New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-11-12
Touch of Novelty Given to First
Niuht with "Manon LeSCaut"
Sung in ItaIian-New
Singers in Cast.
CARUS0 REMAINS MAGNET
Society Comes Early and House
Is Filled Before Curtain Rises
Several Ticket Specula-
tors Arrested - Hun
dreds Turned Away.

The Metropolitan Opera season
opened last night with Puccinfs
"Manon Lescaut," sung in Italian, and
all the wealth, fashion and beauty of
New York society turned out TO make
the occasion one surprising both IN
numbers and brilliancy any Of passed
years.
The great opera house was crowded
from pit to dome. In the orchestra the
regular Monday night subscribers COM
pletely filled the floor, and four hundred
standees packed themselves in behind
the rail. The golden horseshoe was re-
splendent, and jewels flashed to jewels
until the great electric lights above
were dimmed in the rivalry.
Far UP in the galleries the seats usu-
ally occupied by music lovers less fort
- unate in the worlds goods were crowd
ed by people scarcely less brilliant or
less beautifully gcwned than those be-
low. Seats had been hard to get and
many a man and woman found himself
or herself for the first time In the regions
Of the gods. The opera was opening
Caruso was singing, all must be there
who can be there. even at the cost of
climbing five fights of stairs.
The line began forming at the box
Office at o'clock in the afternoon, and
by 6 1t extended completely around the
house, through 39th street. to Seventh
avenue. The crowd was kept in ad-
mirable order by large force of police
under Inspector Lahey and Captain
Shaw, while in the lobby, Hugh Brown,
superintendent Of the building, saw that
things ran smoothly.
The seats had all been sold week
before the performance, the line being
composed of those who wished TO buy
standing room. The box office was
opened at 7:30 and by $50 all the four
hundred admissions allowed by law
had been sold, between four and five
hundred people being turned away.
number OF these hung around until the
opening of the performance, hoping
that something might turn up, out
they were kept moving by the police,
and there was little crowding in front
Of the entrance.
John Brown. business controller
Of the company, said it was the
most orderly and best handled crowd
he had seen since his connection with
the opera house. The great majority
Of the audience came in carriages and
automobiles, which arrived at the
three entrances on Broadway and on
10th and 39th streets. Here, too, the
police arrangements were wellnigh
perfect, the carriages being controlled
by the traffic squad.
Conductor Polacco stepped into his
stand at exactly $40. at which time
the house was nearly filed, even the
parterre boxes showing few empty
places, society evidently having de-
clded to begin the season by being on
time. There was a slight ripple Of ap-
plause on Mr. Polacco's entrance, and
a larger one when Mr. Caruso ap-
peared. Miss Bori. too, received a
slight recognition. and at the end Of the
act both the principals were called a
number of times before the curtain.
The audience warmed up in the
second act. and the applause after Miss
Boris first aria was liberal, while at
The end Of the act She Mr.. Caruso and
Mr.. scott were called out again and
again, and Miss Bori received large
number Of flowers, which she divided
with her fellow artists.
Mr.. Gatti-Casazza expressed himself
Continued on ninth page, second column.