New-York tribune., 1909-01-31
MUSIC
..sALoME" AND IT'S ACTORS.

To see and hear "Salome'' at it's second perform
yesterday afternoon at the Manhattan Opera
House to marvel once more at the treasures
Of talent and ingenuity poured out in behalf OF
what is. for the most part. degrading spectacle
OF the primary function OF oscar Wilde IN weav-
ing about the legendary figure of Herodias's dsugh-
ter this drama of strange and oppressive power and
OF the amazing feat of Richard Strauss in charac-
terizing musicay this episode Of pagan perversity,
there has been enough said. But with the Metropol-
itan Opera House rehearsal and performance OF
''SaIome' mind well these presentations
under Mr. Hammersteins auspices. It Is already
evident that repetition does not add to the potency
OF the work paate the feeling OF desecration 1t
arouses The curious spell laid upon one witness
ing the opera for the first time weakens with even
second hearing, and retains still less Of
its gripping fascination third experiencing OF
its swiftly moving events Perhaps rereadinS
Of Wilde's text with its moments OF exquisite
poetic imagination and its atmosphere Of forebod-
ing. may revive in measure the impression Of
tragic Intensity, but the opera such. bids fair 10
focus attention. it grows familiar. chiefly upon
the exhibition OF the womans sensual passion for
the man who repulses her. and upon her ho-rifying
qualification Of that passion after the object OF 1t
has been slain, at her demand. for that purpose.
AS at Mr.. Conrieds production of ''Salome.'' two
years ago, most Of those concerned in Mr. Ham
merstetn's performances have entered with super
lative skill upon their respective tasks Yester-
days matinee laid new stress upon Miss Gardens
abHity IN picturing the successive stages OF an
overwhelming physical longing. until. spent and
sick. she perished beneath the shields Of Herod's
soldiers. There is gainsaying the histrionic
mastery Of Miss Gardens portrayal OF the un-
natural woman of Judea. especially she dis
tnguisbes between the wild urgency Of her scene
with the living Jokanaan the deliberate effort to
beguile Herod in the dance. and the renewed and
ecstatic abandon OF her orgy with the prophets
head. The instructive use Of her physical beatty
in vain effort TO Jokanaan and the studied
nd cold min Of her botiV tO
ing Tetrarch equally in character and about
equally offence against decency.
Mr.. DalTnores has worked miracles In demon
stratng that speeches allotted to Herod be
sung alI-not that they musically beautiful,
but that 'SalOme'' needs all the sustained tonal
utterances that be found in the score to lessen
the prevailing effect of restless confusion The Tet-
rarch the French tenor depicts him suggests
clearly the wreck of once vigorous ruler. who
still has his moments Of domination and of dignity.
There something Of the heroic yesterday in
his final revolt against the proclamation OF the dead
prophet: his "Tuez cette fenmei" which sent the
soldiers to crush out Salone's hfe. had the true
note of command. II is a strongly marked and
splendidy vital figure that Mr.. Dufranne makes
Of the ascetc Jokanaan, and for his singing there
must be a record of high appreciation Within
the limits of his opportunities Mr.. de Segurola as
one Of the NaZarenes has succeeded In communt-
eating definite and fortunate impression Of the
character Mr.. Wales, as Narraboth. the young
Syrian captain OF the guard, sings acceptaoly. out
leaves the freshness and sensitiveness OF this hgnt
ly sketched figure the Wilde-Strauss composition
not fully expressed. Nine. Doria, too. does not
wholly convey the vindIctive qualities OF Herodias
Yet on the whole the performance as already
Indicated has enlisted the that those con-
cerned in it have give. This praise must include
Mr Campanini, who conducts this Strauss score
as he does everything else, as though 1t were the
brightest Jewel in music's dIadem and IL must also
tend 70 Mr. Coint to whom the stage picture ;
richness and beauty are largely due
It remains only to say that yesterdays matinee
was witnessed by very large audience OF men
and women and that the principals were seVera
times recalled after 1t ended