The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1908-04-28
OPERA BEGINS IN HARLEM.
I'll TrOyatOre" suns In English by the Belel
Mold Grand Opera Company.

The conviction that the ~populace Graves
opera at all times cannot DO eradicated
from the minds Of amusement managers
Especially Is there a firm belief that opera
at low prices Is certain to prevail, no matter
how elementary may DO the style Of la
representation. The ancient question Of
how good operate performance ought 10 be
at 81 for the most expensive seat, how good
II should be at 81. at IS and at g, has been
debated, discussed, examined and vonti-
lated till the language has grown weary Of
repeating the stock arguments.
The assertion Of tircsomo persons OF
critical bent that art knows no standard
measured by dollars has little influence
against the tendency Of the thrifty Ameri-
can mind to tabulate all things according
to their cost. The truth, Of course, 10 that
a bad performance Of III Trovatore,' is
just as bad when you pay only a dollar TO
hear II az it 10 when you pay five times
that mount. That you are not 'stung'
40 badly when you give up only a dollar
10 when you bid farewell TO a half eagle is
a question Of economy, not Of art.
But there is another aspect Of the matter.
Those who have not the wherewithal TO
en- Joy operate performances Of the most
expensive order ought not therefore 10 be
deprived altogether Of the privilege OF
making the acquaintance Of such works as
I'll T%rovatore," For them opera at moder-
ate cost Ia a Joy. Thus 10 It explained how
a large AUDIENCE gathered last night In the
West End Theatre, " hich Is situate In West
i25th street, 10 hear the Helen Mold Grand
Opera Company in the opera already named.
That this audience en- joyed the perform
ance was abundantly shown by the APP
plause. Doubtless those who had heard
I'll Trovatore' before had heard some parts
OF n sung much worse, for there IL nothing
in the entire range Of misfortune that has
not befallen this work. ltbe been batteres
mercilessly for years, even by companied
of artistic p%retensions, whose members
seem TO think that the Lederer combination
OF plenty Of bass drum with quick tempo is
the secret Of musical success.
Last nights performance had at least
the merit Of not OVERRIDING the tempt and
in respect Of noise il was less vigorous
than many Of its predecessors. Helen
Mold, the prima donna. sang Leonord with
voice enough TO fill every Granny OF the
house, but she was generally in tune and
had some dramatic skill. Achille Albert
was a respectable COHni III Luna. but Ernesto
Giaoone, the Mdnrlec, displayed a tremolo
which almost shook the Tafters. Georgia
Strauss was the ASucend. The orchestra
was not good and the chorus was only
passable.
The text was English and its use opened
up old doubts. for the %sorrowfully prosaic
character Of the lines was enough 10 rob
even the mysteries Of II Trovatore' OF
illusion, Happily not every one In the cast
was able to e~nunciate "a as to be understood.
Not until the English versions Of the old
operas are Of such merit as 10 make the
sensitive hearer willing TO understand every
word will opera in English be a continual
delight. III Trovatore' will be sung all
this week and next week ia Traviata'
will be produced.