New-York tribune., 1911-12-28
MUSIC
LUCIA DI LAMMERM00R"
Nine. Tetrazzini at the Metro
politan Opera House.

There was some old-fashioned old music
call old music is not necessarily old-fash-
ioned) and some old fashioned singing and
acting (here there is no qualification at
the Metropolitan Opera House last night
| Lucia di Lammermoor' was the opera ana
In it Mime Tetrazzini made her debut at the
gilded house in upper Broadway win .her
was associated Florencio Constantine, the
tenor who. like his famous companion. was
once connected with Mr.. Hammerstein's in
stitution, in West oath street Neither was
a stranger to the New York public, but
there were elements Of interest in their ap-
/ pearance under the circumstances, and at
/ least two Of them are worthy OF record
one was the extraordinary attendance, COM
posed, as it seemed, exclusively Of the devo-
| tees Of Italian song of the old type; the
! other the obvious skeptical attitude Of the
regular Metropolitan patrons toward the
artist Of whom 1t has often been said that
she had made a conquest Of the local opera
public. Nine Tetrazzni was received with
much cordiality on her entrance but after
she had begun to sing she was, we fear
made to realize there are different stand
ards Of judgment touching the art Of song
| among the patrons of opera in New York
! II was not until after the sextet (Which had
to be repeated) that the audience was
aroused TO a demonstration Of enthusiasm,
and though she sang her part very admi-
rably indeed it is probable that some Of the
credit for its success was due TO the music
andl the other singers, for even Nine. Tet-
razzini. despite the variety OF registers IN
her voice (unhappily in evidence in her
entrance air., cannot sing sextet with
! chorus alone As for the rest, there is not
much to be said OF Nine. TetraZzini's sing
/ ing that has not been said over and over
again in these columnS-said in praise ana
said in mournful depreciation; in praise oil
her command Of artistic device, in dispraise
of the inequalities of her voice; in praise
of the fine texture of her upper tones, In
regret because Of the infantile character OF
| her lower in laudation Of skill artistically
used and in denunciation of the same skill
abused.
Senior Constantine, who was not so cord
| tally greeted on his entrance as his asso-
ciate. was at least a worthy operate COM
! panion, though he has sung with much
larger effect than ne did last night. Yet
most Of the real vocal glory that shone
around Donizetti's opera came from olgnor
Amato's singing Of the music belonging
10 his part Here the critical expression
] challenged by every phrase was one OF un-
qualified approval
II was an JUNCTION TO all the tender souls
who so suffer and rejoice with the personal
doings and published emotions of operate
{ artists that they have no time 1--WE might
say no capacity-but that would be un-
/ kind. perhaps even churlsh) 10 think
! critically of their singing, to learn few
days ago that Nine. Tetrazzini having
| heretofore only loved San Francisco, had
| this season taken Boston also to her heart
Perhaps it was a little unkind to omit
New York, where she has sung three sea-
! sons in opera and one in concert, but no
doubt she will make that little slip OF
memory good now that she has been ac-
claimed at the Metropolitan Opera House
As a matter OF history it was no fault OF
| the Metropolitan management that she
was not heard al that establishment before
! her first London success made her famous
Two years before that incident, so preg-
nant with significance for her, her man
ayers. and operate history Mr. Conried
had engaged her for the Metropolitan
Opera House, having sirrewdiy tAh-n
i
| but Mr.. Conried had not been sufficiently
IMPRESSED 10 make the contract binding
| bv depositing the required guarantee with
her banker When the sober second
thought came and he wanted 10 complete
/ the negotiations, be could not find the
partv Of the second part. When Mr.. Ham
merstein audaciously entered the field
/ in 19o6-'07, he also, az he said,
| the Manhattan opera House; but the lady
| was again elusive. Both managers were
undisturbed in mind by their failures until
the air was rent by the plaudits Of the
populace and the winged words Of the
| critics in Lohdon on her appearance there
/ I'm the season OF 1907 on December ! Of
that year Mr. Hammerstein announced
! that he had engaged her for the season OF
/ leOs-'09. and hoped 10 have her for few
perfo-mances before the end Of the season
1y07-'OS II was eminently characteristic Of
hts energetic methods that he was able a
fortnight later 10 proclaim that she would
aprear az his establishment for at least
/ ffteen representations, beginning on Janu-
arv 15. 1905 Mr. Conried. 10 quote the
local historian. threatened proceedings by
Injunction: but his threats were brntam
] f,Iaep: she made her debut on the speci-
fed date in La Traviata and when the
season closed she had added seven per-
! formances zone in Philadelphia) to the If
teen originally contemplated" In that
season she sang in "Traviata,' Lucia di
rarnuerrnoor." "Dinorah." "Rigolotto" and
"Crispino la Comare.' During the re-
mained of Mr. Hammerstein's regime she
was A member Of his company. but We can
not recall that she added any works 10 her
list except II Barbiere di Siviglia," La
sonnambula," L Puritani" and "Lakme' 49,
nor are we likely 10 hear any others now.
! singers Of Mime. Tetrazzni's school are
little inclined 10 learn new works; and If
they we're so inclined they would be given
small opportunity by modern composers.
So we must take the lady as she was and
AZ she is. and her music with her, always
grateful when an exponent OF that music
can teach some OF the lessons which the
Young singers Of to-day need 10 learn.
The cast is appended:
lucia Observation-Disclosures. Luisa Tetrazzlni
/ ~ ...................M Marie hatfield
| F,irardo .....-.-..... floTencio Constantine
lord Enrlco Ashton ........ -. .Pasqlale Amato
/ t5sir0ndo ........-... Herbert Wtherspoon
| A~turo. ............... Angelo Bada
| Norr-anuo -...-.....P .Pietr0 Audisio
Conductor, Giuseppe sturani.
Ii. T.. Is.
messiah" At CARNEGIE HALL.
J-.-r., G,g{a+,- co go tb. ere. -