New-York tribune., 1909-02-04
MUSIC
MAssENET's "MANoN. g"
A Revival at the Metropolitan Opera House.

~
An effort on the part OF the management OF the
Metropolitan Opera House to augment the French
repertory of the establishment led 20 the revival
last night CT Massenet's 'Manon." There - ho'n-
ing In the local history OF the opera to susgeS'
that us revival would be hailed with great eiad-
ness bv the nuhIic New York frst heard the
opera i'm italian the Academy of Music on DN-
cember o. 1885. Nine. Minnie Hauk enacuns ue
part of Manon. Ssnor Giannin that OF the OheF-
alier des Grieux and Signor del Puente that oi
I.escaut When Miss SybH Sauderson came to the
METROPOLITAN Opera House in the season 1881 %
she effected her debut in the opera on January TO-
isa5 her principal companion being NJ Jean de
Reszke 1t was revived in the next season for
Nine Melba the part of Des Grieux again nelnE
taken by NJ de ReSzke. The opera then slum-
bered until January i 1859, when IT was again re-
vived. this time for Nine. Frances Ssvtue and NJ.
van Drck. bat there were only two performances
neither Of them the subscription list. Since then
"Manon' has rot been heard of except in an un-
fulfilled promise Of Mr.. Hammerstein last season
Unless memory is at fault, the opera was sung But
once at the Academy Of Music, four times In tho
season or 1876. twice in 1856 9S and twice III
1898 90: nine times in ALL in nearly quarter OF
century. On the occasion of Signor Puccini VISIT
to New York two years ago. his opera on the same
subject brought forward, and there was some
thing OF regret in the thought that possibly us
more tempestuous utterances would replace the
graceful and elegant measures of Massenet
being more in harmony with the taste which
has been formed by the young italian school OF
composers. to the grief Of all tudicious admirers
of beautiful singing
Massenet's opera is in its every fibre far re
moved from the style which is in vogue to-day and
IS much of place in the cavernous Metro
politan Opera House Mozart's "Nozze di
Figaro: but Sguor Spetrino and Signor Caruso
seem have found means Of readjusting its
by the simple expedent of extending the
amplitude of IS instrumental and vocal parts The
passion OF Des Grteux is given the most strenuous
utterance that Sgnor Caruso's marvellous voice is
capable Of and Miss Farrar s coerced into similar
violence that she may be heard. The device is
grevous 10 the lovers of Massenet's music. but
It seemed to serve its purpose last night.
Tor every Of the vociferous outpour-
inss OF the aroused the enthusiasm
Of the many and the representation had the exteT-
nal attribute of popular success. What Signor
Caruso did by his singing Miss Farrar achieved by
her appearance and acting. She is the image Of
Able Prcvost's dainty but hayward heroine, as
pretty Fl picture as any that the art of the French
illustrators has yet conceived ornament the
pa ges Of the wonderful little romance of which
their nation is fond. OF sensuous l0veliness,
there not much in her singing. did the Old
time golden flood of pour out of Carusos
throat. Again he favored the sTievous reflection
that he is sacrificing the richest vocal gift known
the world to-day pander the vicious
created by the followers of Msscagni Signor
Scotts skill in Chara terza ton, histrionicaIly
well as unsteady which has frequently asked for
admiration. but which would find finer exposition
proper surroundings, again in evidence.
Worthy of praise was the mounting of the opera
and the singing Of the chorus. II. F. K.