New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-04-06
DON PASQUALE' REVIVED
ToSCanini Gives Fine Matinee
Performance Of Old Opera.
SCOTT SINGS FAMOUS ROLE
Mile. Bori Comes Before Foot
lights, in Storm of Flowers,
Carrying Two White Doves.

Italian opera buffa has received but
scant recognition of late years at the Met
ropolitan, partly because of the lack Of
singers trained IN the old tradition and
partly because the taste of the opera
going public has changed with the change
in the times.
The Cerberus of democracy is greedy
for strong meat whether that meat be of
literature, of painting or of music. In
many respects this is indeed the day Of
the Cubists-in music as well as in the
graphic arts-and beauty of line, grace OF
| movement. unity of impression. seem rel
egated 10 the category of the obvious.
| And the old opera produced at the Met
ropolitan yesterday afternoon for the
first time in several seasons is III truth
obvous-obvious in its virtues.
II was Donizettis Don Pasquale" that
Mr.. Gatti-Casazza chose as the red rag
In the face OF the modernsts. and no less
master than Arturo Toscanini gave
himself heart and soul TO the task OF
showing a public overstimulated by its
Puccinis and Mascagnis that there is to
be found in the too often despised works
of the italian composers OF the 3Gs re-
freshment which. with all their color and
all their orchestral p.lings of Pelion upon
Ossa our latter-day musicians have failed
to offer
Mr.. Toscanini VIGOROUSLY accomplished
his task. From under his baton the music
sparkled as champagne, rippled and
trilled and disported itself in entirely
reckless and entirely delightful fashion.
utterly oblivious to anything but the SIM
pie Joy Of being music. music by turns
gentle and boisterous, humorous and
amorous. And the audience, though not
a large one for a Saturday afternoon,
seemed for once to forget that an Enrico
Caruso ever existed.
Mr. Toscaninrs spirit was manifest as
well from the stage itself The action
went with a snap that was rare, and the
artists gave their parts with a gusto that
they did not conceal. II was Antonio
Scott who was the DR. Malatesta, and
who indeed but he can sing the part? 1t
is not an easy part to sing. but TO Mr..
Scott IT appeared as a JOY unalloyed.
Those who heard him yesterday must
have learned many a lesson in the cooring
Of tone. Histrionically the part has been
always one OF his best his best because
in IT there is ample chance for the dis
play Of that distinction even in the comic
vein, that subtlety OF expression, in
which he has few equals
The Don Pasquale Of Mr.. Pni-Corsi was
capable foil being fat-witted enough
for even rs fat body. Mr.. Piii-Cors IS
not a great comedian. but he IS a singer
we'll versed in bufo traditions. He made
tho most OF his skill Yesterday. Mr.. Mac
ncz showed certain style in his singing
Of Ernestos music. which made the re-
sret the deeper that his voice was not OF
a more luscious quality.
There was. however, now Norma in
Miss Lucrezia Bori. and nothing that she
has so far shown had prepared MS for
the charm OF her impersonation. she
sang the music with exquisite grace in all
but the more forid passages. which, alas,
is not TO be hoped for in this day and
generation and her figure was 20 in
formed with grace, her bearing so ami
mated, 50 cspricious. SO feminine. that
she was altogether adorable She was
overwhelmed with flowers and the climax
came when she stepped before tho foot
lights holding two white doves. given her
by a Spanish admircr. according. it was
said, 10 a custom tha, obtains in her ma
tive Spain.