The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-04-26
NOTABLE SEASON OF METROPOLITAN
Five Novelties Presented by MIR. Catti-
Casazza in the Season of Twenty.
three Weeks

season. Gluck's "orfeo ed Euridice" Il
printed In the Italian column In the
table for convenience, but the work was
written by an Austrian and acquired
it's classic standing in France. Nous
sorgsky's Boris Godunov" was also
paced In the Italian column. merely
because It was sung In Italian. These
two are omitted from the summary Just
given.
The season brought forth I'VE novel;
ties. all Of which we're afforded several
opportunities to court public favor. Four
of the i've had success and three ac-
QMred popularity Of no Questionable
chAi Scter. Without doubt the greatest
success was gained by Montemessi's
tragic opera, "L'Amore del Ire Re-" and
II Ii safe to say that the work would
have been heard oftener had II been
possible 70 give II further representa-
tons. 1t was heard by Ave subscrip-
ton audiences and there was q strong
demand for more Of Il. but Mr.. Ferrari-
Fontana, who sang the tenor role. was
compelled to return to Europe to full.
nj his contracts and there was no sub
stitute.
The other novelties which aroused q
considerable measure Of public interest
were Strauss Der Rosenkavalier."
Charpentier's Julien" and wolf-Fer-
rari's "L'Amore Medico." The singu-
lar creation Of the French composer
naturally had q succeas based partly on
curiosity and largely on the fact that
Mr. Caruso and Miss FArrar were to be
heard together In it's performance. The
strangeness Of their roles. their removal
from the familiar style associated with
the artists. initiated against the popu-
lartty OF the opera, but could not en-
tirely destroy It. Perhaps few realised
the Importance of the undertaking for
Mr. Caruso. nor did ell appreciate the
fine devotion and genuine artistic sin
certify which the tenor brought to q
role quite out Of his line. That he was
willing In the beginning to attempt the
part showed high sense Of his obliga-
ton to his eminent position.
The success Of Der Rosenkavalier'' IL,
easy enough to understand. A pre-
tentious and uncertain piece OF art this
opera contains many Of the elements Of
popularity. II has much rhythmic
music. 1t has delightful stage pictures.
II has palpable comedy. which the
dullest mind can grasp. And II brought
to the Metropolitan stage two Of the
most admirable impersonations which
have ever enriched It.
Nine. Marguerite ODER. who had already
disclosed herself to this public a. Q
singer Of large qualities. rose to unex.
pected levels Of delicate and captivating
comedy In this work. while Nine. Hem
pei astonished ever her fervent admirers
by her exquisite singing OF the music
and her hrmly drawn delineation Of q
character possessing elusive emotional
and Psychological traits.
II 10 perfectly safe TO say that Der
Rosenkavalier" will be heard several
times next season. The same thing
may be predicted In regard to julien"
while II Is certain that "L'Amore del
Ire Re" will be heard early and often.
No opera In recent years has made such
a swift. sure and strons impression a.
this admirable creation Of the young
Italian. II IL . Significant fact that
Boston for once agreed with New York
The Boston critics hailed the work with
enthusiasm like that which was made
known In the daily papers here after
the first performance and the public
seized the lyric tragedy with an eager
ness quite as great az that Of New
York.
II Is unnecessary TO discuss the opera
again at this time We may. therefore,
turn to the wolf-Ferrari opera buna.
which was the last novelty Of the
season. Because Of the slenderness Of
the story and the want Of famous
singers In the cast Il was feared by the
professional commentators that the
work would not receive a. much favor
as II deserved but that sound old Jury.
the New York public. returned q true
verdict The opera was accepted at It's
face value II attracted Increasing
audiences and II would undoubtedly
have been performed more frequently
had not the end Of the season been at
hand.
Victor Herbert's one act operettA