New-York tribune., 1911-11-14
NN||S|('
rneninu of the Opera Season.

-. words. and different. are likely "a
ovnected this morning In description
~ incidents connected with the open
u = the opera season than in critical
~ ,.sion Of the performance of the opera.
o..,.,, urs,s aida" is performed there ought al
W." ~ he something to say, even OF the
''.ors and fnstrumentalists. the scenery
.no manner i'm which the conventional
s-ionettes moved about in the stage pct
',ros. and there generally is' but the pun
e.. ts more likely to be entertained by the
=, old story of how the public gathered
80 il looked like. who formed its brilliant
-, aud what was talked about IN those
,,'a~,irr moments between the acts. The
eel department is likely TO be more
..,.orned in the question whether or not
.sr,ired singer is suffering from fatty
Y,.ration of voice than in whether or
- 10 has added 10 the integumental tis-
- ~ his frame since last he was heard.
~ has. promised TO marry any one OF nan
aeon OF women whose names have been
...ociated with his by the industry OF scam
A. ,onsers or the ingenuity OF promoters
- rrblicity. Also the critical department,
cunning an eye for the moment away from
,ho Idol who has filled ii often and long,
-. cast il upon newcomer; and even
,,or feel "A disposition TO view some OF the
,arco things which are lost sight Of in the
rorular disposition to think that an opera
,s a concert in which two or three popular
s,neers sing tunes which are bound TO De
rrottv so long as they come from the
,broats Of the admired.
Taking up this last point first II might
4 errie
matter who represents Radames. or Alda'
or Amonasro, or Amneris IN Nerdis Esyp-
tiau opera. the interest Of an arch%
olocist might be employed. If for no other
reason than 10 test the question WheIhei
or not something better. more pleasing 10
the eve. more quickening to the magma
zion and more satisfactory 10 good taste
might not be substituted for the taWurE
tinsol which makes Aida gorgeous ana
thrilling and all that sort of thing What
waste Of time 20 bring up such subject
this morning after the twenty-siXth 'briH-
liant" opening OF tho Metropolitan Opera
season. And vet il might modestly and
piously 30 wished that the fantastic fora
Of opera land would not be permitted to
prsh IT'S foliage 10 the impossible ceiling
M the temple of the Egyptian Hephaistos.
and all but conceal the architecture Of all
tho other buildings in ancient Thebes.
s truce 20 al that. Caruso sang. and
sang with q tremendous opulence Of voice;
so great an opulence indeed. that as usual
IL had 20 he accepted in place of the
smooth ecstasy which Verdi put into "Ce-
leste AIDA. which is the very essence Of
the exquisite song. But his heroics were
Of tie sort with which only those Will ever
cayl who wish that he might be more
sparins Of them so that he might endure
Tor a larger portion Of the season
There was a newcomer-and an interest
inS one-a singer TO be greeted cordially
and gratefully. It was Nine. Matzenauer.
con ralto, who sang and acted the role Of
Amneris-sang II with a large and luscious
voice. with ample evidences Of a fine
knowledge Of the art Of singing, and acted
# so as 10 make it something more than an
oreratic marionette. There must be cord
ial praise for her nowhere will doubt
less be more cordial praise for her when
she takes her place in the operas in which
she is 10 the manner born. Then Mr.. Hin
shaw emerged from parts I'm which he has
Eerct tofore been less conspicuous. looming
up large as the figure Of a king, making
an his hearers wish that his voice was
with his size. but delightins
the judicious with his clean, distinct. dis
InsUshed enunciation Of the text Others,
Ike Didur as Ramfis and Amato and Miss
Destinn. as Aida. were familiar figures. but
We do not know that any opportunity ought
.o 10 missed which enables a reviewer 10
SAY that since Aida" began New York
has heard no singer in the titular role who
shows such finished vocal art in IL as she.
Il. r. X