New-York tribune., 1912-03-31
MISS FARRAR IN ''MANON'
Caruso the ChevaIier at the Met
ropo|itan Matinee.

Massenets "Manon," daintiest and most
perfect operate evocaton of the charm
that has made Paris the second birthplace
of half the world. was produced at the
Metropolitan Opera House yesterday after
noon for the first time in two years.
It may be asserted with confidence that
most Of those present yesterday must have
wished that 1t had been produced months
before. for its presentation went long
way toward showing that, with careful
and earnest effort, the Metropolitan Opera
Company Is capable of giving performances
OF French opera such as the Opera Comique
itself might find difficulty in surprising.
New York during the days in which Oscar
Hammerstein threw and kept his hat in
the ring was surfeted with the perfumed
melodies and the rosewater psychology OF
Jules Massenet "Thais." "Sapho." He
rodiade," lie Jongleur de Notre Dame"
"Griselidis," were Mr.. Hammerstein's Of
ferings. and to them this season Mr.. Dippel
has added "Cendrillon." The Metropolitan,
not TO fall behind, has in the past given us
"Manon" and "Werther'-so Massenet can
scarcely accuse America of neglect. Yet
of all these works ''Manon" is the one that
wears best, the one that, both in its me-
lodic fancy, which is the very eftiorescence
OF the spirit OF the Able Provost, and in Its
firmness Of dramatic texture. is work
that, If not Of the first rank OF the imagi-
nation, is at least true TO the traditions OF
the best in French art-that is, a Vatican
of the operate portrait gallery.
To yesterdays production Mr.. Gatt-Ca-
sazza and Mr.. Toscanini gave of ;heir best.
The choice of artists and the stage man
agement were most admirable, the orches-
tras part was superb. Never has Mr..
Toscanini shown himself Of broader or moro
eclectic sympathes.
In his reading there was lost none Of the
Partisan perfume. none OF the lacework
delcacy, yet in keeping this the conductor
did not forget that the music depicted at
bottom one of the most human and NOV
ing dramas known to literature. and hs
brought forth that drama when necessary
in all its stress and passion.
AS for the artists. 1t goes without saying
that Miss Geraldine Farrar sang Manon.
In face, in figure. in manner Miss Farrar
has always been ManOn. Her scene with
Des Grieux in st. Sulpce was Informed
with a sincerity OF passion that has not
always been folt in Miss Farrar's imper-
sonations In the scenes Of cOquetry she
was delightful-but this was TO be expect
ed. In addition. especially in tho first two
acts, she sang with exquisite phrasing and
pure tone.
But the real surprise OF the performance
was Mr.. Caruso's Des Grieux. Mr.. Caruso
has sung the part before, but never with
the exquisite sense of Gallo style that he
displayed yesterday. His love song In the
second act was artistically one of the
truest bits of singing that the great tenor
has ever accomplished. There are IN face
and figure some things that will prevent
Mr. Caruso from ever becoming an ideal
Des Grieux, but what can be done by NOR
tai he did yesterday. Words OF praise
should he spoken for the Lescaut OF Mr..
Gillv. and for Nine. MaubourC, Miss
Sparkes and Mime. Duchene Mr. Pothier's
Compte des Grieux wes adequate
The audience, one Of the largest Of the
season, was also one of the most enthusi-
sstic II "Manon" can be given as It was
yesterday II is 10 BE- hoped that II will be
come 4 part Of the regular repertory Of
the Broadway opera house