 10 tie opera lovers OF our
sister borough-with such transient phenomena
when the great fact remains that The WondroJS
voice q Hon5raGS singer was nearu at the
first operate representation in the new house, Il
Is happiness enough l. hear such tones issue from
a human threat. i were living the social and
artistic life Of z century and hals ago society
wCu be divided into factions ready 10 fight due.s
10 settle the question Of how much admiration the
singer ought 70 receive Miss Farrar's Marguerite
has not grown larger riDer than ii year
ago. but has grown older. the charm OF
1outhfuiness lies in every feature OF the iTpersuua
li1u-eyeu IN lis vocal imperf-ctioEs The orchestra
seemed admirable 3u precision and quality Of tone,
a-:G jhe cond uct0r Siguor Spetriao disclosed
si5;I and discretion in handling ii bur Il
she entire band o tie metropolitan Opera House
s-.l be juGs-d such. The audience
uied the house bat was reserved in it, expression
az appreciation WHEN Gluch enthusiasm might nave
been expected because amply justified.
Among those present were Air. and Mrs, Robert
,ia-ler. Ar and AIrs Clarence IL Nackay. Mr. ana
Lrs. II Kahn. Henry Rogers Winthrop. Eliot
Gregory. Mr.. Mrs. ). ALoiph Mollenhauer. Alr.
and Mr. Frederick B. Pr4.t. Louis Bossert, Casi-
mir Tag. AR and Mrs. Charles A Shearn. st
tls5r M,I-IHGy. AIr. and Mrs Abraham Abra-
.sr.l- Nj. and L-rs. William BerTi. Mr. and Mrs
ing T Brush. Mr. and Mrs. Herbert +. Gunni-
-,.. Nr- ana Al-s. J. Rogers Maxwell, Coioa=!
A.!H-s.n Ie>J=~. William Y. Hester, Nj. and Mrs.
Timothy l.. Woodruff. AIr. and Mrs J. Morton
Ilalst-aa. Ralph p Hutchinson. Nj. and Mrs
li-rrg Rogers &lslloIy. Nj. and Mrs, John And-r-
ssa a.. sud Ms. Reese T. Alsop. Mr- and MIS-
.Jr and M Wizard z. Candee, Mrs. James :
--hcrlLzJu. Nj. and Ms. Frank :. jones. w r
E-,.-u aud Alr. and MrS. Herbert l. Sflag-i42n