New-York tribune., 1909-03-07
MUSIC
oPERATIC PERFORMANCES OF A
SATURDAY

The charm Of nationaIisua in opera charm OF
which advantage might well De taken in the plan
ming Of future repertories at the Metropolitan
Opera House-was again beautifully exemplihed
yesterday afternoon. when SInetsna's Battered
Bride repeated at the Lyric Theatre in upper
Broadway. The pleasurable offerings were great
but not altogether commensurate with the desires
Of the audience. After the first act the dance was
tumultuously redemanded but Mr. Mailer was
memorable doubtless because representation OF
"ParsifaI' was looming up IN the evening; SO the
polka could be enjoyed second time. and
there was. besides. a curtailment OF the opera.
which was FELT as a deprivation only by those who
knew OF il But even In its abbreviated form the
Bohemian opera brought so generous measure OF
delight that ii asserted its right 10 be put down
one OF the really significant achievements Of
the season. Faces frightened its melodies IN
folded themselves through the voices Of Miss
Desttnn and Mr.. J6rn, and loud laughter greeted
the coInicalities OF Mr. Relss and Mr.. Ddur In
the round after round Of applause which followed
the overture performed between the first and
second acts there a striking demonstration
OF the musical appreciation Of the audience. not
commonly rated high at operate representations
Paris, in current English fiction Is the city that
lies at the end OF a haf days journey from Vic
toria Station il London. and the boat train IS
tne recognized symbol Of a determination by the
hero and heroine break the bonds Of convention
For foreigners the French capital has ever been
regarded as the abode OF something freer than
liberty. and for this widely prevalent notion fiction
doubt largely responsible In a more limited
The plots Of operas that have attained general
acceptance exert an apprectabIe influence upon
popular IDEAS Of manners and customs. "Csval-
leria Rusticana" and "Pagliacci" have established
definite pictures OF the contemporary peasant lie
Sicily and Southern Italy. while the Paris that
Nfurger celebrated in his Vie de Boheme,' IA
miliarized by PuccinIs opera, has now been
brought up the opening of the twentieth century
by Gustave Charpeutier's Louise Rightly or
wrongly the story of the Paris sewing girl and her
n q viii color
the views Of a good many Americans as to certain
phases Of French life in the city Of allurement
Whatever Charpentier's natural bias toward the
unhampeTed folk OF Montmartre, his Louise sets
forth both sides OF the problem and at the last its
is of the tra gedy that follows license The
current performances at the Manhattan Opera
House have been justly balanced IN this respect.
and the representation that yesterday ( matinee
audience witnessed was one Of the most satisfying
yet to be recorded. Miss Garden and Nj Daluiores
and M Gilbert repeated their now familiar and
thrice excellent presentations, hiie Nine Doria
was less bound by routine than on previous oc-
casions. Nj Campaninf and the orchestra gave Of
their best, the fine sudience insisted that the
conductor share the applause showered upon III.
principals.
As things are gong nowadays. the fact thai
Miss Garden under took TO sing and act in Two
operas the same Hay is probably more interest
Ing than anything the lady did As matter Of
fact. the admirers # Massenet's 'Jongleur de
Notre Dame might have wished that Miss Gar
den had not attempted the feat, Il feat it In
this they would have had the sympathy Of the com
poser. nho cannot look, and has not looked, with
Indifference upon the destrU -tion Of his ideal which
has resulted froTn the effort of woman to inject
herself into drama designed for men, written for
men and composed for mems voices But Miss
Garden can do wrong IN the eyes Of Mr.. HAM
Guersteins patrons. and the transmogrihed opera
vas heartily enjoyed last night it had been
many times before.
'.ParsifaI given for the last time last evening"
brought A numerous aid reverent throng 10 the
Metropolitan opera House, whose attitude was as
correct and as apprecIatlve the strictest up
holder OF Bayreuth customs could have wished
There was even a repetition OF the traditional exc
dus between the acts the part OF two-thirds OF
. the spectators, and for half hour, before the
. curtain rose on klngs7rs castle. the opera house
corridors were dIled with such OF saunter-
ing folk IS rarely 10 be seen therein There was
uo new feature IN last nights performances. but
all concerned were at the top OF their efficiency,
Nine. Fremstad Mr. Burrian, Mr- Amato. Mr.
Hiuckley Nj Gor.tz and MIR. WitherspOon were
seen and heard IN the characters they have made
familiar while Nine HomeT's IaellJ" notes hoate1
down from the upper heights and helped 70 make
eloquent the utterance Of the oracle. Mr. Hertz
conducted with authority and enthusiasm