The sun., 1913-11-27
DONIZETTI'S LUCIA"
AT METROPOLITAN
ltalO Cristalli, a New Tenor,
Makes His Debut az
Lord Edgar.
NINE. HEMPEL AS HEROINE
Mr.. AmatO as EnricO in Better
Voice Than in Last
Weeks Operas.

VI lsdtuI1cliTlDOI
| vas brought forward last evening at the
Metropolitan Opera House. II WAS
known that the old work had been re-
studied for the purposes Of this revival
and that furthermore new tenor was to
effect his first appearance as the young
Lord Of Ravenswood. Doubtless the en-
deavor to infuse renewed vitality into the
opera was due to the natural wish to
widen the scope of Nine. Hempels use
fulness. Tho role Of Lucia has always
been ono In which opera audiences ex-
pected to hear colorature sopranos. albeit
this In not essentially colorature part.
But the cadenxa OF the mad scene
seems now by the general consent OF
opera lovers to constitute an epoch Of
f0rid song.
Meanwhile It may be observed that the
nrst scene air, "Quando rapito." admits
of the Introduction Of some embroideries
beyond those which flowed 80 quickly
from Donisettfs too facile pen. and as for
that frantic climax Of audible rapture. the
sextet. II at least allows the prima
donna the use Of one good high tone.
Few operas have held the stage by sheer
power Of two numbers. yet without the
'Ardon gl' incensi' and "Chi mi frena'
this dear Lucia" would long ago have
been relegated to the retirement Of ANNA
Bolena." Don PasQuale.'' "L'Elsir
d'Amore" and La File du Regiment are
worth several "Lucias." though indeed no
one OF them has anything equal to the
sextet in sheer vocal effectiveness
Mime. Hempels Lucia had much to
commend It In respect OF grace and dain-
tiness Of manner in the solo music OF the
frst act, and In the sextet she sang well
her part. II would be idle TO say that
there was anything in her mad scene TO
excite the enthusiasm OF old freauenters
Of the Metropolitan. She sang well
and won plenty Of applause. but with that
kindly record the matter may for the
present b. permitted TO rest.
1talo Cristalli the new tenor. disclosed
voice OF a kind quite familiar on the
italian stage. II is light. thin voice Of
what Is known as white quality and last
evening II frequently had much nasalty.
There was no great amount of style In his
singing and nothing 10 excite emotion.
Hut due allowance must be made Tor tn"
trying ordeal OF a debut. Perhaps the
nervous strain may have caused some OF
the singing out Of tune
Mr.. Amato as Enrico was IN better
vocal state than NJ his previous appear
Rnces, but was still not In perfect con-
dition. II is unfortunate that the press
ing demands Of the season do not permit
this favOrite barytone to take a short rest
The story OF last nights proceedings may
be concluded with the items that Mr.. Po-
lacco conducted. that the orchestra be-
hsved much like a big guitar, and that the
harp solo was badly played.
Mrs Arthur J. Cumnock. wearing a
gown of deep purple velvet Miss Eugene
Philbin, in cloth OF gold. and Miss Mary
Cutting Cumnock. whose gown was OF
cerise satin and chiffon. were In box 81.
Sir Robert and Lady Hadield OF l.op-
dnu with NJ aud Mrs l. k,..N Nor
rtt In box 3. Lady Hadfeld " n. black
satin .drapsd with white tullc. 1nl Mrs.
Merr!tts gown WAS of mauvc sa'.n Nel"J
with gsuzc of deeper shade
Mr.. and Mrs Henry water Taft and
Mrs James Francis sullivan we're wi'h
Mrs. James b. Clews in box -. Mrs. Tai
wore black satin and spangled lace. win
touches of red satin Mrs. sullivan vDr"
pale blue. and Mrs. Clews was In pa c.;
pink.
Mr. and Mrs. Henry Wise Miller, ~"
latter wearing black jetted lace. wer. wi'h
Mr.. and Mrs. W. Astor Chanler in box :.
Mrs. Chanier wore white satin. with 4
tunc Of red. edged with gold iilet lace
Miss Meta Mackay. wearing white satin
and a scarf u cer.Se chiffon embroidered
with gold. WAS with Mr. and Mrs Will
lam d. Sloane in box II. Mrs. Sloane
wore white satin veled with black nt
and finished with touches of ce,ise She
wore also a collar Of DIAMONDS.
With Miss Fanny Johnson In box i3
We're Mr.. and Mrs. Charles Hiilhouse
and Mr.. and Mrs. J. Christopher OConor.
Mr., and Mrs + Francis Hyde's guests
in box 33 were rs William Prime Ner-
rll and Mrs. Samuel N. hyde.
With Mr. and Mrs. J. Woodward Haven
In box 25 were Miss Mary Parsons and
Miss Charlotte CraN. and with MIR, and
Mrs. Austen Gray in box :" were Mr.,
ana Mrs l.. Roscoe Mathews and Mr..
and Mrs Ernest Isclin
Mr. and Mrs Henry NJ. Tilford's guests