New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-08-31
OPERA In AUGUST
H4MMERSTEIN STARTS.
Big AUDIENCE of Enthusiasts at
Opening of Educational Season.
CAST OF lie PRoPHETE..

Il was a generously appreciative multitude OF
students" who attended the opening night of oscar
FEAmmerstein's educational opera AT the Manhattan
Opera House last night 10 hear Meyerbeer's lie
prophetic"
Grand opera in August in New York is a wonder
20 the conservative at least night Mr. Ham
merstein showed rather conclusively that he
right IN believing that grand opera at popular
prices could achieve pronounced success The house
full from orchestra chairs 10 the very top gall
lery. II did not look exactly like the Manhattan
on regular subscription Monday night. especially
where. in the first balcony the grand tier Of boxes
was replaced by circle OF four rows of seats
OF course, Mr.. Hammerstein was called upon for
speech. and responded in characteristic vein, and
OF course. all the singers were called before the
curtain many times and bowed their appreciation
OF the evident pleasure the part OF the audience
Whatever oscar Hammerstein has done has been
loyalty supported by the public. and the reception
accorded his hrst performance OF the preliminary
season was exception.
Although the advance sale II seats had been
large throughout the week. there a long line
on hand early at the box Office. The lobby had all
the appearance OF a regular season night With the
exception the brilliant winter toilets, for sum
mer costumes prevailed
There was no subscription list, and there VIII be
for the preliminary season. Many OF the sub
scribers hand 10 hear cast that is prac-
ticaly strange 10 New Workers and comes from the
opera houses OF France and Italy. The audience
was a most appreciative one. ana did not often
violate the rules which should Re made 10 prevent
applause at III seasoned moments
lie Prophetic" is OF the dramatic, spectacular
operas but has not often been heard n New YORK.
its last production having been six years ago al
the Metropolitan. Except for the contrAlto aria,
"Ah mon hls. in the second act, little. II any, OF
the music Is familiar here. As produced oy MI
Hammerstein. the opera possesses all ihe spiehoor
that elaborate stage setting and expensive, Drill
liant costumes can give II.
1t was at the end OF the third act that the audi
ence went wild with enthusiasm. and after giving
Georges Lucas a dozen curtain calls called for
Hammerstein. The moving spirit Of the Manhattan
Opera House walked modestly TO the centre OF the
stage, almost dragged there by Mr.. Lucas ana
said:
Ladies and Gentlemen: I have called this an
educational season. ! meant that wished 10 en-
courage a great many OF our inhabitants TO VII
ness grand opera at such prices as may induce
them 10 witness Il again. When the regular sea-
son begins I shall try, by the value ana greatness
Of these performances. 10 earn your approval
That's all"
LIE prophetic" was given in four acts. the fifth
act being omitted by order Of Mr.. Hammers'eih'
who decided that il would be too cumbersome. be-
sides making the opera last till midnight AS II
was the first act little late in beginning and
the end did not come I'll nearly n:So. The opera
was decidedly long enough, even though the ara
matte climax almost lost
The chorus and orchestra received special appro-
baton Several Of the stage pictures were good,
particularly the opening OF the fourth act, which
showed the exterior Of the cathedral In the rep
resentation of the country about Dordrecht in the
second act there ballet and a carnival scene
an which peasants skated around roller skates
and threw snowbals at each other. on the whole,
the audience took away a rather favorable impress
sion OF lie Prophetic" the singers and method OK
presentation.