New-York tribune., 1912-01-21
MUSIC
Merry Comedy with Pretty
Music.
A New German Opera to Enliven
a Somewhat Stale Repertory.

be passed over without calling out an ex-
| preston OF special wonder Our opera is
not addicted to novelties, but TO so much
OF the old list as employs Caruso for the
sake of the boxholders and either Caruso
| or Farrar for the sake Of the subscribers
It is striking. 1t is only when a con-
cession is made to the public In general
that we get such refreshing things as lie
Donne Curiose," In the Italian department,
and "Versiegelt" in the German. Perhaps
sermon might be preached on the text
that both of the operas had been some
time on the list of promised things and
were therefore due 10 the public; and also
that Mr.. Dppel may possibly have de-
served better treatment than he received
at the hands OF the Metropolitan directors
with big d. But that is a small mat
ter; Mr. Dippel is making his way in Chi
cago and (as II would appear very ma
terially influencing local affairs in New
| York without being in physical evidence.
| 1t Is, at least. a surprising, even
startling. fact that German opera has of
late assumed large proportions In our
operate activities. Including the opera
| ''Versieget," which had it's first public pro-
duction IN America yesterday, we have now
almost as many German operas in our cur
rent list as we have Italian. The French
element, Insignificant in fact, has been
more neglected than any other-whch is
| one OF the signs of our real artistic pow
erty in spite of our apparent operate
wealth. The decadence of the French ele-
ment dates back to the retirement OF Grau,
and has reason which is not at all TO our
credit. The Metropolitan is a proud insti
fnt I,,t q. ge he dn-
mands Of an ideal "Prophete" or "Hugue-
nots." or even a Carmen, and there are
still large number of opera-lovers so
unsophisticated-if you villas TO wish that
lie Prophetic" Les Huguenots" and Car
men, might once In while be performed.
They used 70 hear them when severe Ger
man standards ruled. Why. then. not now?
The artistic roster gives the answer, In
part; the taste OF the stockholders and the
limitations OF Signor Caruso the other
part. Including yesterday afternoons per-
formance. Signor Caruso has sung seven
teen times but four occasions have been
wasted on la Fanciulla del West (Which
would not endure a day without hlm) four
on "Pagliacc," which never would be
missed (either with or without hlm); three
have been devoted to Aida" always vel
come for It's own sake-not alone his); three
TO La Gioconda" "a negligible guam
tity); one on "Armlde" (Which even
he cannot save because OF the lack
OF popular appreciation OF its lovely
archaism); one on "Tosca" and one on
| "Cavaleria Rusticana" Instances Of dire
necessity on the part OF the management.
Under the circumstances It must be a
matter of pride on the part OF the lovers
OF German opera 10 point 10 the current
list and 10 realize that TO the nine lyric
dramas. which have been produced IN their
tongue there are still yet half dozen
C'Fidelio," die Vcrkaufte Braut." Der
Freischutz." Die Konigin Won Saba" and
a beautiful possibility" "Euryanthe'D which
might be produced without seriously dis
turbing the routine of the establishment
| Herein, too. rests lesson which will
sooner or later have TO he learned by tho
Metropolitan management Caruso will not
last forever; in the last two seasons he has
not even lived out the active period for
which he was engaged.
| But We are forgetting "Versegeit," the
new German opera brought forward yester-
day. "Versiegelt" is much more interest
ing as a comedy than as an opera and
down that composer with talent like
Wolf-Ferrari's. rather than one like Leo
Blech's, had undertaken it's musical setting.
There is something too suggestive OF his
musical manner in the name OF the com
poser. "Versiegelt," as spoken comedy,
is more than three-quarters OF a century
old. All Of its elements and all Of its
characters are familiar. but they are ever
geniously made by the librettist on this oc-
casion. The story. in brief. is this An old
widow is attached 10 a wardrobe which is
an heirloom in the family Unable on the
spur of the moment to pay her taxes. she
appeals to a friend younger and more
fascinating widow. 10 harbor 1t for her. so
that 1t may not be sold for taxes. She wins
consent by telling her friend that the burgo-
master is in love with her. The second
gossip is more anxious than anything else
to become the wife OF the burgomaster So
she not only gives a place among her fur
niture to the wardrobe OF her friend, but
also undertakes 10 promote the love affair
between her friends son and the burgo-
masters daughter. The wardrobe is trans
ferred 20 her apartment, where II Is dis
covered by the altogether too viglant chief
Of police. While he Is gone to discover
whether or not there Is ii double Of
the wardrobe which is become his legal
prey, the burgomaster comes to make love
TO the charming and obliging widow He is
about to embrace her when the chief OF
police enters. The burgomaster is hastily
: concealed In the wardrobe. suspecting a
fraud against the tax law, the chief Of
police affixes seals on the wardrobe and
goes out to investigate Enter the daughter
Of the burgomaster and her lover, against
whose union the burgomaster had set his
face like adamant. The merry widow, de-
, srous more than all else to become Frau
Burgermeisterin" tells the young people
that the mayor is under seal In the ward
robe. and goes out 10 call I'm the inhabi-
tants of the village most Of whom are
engaged in a "Sch1tzenfest'D The burgo-
masters daughter sees an opportunity TO
break down the prejudice Of her father
against her lover. She makes violent love
10 him, and he (propery instructed) re-
pulses her because Of his reverence for her
father. All this In front OF the wardrobe
and very loudly. At last the burgomaster
calls out for release from his confinement,
but the cunning daughter makes II condi-
tional upon his signing marriage con-
tract between her and the man he has re-
u,lsed giving generous dowry. He signs
through a hole In the wardrobe door. and
GETS his liberty, but insists upon their
taking his place, so that he may at once
have amusement and revenge
Meanwhile the villagers, headed by the
nScbiitzen K0nig." are called In by the
GERRY widow to witness how the burgo-
master has compromised himself. The rout
make merry at the expense of the burgo-