The evening world., 1908-11-14
"San1sOn and Deiidh"
a Hdn1nlerstein Success
Saint-SaenS'S Opera Finely
Sung and Acted at the Man
haitian Opera-House
BY SYLVESTER RAwLTNG.

ny WI. ESf TN na " fSiANr.
TT was Just Ave minutes after midnight
this morning, at the Manhattan
L Opera House, when Samson, the He
brew litlrator. heguiled by woman.
shorn OF his strength, blinded and
scourged by the Philistine priests and
reviled and iee"ed at by the mob. fin
ished his last agonized prayer to
Jehovah to restore his v!gor. Then he
pushed with all his might against the
two huge pillars between which he
stood, and. In a twinkling, the vast and
massive temple OF Dag1n crumS,ed into
DUST burying Samson and his enemies
together in one complete ruin. As 4
spectacle. 1t was one of the finest ever
seen on the operate stage.
The opera was Samson and Delilah."
composed by San:-Saens TO the text OF
Ferdinand Lemaire. and founded upon
the Biblical story. Il has been sung
here more iHan once in oratorio form,
and excerpts from it at concerts have
long been familiar: hut only once before
in this city has II been presented as an
opera. Mr.. Hammersten's production
IS splendidly mounted, strongly cast and
beautifully sung He has tackled on one
:-iumphs. 1t is sure to be q popular
success
paImores Fine Samson.
Charles Dalmores has added immeas-
urably to his stature. both as singer and
actor, by his representation of Samson.
II was the privilege OF the writer two
years ago, when the French tenor first
appeared here, to dwell upon his capaci-
ties and TO forecast his potential flu
ture. In the vernacular he has made
good. His samson is q virile, passion
ate, fighting man, intiared with patriot
ism md with the fear OF God in his
heart. He sings Justify. without losing
anything Of the purity and lusciousness
of his voice. BY turns he sounds the
r'ote of the prophet. the revolutionist,
the enslaved lover. the despairing cap
tive and the glorifed avenger In the
first scene of the last act. when, chained
TO huge mill wheel, he pushes ii labor
iously around the circle, he is both
a pathetic and an inspiring figure.
Gerville-Reachea as Delilah. the priest
ess of Dagon. who piled her witcheries
to ensave and destroy the conqueror of
her people, lacked something of subtlety
in her enticements. She was a bit too
brazen without being sinuous enough
But she sang better than she has sung
here, with power and superficial effect
at least, and sometimes With a touch of
real feeling. She wore some handsome
costumes.
Dufranne looked, acted aid sang the
High Prizes: finely. lIe was sonor Gus
and expressive always Crabbe made
a good Ab!melech. His pleasing voice
is growing In power. Felix Vleullle, as
an old Hebrew, justified the reputation
re brought from Ioris. He has an ex-
cellent voice. which he knows how to
use. Nenturini was messenger and
Montanar! and Reschiglian were the
fist and second Phllistnes, all OF them
acceptable.
The Chorus Admirable.
Samson and Delilah". for success de-
| ponds much upon the chorus, and last
/ nights chorus was admirable. 1t at
/ tackled clearly, showed excellent balance
and precision, and had fine tone. Moth
Ing could have been better than the
! chorus OF old men in the Hymns of
Triumph" and He Came to Us in Our
Distress. as they are translated into
English The opera was sung in French.
The ballet too, WAS excellent, the girls
being pretty and graceful and well
trained.
Odette Valery, the new premiere dan
seuse' created something OF a sensation
"th the live cobra that wound itself
about her as she danced, the bare feet
ana legs she seemed to show, and the
oriental movements she went through
she is good looking ana has a fine
n c ~ oil
among the women in the audience last
a!Snt While she was on the stage The
niue CIR! who acted as guide to the
bind samson won all their sympathy
Fine Stage Settings.
The scenes We're admirably set. The
first was the public square in front OF
the temple of Dagon, in the city Of
De!i!ah in he valley OF Lorek, 10
which she lu!ed samson, a thunder
storm accompanied the action. The
tnird was the, part OF the prison in
ilZa where the captive Samson was
.aDoriously turning The mill wheel, har-
messed Ike mule Tie fourth was
me interior OF He ieHpIe Of DaGon,
goa and the Altar of Sacrifice, from
whence tAe sacred fire came. This las,
scene, Wien the curtain rose upon tie
most OF PhllIstine men and women re-
ost effective.
,T"eIe y as a. crowded house that mani
. it ,,.,'., IKE ~ .enerouS "L-
III of which Ca.npan!n, the conductor
vas forced 10 share. That he has a
Much of Tie success of last nights per,
iormahc" was due TO him. But hn't
4, time, Maestro. 70 stop your dllat,ri-
ness or b. i Mr. Hammers,e!u Who is
Might Fave Saved an Hour.