New-York tribune., 1909-03-02
PHILADELPHIA OPERA IN NEW YORK,

Philadelphia has sundry occasions sent its
symphony orchestra TO try conclusions with Ne"
York audiences. but not until last night has the
city by the SchuyIkilI thrown into the metropolis
opera company. complete in every respect save
principals to vie with the organization ALREADY
established here II remained for Mr.. Hammer
stein bring about this sufficiently remarkable IN
vasion, and he did it by simply exchanging FOR the
evening the habitat Of the two troupes whose fate
controls The Manhattan company went TO MI
TIarnrnerstein-s Philadelphia house to sing ana
dance '.Salore." headed by Mr.. campantni' and
including the orchestra and chorus with the heCeS
sarv principals The Phlladelphians, under the lead
of Mr. Giuseppe Sturan their resident ccnuuctor'
came to the Manhattan. with all Eands, and gave
an old fashioned drum nd-trumpet perfornlahce
Of I'll Trovatore' The principals included NINE
AgostineIIi rs Leouora. Miss Gerville-heache aS
Azucena Mr. Zenateno Manrlco and Mr. sam
marco - the Count di Luna, all Of them fanlhar
n Manhattan opera House audiences. though not
in these roles. =,
rh. Ierformguce of orchestra and chorus brousht
70 mind the earlier days of Mr. Hsmmersteins
Manhattan venture. No matter how gifted ana
jealous conductor may be- it takes time I" oriii
and adjust the forces Of an operate organization
and a heartbreakn; amount OF energy must ne eN-
prndaJ before the desired results are obtained III
the three seasons the 3th street enterprise tnsFe
hos been a refining and tempering Of the cruoe
materials first assembled. and while this process
has been gradual. hearing OF the newer troupe
from Philadelphia indicated with startling p'a'h-
how Manhattan ensfFnhl@ haS PA'e
resrsd Mr. Sturaui and his orchestra were handi-
canned nv lack Of familiarity with the almost op-
pressi.efy good acoustics OF the New York house
hut they were determined in any event to display
their dynamic powers and the score was read with
A 0ercencss Of tonaI energy that %as otten over
vvbeln1inz The Philadelphia players showed
roighnsss or style. especially in the lower srlhgs'
and thpre was good deal of impure and strident
tone protected into tes theatre. Doubtless their
moro precious qualities win be developed in Que
time but there is A considerable task awaiting
them VET, Mr.. sturani conducted with hrTnness ana
sometimes with too unyeldinz beat 20 keep his
singers under his command. but his personality Is
evidently one 10 be rcckoned with and he worked
~, several effective cmaKes, TO the delight OF the
large and extravaganty demonstrative audience.
The PHILADELPHIA chorus showed fair knowledge
of the routine but disclosed very impressive
qualities
Under those conditions II is not surprising that
the principals yielded the majority and joined to
give A rather too strenuous presentation OF II
Trovatora Mr. Zcnstello sang heroically ana
arted with fervor: one could wish there were more
tenderness in his voice Mr. sammarco's admirable
baritone was notably effective. and his III balen
went especially we'll though, like the rest he
forced mis- tones beyond all reason. Nine Agost-
nelI made an acccptably conventional Leono-a, 7nd
in the subdued parsages. which were not numerous
her voice lost the shril roughness that marked
most Of what she sang. Miss Gerville- Reache gave
a dramatic performance Of AZucena, but she, too.
strained after vocal sorority the cost Of tonal
beauty.