The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-03-26
T'AMORE MEDICO"
At METROPOLITAN
New Opera Buffa by Wolf-Fcr-
rari Proves to Re
Enjoyable.
Music FULL OF SPIRIT
The Comedy Treated With In
gcnuity. Fancy and 1nfcc-
tious Humor.
81, ..more Mcsilco"-At the Metropoiitau
Opera House.

pcsfonaudrcs de seguroia |
! Nacroton. .......... Robert ieonhardt |
| B,his .......... ........... Angelo Bsda !
notary ..................P aolo Ananian |
'LAmore Melico." musical comedy
~ Two acts. the book by Enrlco Coils
ciaui, after Mcliorc and the music by
Ernlaruo Wolf Fcrrari. was performed
at the Metropolitan opera House last eve
Ming for the frst time in this country.
The work being insufficient to occupy the
,uti-c evening Victor Herbert's Made
leine" succeeded 1t. This arrangement
vac convenient for that considerable
number OF persons who desire to depart
before the final curtain. but was incon-
y.n.er; for those who are reluctant to ar
rive early In "A theatre.
Although described as musical comedy
M. new work Is correctly entered In the
ancient and honorable Italian fraternity
O. opera buffs. II is a reconstruction OF
Moleres comedy ball0. for which Lully
made music and which was produced
before the King at Versailles in mid
September 1865. The French themselves
have made at least two experiments at
{rlcs!ating us comedy ballet into opera
The arst was that OF Berton. which was
disclosed at The Theatre Francois in Nice
In April. 1867. The second had text BY
Charles Monselct and music by Ferdinand
poise. and was given at the Opera Co.
,1iqus. Paris. on December 20. 1850. II
followed the comedy closely in construc-
tcu and had some pleasing II not highly
Distinguished muse.
The temptation to enter upon long
on learned essay on the comedies OF
Mol re- the fixed type OF character rep
resented by S1dndreHs and the peculiar
union OF music and play found in the
comedy ballet must he resisted. Never
theess few words of reminder are es-
srutia 10 brief review OF Wolf-Fer-
raris charming little work.
To Crafty Kings Taste.
To crafty the tasl- Of Louis XIV. who
though there was no tango was iIfatu-
a,ed with dancing and loved to figure in
court ballets, Moliere undertook the crea-
ton OF works OF this type. The older court
baNyts were stilted and heavy. dealing
with Hydrologic stories Venus, Minerva,
,he Graces. satyrs and other kindred folk
Nollere devised comedies in such wa
that they were consistent little plays. but
permitted the introduction OF dances and
songs growing easily out OF the action
and quite as easily ASSOCIATED from IT,
Marriage Force" for instance. In a one
act comedy, but as arranged for ballet
became three acts.
l.ully was Moliere's colaborer in pre-
par;ng comedy ballets for the Unsuitable
Louis Since these comedy ballets con-
tanned airs resembling the 'airs de cour'
OF the time, choruses, dances and pro-
It lt,.l- ,x.. M
plete the chain OF operate apparatus was
recltaiive and this entered the organism
when Moiere. Lully and the poet Qui-
rsu,, created the singular tragedy ballet
psyche" Il compound OF opera and
heroic dancing.
Subsequently Quinsult became Lully's
Nbrettist and with his stately declama-
'ion. which Lully set as orchestrated
rec!tative. provided the finishing element
n French grand opera. Since, then, the
comedy ballet stood so close to comic
opera the transformation made by later
composers like Posa was not strc med,
and the same thing IL true of the recon
s'rcrtion accomplished by Golisciani and
Wolf Fervari.
Dramatic Parts Retained.
They have retained all the dramatic
Incidents OF the original and have com
muuicated them 10 us through the
medium OF song and fundamentally ac-
sDmpanied action. The dance Is retired
except IN the close OF the second act
vhrre II tayes a natural place as 8,
fAEur- of the wedding festivities. Tn.
chAaoters Of the original comedy re
MAJ though S0dndreil.' name Il
charged To 4rnoUo. This was dons
doubtless purpus.ly 70 free the old ma :
from association with SO many Other
characters Of Molierc. Those VINO are
familiar with the work OF the FrenCf
dramatISt know that SGdndTr'ic Is con
rehent name for all the middle AGED OF
Old men who are outWittcd by others
D.. PdrtoiO, Bcckmesser and Don Pas
r-oi', Tor example. would all have beei
k9an1rsHs II Moliere has written tn
comedies, and customariiy he would have
enacted the roles himself.
u the opera Socnai Gle, now ArnoDo
% an old and dotins father who doe
not wish his daughter TO be taken away
from nm by q lover. OF course she has
seen Youth and Is sick with love. Tn
fathc! tries in vain to comfort her
Petung. new clothes, toys. trinkets. al
are 10 vain. Then that time honore'
character the resourccful maid, this tint
L'sr'tr by name, tells the father tina
"Hi tie girl wants is q husband. Fath.
9as"s and serving maid storms. IL
fathers absence lover sings languishingl,
behind garden wall. Daughter Lucind'
distracted Lisetta cries, 40 bed ! hav'
plan Father returns and Is told tina
laughter Is dangerously i'll. Great excite
M~nt Send for all the doctors, Fou
arrive, End OF Act l.
satire On Doctors.
H. Act II. doctors consult and disagree
sfiF l,-Ir In mind MDltpI.