New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-10-27
I'AMORE" SUNG
AT MANHATTAN
Boston Company Gives
Admirable Performance
of MOntemezzi Opera.

Had the Boston Opera Company
opened It's New York season on Monday
night with "L'Amore del ire Re- (Ihe
Love Of Three Kings instead Of The
Blind Girl Of Portici" there would have
been few who would have been dis
pleased. The Boston company sue
ceeded. with the exception OF Mr. Chal-
mers. Mr. Zsnstello and the chorus. IN
giving but an Indifferent performance
OF the Auber opera. while II gave or
the Montemezzi work a superb one.
performance in most respects the equal
Of that at the Metropolitan. In add
ton. ia Muta di Portici." whatever its
historical interest and its melodic in
spiration. can mean but little TO a
modern audience, while "L'Amore del
ire Re" has proved Itself the most In
spring operate work that has come
cut OF Italy since Verdi's "Falstsf.'
Il was delight to hear the Monte
mezzi opera in an auditorium fitted 20
its presentation. In the vast reaches
OF the Metropolitan much of the dra-
matte effect Of both action and music
becomes dissipated, Signor Benefits
drama. being one OF great beauty and
poignancy OF feeling. The Manhattan
admirably fulfilled the requirements OF
the work and added not a little 20 the
effectiveness both OF orchestra and sin
gers. Happy. too, was New York IN
making the acquaintance OF conductor
of the calibre Of Sgnor Moranzoni. II
was an arduous comparison, indeed,
which this young Italian musician
hazarded, yet even the genius OF Ar
turo Toscanini could not obscure his
instant success. lie proved himself a
conductor OF great authority and tenn
permanent. possessed of a vivid sense
Of rhythm and a delicate feeling for
detail. OF the singers, Signor Ferrari..
Fontana is an old friend in the part OF
Avito His impersonation was as ro-
mantle as ever. but ne did persist IN
his old habit of tagging behind the
music Signora VILLAIN created the
part of Flora when the opera was pro
duced IN Milan. and she is one OF the
pleasant memories OF the unhappy ltal-
ian company which presented opera At
the Academy of Music in the autumn
of 1909. Signora Villani has gained In
artistic stature since then. She dis
played last night a voice OF real brill
fancy which she used with the discre
tlON ana lNLeillGtnCe. ller I'M ptlSOhA-
tion lacked somewhat in glrlishness.
but in the great scene in the second
act it was rich in womanly feeling.
The blind king WAS played by Jose
Mardones. whose rich, resonant voice
was a delight. lie gave, too, per
Torrance of dominating power. George
Baklanotf was another singer whose
vocal resources proved unusual. In
| the first act he lacked somewhat in the
more tender side of his nature, but
/ later. in the tragic scenes, he displayed
great power His figure and bearing
were we'll suited to the son of bar
barian king.
There were some crudities in thu
stage management, though the scenic
effects were admirable, especially IL
/ the second act. IL WAS all in all {
most admirable and spirited perform
ance, one quite worthy of the Manhat
tan's tradition. Following the operi
there was presentation OF th'
Elysian Field scene from Gluck''
"Orfeo ed Euridice," with Maria Gal
as Orfeo and Phyllis Peralta as Euri
dice, the ballet containing Miss Paw
Iowa and Mr.. Volinine.
This was the cast of "L'Amore de
t ire Re-: