The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-11-20
MADAME BUTTERFLY" GIVEN
GERtIDI\E FtRRAR HL.ARD
~ THF BRIDE.
The Composer Present nj the Performance
ami some hangs iia,ir In the stage
nu,..sr>- 81 the Final scene Gr.
1o--anlni Z viisisiI q, Win COLOR,


The NJ. -op1h.ln Opera HOUSE MAS
packed yesterday afternoon when IN"
first ma Iinee OF the regular season OF opera
took place II wa not at all dlffcuit
to account for the siz" OF the audience
In the first place. matinSes are generally
crowded. no. only because they AFFORD
opportunities for out Of town people To
attend the performances. hut also because
they permit tn. womea TO go without
male escort. and what every woman
knows IL that the average man greatly
enjoys remaining away from serious
musical entertainments.
In the second place. Geraldine Farrar
made her first appearance Of the season
yesterday. and again what every woman
knows i that she adores the bewitching
American prima donna. Here the aver
age man joins her. In the third place.
what every music lover knows IL that
-Madama Butterfly the opera per
formed, is one OF the most popular works
in the rspertory Of the house.
Giacomo Puccini. the composer was
present at the performance and person
ally received the plaidits OF the audience
His presence was manifested more sig
nifcantiy. however. in certain changes
made in the stage business IN the closing
scene Of the opera. Formerly Cio-tfo-'Sdn
nut her child on the floor and retired
bshind a screen to infict the fatal wound
upon herself Then she staggered out
and. falling prone. struggled dying toward
the child. which waved United States
flag.
Yesterday Cio-C iT-Sun gave the child
a doll 10 play with and after passion
ately kissing IN. little ore pushed /; ont
into tn. garden Then she slew herself
a, the top Of the steps and rolled lifeless
10 the aoor. Shnrpiss~ subsequently
searched for the child and finding il in
the garden brought it forward IN his
arms to gaze upon its dead mother.
This ending. Will. perhaps less mslo-
dramatic than the original one. was
equally Theatre and moving. Whether
the stage directions will be changed in
future editions Of the score remains To he
seen.
Musically the performance had the
merits which have beeh conspicuous in
it's predecessors when the same persons
wer. in the cast Miss Farrars imper-
sonation Of the little japanese bride IL
rich in captivating qualities. II is not
AWAY. precisely true TO the pitch. but II
has much musical warmth and aplenty
OF theatrical eSpre-siveness. In the
second and third scenes she had moments
Of real pathoe. II will please Miss Far
rar's admirers to- know that she seems tn
be in better physical condition than she
was last season and her voice Is much
better.
Ricardo Martin as Pirksrton showed
a gain in assurance. but his singing. while
vigorous and we'll phrased. lacks variety
Of color Mr. Scotti as Shdrpisss wore
clothes, smoked cigarettes and looked
like an Italian citizen Of the world. which
indeed he is. His acting in the touching
scene 81 the second act WIS just As effective
a. usual. Marie hatfield sang Suzuki
for the first time and acquitted herself
with great credit
Mr. Toscanlni conducted the perform
ance and doubtless II would he le-e
ma ie~,A 20 hint thar a, times his orrhesi raj
sn,h,siasm Vas no, friendly 90 the voices
Therefore lsr no such hint h. whispered
bu, LEI the record rather shout aloud that
his reading 81 the score was notable for
its voluptuous color The rerformanc.
az . whole was a very good one and de-
served the applause which II received