New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-12-16
A TRIUMPH OF
RUSSIAN ART
What Boris GodounOW" Is Do
ing in the Way Of Operate
Reformation.
EY II. r.. KREHBIEI.

Though the careless attitude OF the
present time does not invite such a con-
temptation. there are some concrete facts
In recent history which suggest that We
are on the verge OF a reconstruction OF
operate conditions. perhaps OF revalua-
ton of them. 10 speak the speech OF Ger
man speculative philosophers. IheTe
were three significant facts I'm the local
history OF last week The production OF
Richard STRAUSS Der Rosenkavalier'
ought. I'm the ordinary course of events,
TO have caused a popular sensation, but
it did not: on the contrary. the specula-
tors took no interest in the affair ana
the tickets went a-begginG. The opera
which was revived 10 give eclat to the
centennial celebration OF Nerdis BIRTH
TN Ballo in Maschera,' though
Caruso opera, on its first repetition at
tracted but a comparatively small house
something without precedent In the last
decade on the other hand, perform
ance of Moussorgsky's Boris Godouno"'
which derived no Fictitious interest from
the artists concerned I'm IT. was received
with large and sincere interest and its
repetition last night again aroused gem
uine enthusiasm from a superb audience
Such things must mean something, ana
while they may point 10 period OF ols-
tress for a management; imbued with tho
notions which have prevailed for two
decades or 50. they may also proclaim
the coming OF better time-a time when
there shall be more interest In the song
than I'm the singer and when the selec-
ton of novelties will not be made with
any particular soprano or tenor In nina.
IL may also be that managerial eyes vii!
be opened to the fact that there lies Il
tremendous potency I'm operas which not
only portray the eXternals of people
history. but reflect their emotional HE
and speak in their musical idioms
Boris Godounow"-let IL be said with
becoming modesty and subject 10 correc-
ton by the modernists OF Germany, Italy
and Francois the most striking lyric
drama that has been produced since
"ParsifaL" II is this chiefly because OF
its intense nationality, which, till IT made
its appearance and the local public came
To learn something OF Russian church and
folk song, was all but unknown and unfelt
here. It's appeal is elemental, and 1t Is
the answer TO such an appeal which
periodically brings about regeneration in
art. politics and society. II Boris
Godounow" could do this for Russia there
are possibly other operas which will DO as
much for other peoples; and If these other
operas can emancipate the public from
the thralldom of the individual artist. as
Boris Godounow" has done. then per-
haps the way will be open for more
varied more interesting and more
valuable list than has hitherto been
thought necessary 10 oblige the specula-
tors in tickets and the people who sit al
the opera simply because they want 10
sit i'm the seats of fashion. We have
heard much Russian music OF late years
but the most of IL has been covered
with the veneer of French and Ger
man culture. Some day a Russian may
come crashing through this veneer, ana
we shall have not only revelation, but
also a regeneration; and as portent OF
this the triumph OF Boris Godouno" Is
a most gratifying phenomenon.