New-York tribune., 1909-01-07
MUSIC
LA WALLY'' METROPOLITAN NOVELTY

Had the late Alfredo Catalani and his nbrettist.
Luigi lica, taken as the keynote OF their lyric
drama, La Wally" one Of the elements to which
they gave merely subordinate emphasis, It is likely
that this opera would have gained a distinction
altogether beyond what II now possesses. At its
presentation last evening, the third novelty or
the season at the Metropolitan Opera House. La
WalIy'' suggested first Of sll lost opportunity
The ttuar heroine OF this story Of peasant lie in
the German TyroI century ago might and ought
10 have been conceived as woman dominated by
a strain of romantic alOofness, tinged with mys-
terry and fraught with charm. For once. in the
operauo plots OF modern italy Outside OF Puc-
C!nrs) the way open to cast q. poetic glamour
the UsURl tragedy of love Rn1 Jealousy. Bat
the librettist content simply 10 Indicate this
element without developing 1t, and the composer
Jagged still further behind. in his treatment
Of what might have added materially to the little
operas expectation of life. The German source of
the story, which probably responsible for this
chance to escape from the imDasse Of Cx-5 realism
was a novel by the Baroness Wilhelmna Hill
lern, afterward turned into play. As Illica and
CataIani put It forth. shortly before the latter
death, fifteen years ago (Catalani had short
and luckIess career in his native italy, La Wally
has four acts, all of them brief Wally, the daush-
of old hunter. is commanded by her father
wed Geliner, whom she does not love Hagen
bach, 20 whom she is deeply attracted. has quar-
relied with the girls father, ard he little suspects
WaIly's feeling for him. He unwttingly infames
her Jealous rage, and at the same time discovers
his love fer her. Thinking to win Waily'
Gellner hurts HagenDdCn from q pI6Cipte Dt inns
ultimately brings the lovers together, as WaHy
roscues Hagenbach and afterward, when he has
persisted in avalanche that overwhelms the pair
in the high mountains. she leaps to death IN the
abyss.
From the first there are hints that Wally is a
maid consecrated TO her ideals and that she
IS in n sense the Incarnate spirit of edelwelss'
whose lonely beauty she has celebrated In SONG
sung by d young mountain lad. This aspect or he'
character. however. is lest sight or in the girl
petty behavior the other villagers in the other
wise ngeniously contrived festival scene which the
second discloses. It is revived in the more seri-
moments Of the girls passive share in the at
tempted murder Of her lover. and 1t flowers forth
anew, though all feebly. In the final scene he
fore the avalanche sweeps down upon the two. But
total effect drama is after all that Of
small and trivial. sordid. sequence Of events
instead Of the compelling tragedy into which II
might have been elevated. One thinks Of Giovanni
Segantlnrs paintings Of the elemental simplicity of
life in tho remote fastnesses OF the high Alps but
it required a poetic imagination such as his 70 set
down these things IN artistic form
The music that Catalani wrote for la Wally
contains melody. but It is neither broadly flowing
nor Of distinguished contour Time after time
promising beginning is made phrase starts out
as though significantly. only to end IN unlm-
portance be interrupted by another OF no
greater weight There are rhythm and gayety in
the dance music the village festival, and there
Is some picturesque suggestion In the orchestra
ton that presages the attempted destruction ol
Hagenbacr In i t III. while the same may he
said Of the music OF the scene. IN the last art
But Of characterization In the large sense, and OF
originality. there little in evidence last even
ing.
The large audience received first with courtesy
and after the third act with enthusiasm. ina
singers and the work itself Nine Dssunn az
Waily bore the chief burden Of the occasion ad-
InfrabIy her singing and acting being consistent
and sincere.
Mr Martin as Hagenbach- sang well and dld
what he could t. make the part an engaging one
a difficult task at best. Mr. Amat" was an e's'--
tive T;sIlner and Nr Rossi Mr.. CAmpanarl. Miss
Ranzeuburg and Miss L'Huler assumed capaoiy
the less conspicuous roles.