New-York tribune., 1911-02-01
MUSIC,
Charpentier's louise at the
METROPOLITAN.

our operatic visitors from Chicago by
way Of Philadelphia presented Chsrpen-
tiers Louise" at the Metropolitan Opera
House last night. There was considerable
curiosity on the part OF professional Oh
servers and recorders of things musical in
the city's life 20 note what the opera would
look and SOUND like In the Broadway In
s,itution. and also how II would De re-
ceived and by what kind Of ar audience.
Louise" was one OF Mr. Hammerstein's
most pronounced triumphs az the Man
hattau Opera House three seasons age;
but II was not an enduring triumph.
When It was brought forward OF jan
uarv 3, 1905 it seemed destined 70
make the fortune OF Mr. Hammer
STEMS establishment Though produced
after the season vas half over, Il had
eleven performances before the end IN tho
next season. however, the number OF repre-
sentatons dropped to five. and last season
II was performed only rwice. Yet II cannot
he said that there was az appreciable fa,l-
ing OF IN merit IL the performances. VI.
Dufranne came 10 relieve VI. Gilbert OF
the part of th. Father in the second sea-
son. not because ". Gilbert had been r.
any way deficient con the contrary his I'M
pcrsonatlon rnuscaly as we'll as dramat!-
caliv was singular'y tender and appealing.
out simply because K vas A par with
which NJ Dufranne had been almost as
intimately identified al the Opera Comiqus
IN Paris a Miss Garden had been with
the titu!a- role. During the three seasons
Miss Garden and Mr.. Dalnores had played
the parts Of the lovers. and Nine. Bress.e--
Gianoh that ot he Mother They played
the same parts last night. and some OF tie
minor roles We're ilied by singers who had
been heard al the Manhattan.
Some Of these lesser approximations con.
tr.buted 50 excellent & complement 20 the
representations Of former years or that
OF last night that they deserve 20 be men
toned: they were Sgnor Daddrs OLD
Clothes Man, Susanne DumeSniIs Gamir
and Errand Girl. Nine. Gioconias Gertrude,
Edmond Warnerys Noctam5ulist AMI Gus
tave Huberdeau's Rag Picker The last
two characters we're newcomers iu the
opera last night, the scene IN which they
figure having been el.ded at the Manhat-
tan representations. The wisdom Cf the
restoration might be questioned. The night
scene AZ the beginning OF the second act
Is not a. all essential to the action OF the
play, much a. 3, contributes 20 its real
ISM and the ligure OF Le NoctambuIe, in
which the author sought 20 symbolic the
Pleasures OF Paris" is much too vague
20 interest an audience impatient 10 follow
The adventures ot the lovers. However,
oy restoring the scene S!gnor Campanni
gave the audience the pleasure OF hearing
the fine bass OF VI. Huberdeau well en-
ployed and the less effective but still. COM
mendable tenor Of III Warner intelligently
used.
Though a study o. the audlence-one that
crowded the house. by the way-disclosed
a large element more familiar to the old
theatre T. 34th street than 10 the Metro
politan opera House. there was not the
unrestrained demonstration Il enjoyment
that used sometime 20 shake Mr.. Ham
merstein's walls. Perhaps this was be-
cause Of ths change OF environment The
surroundings being more aristocrat!c. tie
audience put aside It's Oldtme democratic
behavior and assumed something ~hicL Il
thought more In keeping with the occasion.
However the performers and SiRror cam
pauini were given plainly 90 understand
that their efforts had met with hearty sp-
preclation. especially after the festival
scene On Mon,martre After the Grst
az. too, iu which Mss Garden makes d
more sympathctic appeal than sne does
when the drama IS At IT. height sne and
her companions. Dalmores, Dufranne and
Nine Bressler- -Gianou Ghe last of whom
vas worthy or the comDanionship of the
others from a histrionic point II view
though she scarcely reached the musical
plane on which the mer moved. we've re-
peatsdly and generously applaudcd
h T. x.