Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-12-02
SUPERB CAST HEARD
IN "LA GIOCONDA"
Caruso and Associate Ar
lists Win Ovation at the
Metropolitan.

The second performance OF grand opera
was held at the Metropolitan last night.
To welcome the ever-popular and ever
wonderful Caruso, and the other stars
literally presented by the company, an
audience OF music-lovers gathered and
filled the house. Women in lovely gowns
were in the boxes and on the floor.
Women, no less lovely. but in simpler
modes were in the upper galleries; the
percentage OF men was noticably greater
as one approached the upper air. The
horseshoe shone and glittered even as
It did at the first performance, and the
applause came heartily and frequently
from all parts Of the auditorium.
The temperance Of Car1iso is always
an operatic event Last night the anna
teur critics we're in fine form. Passing
out Of the house one heard such criti-
cisms as the following: He's Just as fine
as ever Isn't II wonderful?" This was
in a feminine voice "Iis voice Is get
ting lower He'll be a baritone soon ="
came in more serious tones. He'll be
Just as great when he's s0," said another.
The general opinion was that Caruso is
great was the enthusiasm OF the even
ing that even the Metropolitan's scenery
came in for comment which was not un-
kind
Just why ia Gioconda" should have
been chosen for presentation here, when
the season is so woefully limited, was q
mystery to many. II is not precisely a
popular opera but 1t is familiar. II
would not in itself draw n crowd as IN
Trovatore" might. Its one excuse for
being is that II affords excellent scope for
no less than six artists OF highest calibre.
Obviously the intent OF the management
was to draw on the artists they cast
for the parts. In this they succeeded.
ia Gioconda" may be unworthy, but
with Mines. Duchene, MatZenauer and
Destinn. with Caruso and Amato and de
Segurola. there was some excuse for
giving 1t. For next week 'Lohengrin" is
announced. also with a splendid cast. IT
might not be unkind to suggest that
Martha" "Trovatore," "Traviata.''
"Tannha euser" and "Thais" should fill
out the season.
But II the Metropolitan is going to give
Philadelphia casts instead Of great opera,
they are certainly doing it well. Last
nights singing was almost miraculous.
The high honors go to Nine. Matzenauer
and to Mr. Amato: the highest to Mr..
Caruso Nine. Destinn's soprano was
excellent, to be sure. But 1t lacked love-
liness OF tone, and in dramatic quality,
fell far short indeed In the easier
cantabile passages, and particularly in
the trio OF the last act. Nine. Destinn re-
deemed the undistlnguished singing of
the earlier acts. Her voice is q pleasure
to the ear, but one leaves It with affec-
tionate, not passionate, memories.
Nine. Matzenauer. in the heavy role OF
Laura. sang in a voice which was
eloquent with feeling, exquisitely mod
ulated. and we'll restrained. She too,
could not bear the added necessity OF act
ing in the third act. but her tones were
never cloudy, her expression never at
fault. Nine. Duchcne sang the blind
mother of the heroine with Impressive
quiet, and In the first act threatened to
dominate the play more than once.
The men of the cast however. took
that part. From the first Mr.. Amato's
sinister. Iago-lilte figure lowered over the
scene In spite OF exaggerated facial ex-
preston, and sort OF truculent gesture,
Mr.. Amato supplied hne acting. His voice
was superb. 1t had the powerful reson-
ance which was noted here when he sang
with the Boston Symphony. and it's dra-
matte variations were both intelligent and
imaginative. The quality of imaginative
sympa they which he possesses makes him
the foremost baritone OF the operatic
stage.
Mr.. de Segurola was picturesque and
austere enough. His voice was powerless
in the first act. but acquired tone and
color. The part is ungracious. but Mr.. de
Segurola made Its big scene splendid.
And to come to the star" the ad-
vertised and money-making star OF the
opera-how superb, and superior Mr.
Caruso really is TO his reputation! He
acted last night as he is not supposed
to be able to act There was not the
trace of self-aggrandizement in his work,
hardly a shadow OF the frlvolty which
once disgraced his parts. And his sing
ing was OF that order which makes COM
parison idle and criticism vain. Let him
sing and considerations of time and space
vanish there is only the perfection OF
his voice. II is an old story by now. But
the voice which has been called the
greatest tenor OF all time does not ap-
parentIy grow old Today 1t calls out the
same similes-golden, and fiute-like, and
opulent with color. 1t is miracle.
Mr.. Polacco conducted vigorously and
with notable sollcitude for his singers.
Fine as the orchestration OF La Clio
cOhda" is the opera is for the singers.
and Mr.. Polacco left It there. The or
chestral triumph of the night came with
The Dance of the Hours" which has
never been so exquisitely wrought as II
was last night The poetic quality OF this
interlude Is far above that of the opera
And the performance OF it was on the
lofty level 1t demanded.