New-York tribune., 1909-02-21
MUSIC
YESTERDAYS OPERAS.

The operas at the Metropolitan yesterday we're
Massenets 'Manon" in the afternoon and ''Fidelio"
In the evening. The evening performance was an
nounced' as the only one planned for Beethoven's
opera IN the season. which may have accounted for
the fact that 1t was heard by unusually numer-
Gus audience II was, in manner. test Of the new
policy of the management TO introduce the regular
tarln OF prices instead Of the popular which
have PREVAILED since the Saturday night representa-
tionS were established by Mr.. Grau. There nave
been three of these performances. but two Of them
were for the benefit of charitable institutions and
one was Nine SembrlCh's farewell celebration, at
which ordinary. but extraordinary, prices were
exacted Under the circumstances. therefore. last
nights attendance must have held out promises of
a gratifying nature to the management II must
have also been gratifying in the quarters. to
note that though Mr. Caruso did not sing IA the
afternoon the fact did not have les
sened the attendance chilled the ardor of
the listeners. Mr. Jorn took his place. ana
sang and acted the part of Des Grieux admirably
The influence Of his style. which marked by
much refinement. and also the greater discretion
exhibited by Miss Farrar compared with her first
performance witt Mr.. Caruso. had a good effect
upon the representation. There seemed to DE
realization in more quarters than one that Mas
senet's opera did not need to be sung by main
strength.
The singers chiefly concerned in the evening per
formance Nine. Morena, Miss Fornia twho
Marcellina acquitted herself most admira o!y1
Mr.. Burrian. MI Goritz. Mr.. Blass Mr.. Reiss and
Mr.. Muhlmann With them the audience seemed
inclined 10 associate Mr Mailer. the chorus and
orchestra. The third 'Leonore' overture, between
the scenes of the second act, aroused a great
demonstration of enthusiasm. AS a whole, the
performance. thoroughly excellent. yet fell a little
short of those OF last except in the matter
Of the singing and acting of the chorus, which was
distinctly better.
Last night the Manhattan Opera House
''Salome presented for the nth time in New
York this season. but II waF the first Saturday
night performance, a fact that not without its
effect on the size OF the audience Those who were
unable TO obtain seats-their number was very large
but who fortunate enough to buy admission
found themselves uncomfortaoly crowded great
was the throng, numerically the strongest OF the
seasons quintet Of performances OF the Strauss
wilde Wilde Strauss product.
As Saturday holiday audiences in New York
are most likely 10 differ from those OF other days
and nights. SO last nights assemblage had dis
tinctiveness compared with those at previous
performances of "Salome' but certainly not
through lack OF curiosity and eagerness TO witness
SaIome's dance before HerOd and all else that
happened the stage
Despite the demands made upon her by the
representation of the chief character in Louise
the night before Miss Garden again had the
centre Of the stage last night. Nine. Doria, Mr.
Dalmores and Mr.. Crabbe, who were also in the
cast of Charpentiers opera, also sang last night.