The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-01-02
'PUCCINI'S "MANON"
AT METROPOLITAN
Second Version of Able Pre-
vost's story Has Hearing
Before Large Audience.
LCCREXIA B0RI AS MANON

The first day OF the rev year was
ousy one at the Metropolitan opera
Housc There were two performances Of
works widely differing In character. In
the afternoon "Parslfal" was given he
fore an audience OF good size. The cast
was The same as az the previous per-
tormance, Mr.. Sembach susts ming the
Tito role. Nine. Matzeraucr being the
h"ndry. Mr. Whitehill the AmfortoS and
Mr.. Braun the GWromdns. The music
drama was intcrpre,ed much as II was
wonted potency.
In the evening the opera was puccni's
"Manon Lescaut." with Miss Bori. Mr..
Caruso and Mr.. Amato as the PRINCIPAL
singers The Pucciui version Of the story
mas never obtained as large measure
oil favor with this public as that of Mas
senet. This may be because the French
work was made known first and its incl
dents and music had become familiar be-
Tore Pucoinis opera was produced
To hear two operas with the same story
out with different treatments OF tho incl
dents and still more radically different
klhus OF music IL somewhat confusing.
IL both had been brought to notice In the
same season people might learn to like
ooth but having learned to love one. II is
certainly not easy TO learn to love the
other afterward
IL Is pity that the creation OF Puc-
cum stands In such a Instantaneous
position, because IL has merits of no small
value Those who are peculiarly sensi-
tive to the French atmosphere OF tho
ma.
dihcuiy in reconcilng themselves to the
Italian music But since La Boheme''
has been taken to tho pubic heart It
seems as II the inCongruity between
Partisan action and Milanese music might
not be 80 clear II we had not a French
opera to demonstrate II to us
The performance of last evening was
one OF much merit. The Puccini operas
lie best within the powers of the Italian
singers-or s.igsys OF Italian works--at
the opera Mos, OF them have grown IN
IN the years OF this masters supremacy
and OF the vogue Of Mascagni and Leon
cavallo.
Their style is beet ada pied to these
works. aud doubtless their artistic SYM
pathies are most deeply engaged by them.
Certainly they are always at their best
In These works, and 1t was a pleasure.
therefore,, to hear last evenings perform
ance OF what Is. when all is considered
Puccinfs best opera.
Miss Boris MoHon in this work has
always been a lovely impersonation. and
| II was so last night despite occasional
! returns to her early stridsncy of tone
Las; season she seemed TO have rid her
self OF 1t entirely by getting her upper
register properly placed II is To be hoped
that she will not permit herself again 10
fall into bad habits They are too COM
| mon on the Metropolitan stage
Mr. Caruso added one new feature 70
his DoS Grieur in the second act. IL wa,
wig. wonderful blond forest Of curls
Otherwise his impersonation was as good
as ever He was in command OF his best
tone and sang brilliantly. Mr.. Amato
! sang LeSCdut for the fret time here. Tn,
part used to be sung by Mr.. Scott. MIR
\ Amato, II is pleasure TO say. added an
excellent portrayal TO his collection and
sang better than he has at any time of
| late.
| Mr. Polacco's conducting was one Of the
! most excellent features of the perform.
ance. He had the score fully mastered
and he infused beautiful variety oil
dramatic warmth and expression into the
| whole representation. There was some
very good singing by the chorus, and the
orchestra played well.