The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-10-11
ny w. ,. HENDERSON.

THE musical soason in this city began
with the opening of the Century
l. Opera House on September ~. The
change In tho plans of this institu-
ton, whereby two operas instead ~ one
are heard in Zach week has resulted IN
good Together with tho engagement OF
n competent stage manager and new CON
ductors. the now plan has improved the
smoothness and certainty OF the perform
ances This step forward was greatly
NODDED for In the course Of its first season
tho Century Opera House was perforce
driven into some half prepared produo
tions.
But under the now conditions each opera
receives moro rehearsal and the singers
engaged are not distracted between two
works at tho same moment. The orchestra
has been improved also and has put some
credltable playing 10 its record. The
theatre still suffers from that stilted type
Of communication which Amusement di-
rectors are now seeking to have dominate
tho columns Of all newspapers. These
directors are too short sighted. IA Ia habit
ual with their class. To ace that the i'm
mortal saying Of Abraham Lincoln applies
tn tha theatre IA we'll ma to other things;
'You can fool some Of the public all OF
tho time and all ~ the public some OF the
time; but you cant fool all OF tho public
all ~ the time"
II tho critical statements published
c,istomarily In some journals were true
tho Century would be the leading opera
house Of the world and not oven company
Al Is,an 1n Rna1Hn
Camnanini. Tanhurini. Iablache and Carl
Formes. and conducted 10y Niktsch. could
sirpass its achievements Now when
people road such praise In newspapers
and then 90 to the theatre and find out
for Themselves what In actually going on
they Just quietly cease to ray any attention
to any thing those pa pens gay about the
atrea. and particularly about that theatre.
But no one can make a theatrical man
aper or an impresario believe that. lie
still thinks he can fool all Of the public
all " tho time.
Tho Century Opera House performances
receive in the really critical publications
fnl justice. and this il the only kind OF
comment that will he of tho slightest help
To- them. II they cannot justify these
comments they cannot hone to carry the
awful responsibility Of the ecstatio lauda-
tion which others give to them and curl
ously enough refuse to give to the superior
performances at tho Metropolitan.
The two operas presented last week
ia Traviata" and "Lohengrin." we're
sung quite well enough TO interest people
Who go To the theatre chiefly to hear the
opera and are not expecting To hear star
singers There were inequalities in the
representations. it is true. but from Helen
Stanley's Violettd. for example. or from
Morgan kingston's we'll sung Though
weakly acted Lohen0rin much pleasure
could be obtained
Possibly the unexpected performance
of the week was Graham Marr's Herald
II Is not often that the Kings announcer il
tine best sung part in "Lohengrin." though
this writer recalls Bayreuth performance
in which such was the case Nikola
Gei,e-Winkel of Hamburg was the singer
and he was the most cultivated artist on
the stage Mr. Mari did not sing the
Herald better than MIR Kingston sang
Lohenqrin, hut he sang it we'll enough "a
make experienced hearers wish that he
were put forward oftener in larger roles
Madam Butterfly" will be the new
opera of the week. alternating with
"Lohengrin The Puccni opera at
tanned unusual Success when It was sung
at this house last season and several OF
the artists who contributed to its popu.
hrity will once more be heard Miss
Ewell and Miss Stanley will sing the ma m,
part. and Orville Harold will have the
role of Lieutenant Pinkerton Miss Kathleen
Howard will Resume the part Of Suzitk
and Thomas Chalmers. whose advance
In artistry has been the sub iect of much
favorable comment. will he heard "A.
Shdrpicss
Elizabeth Campbell will be heard as
Nate P'nterton, and the remainder of the
cast will be AZ follows Goro. Frank
Phillips; fdmddori Louis D'Angelo: Tn,
Bonse. Alfred Kaufman; The Mother
Mary Richardson; The Aunt. Flora Gin.
golani, and The Cousin. Leonora Beck
Miss Stanley will he heard as Buiferf,
tuesday and Friday evenings and Mis-,
Ewell will sing the role Thursday matine,
and Saturday evening Mr.. .Iacchia viii
conduct, while Messrs Coini and EURO viii
serve IN their respective capacities az In,
artistic and the chorus director. MADAM