New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-11-26
Fine Performances of Both
Works-A New Ital-
ian Barytone.
WAGNER'S DRAMA
SPLENDIDLY GIVEN
Giuseppe de Luca Proves a Graf.
flying Addition to Our
Opera Stage.

lovers two causes for thankfulness un-
alloyed- and The Barber
Of Seyille"-a strange conjunction, Ros-
SIM scarcely being a corollary Of Wag-
ner. To begin a holy day in reverence
and to close il in purified laughter can
offend no one save the glummist OF
Puritans. Such was the case yester-
day, when Richard Wagner's consecra-
tional festival play received It's annual
Thanksgiving matinee, and Gloacnin0
Rossini's III Barbiere di Siviglia
assembled the boards in the evening.
This years performance of PAR
sifal" is Of special interest, owing 10
the coming of Arthur Bodansky. UP
10 YESTERDAY. with the exception OF the
Savage English "Parsifal" venture, the
consecrational music-drama had IN New
York known only the baton OF Alfrea
! Hertz. Mr.. Hertz was fine musician
a sincere artist and an lndefatisaple
worker, yet il is not too much TO state
that under Mr. Bodansky the work TOOK
On a new significance and heightened
beauty. The mysticism OF the music,
it's reconcile meanings, its intellectual
breeding. was what inspired the new
conductor. and the result was per-
formance of rare beauty, charm ana
imaginative power. The chorus, newly
recruited from the Opera School, put
fresh life into the temple scene. lhelr
clear. Youthful voices were relIed
after the memory of some "ParslfaI
performances of recent years.
The members of the cast have all
been heard in their respective parts
before Nine. Hurts Kundry lacks per-
haps in seductiveness, but her beautiful
voice was delight unimpaired. Mr.
Sembach's Parsifal, Mr. Braun's Cur
nemanz. Mr.. Wells Amfortas and Mr.:
Goritz's Klingsor are old and valued
/ friends. The audience was as large as
any that has attended a "Parsital' OF
recent years. ~
Perhaps some day opera bouffa will
come into its own again. Even now
there are those who hear of any
revival of a Donizetti or Rossini work
of this genre with quickening Of IN
terest and warming of the heart.
To such Signor Wolf-Ferrari's lie
/ Donne Curiose" and "L'Amore Medico"
were springs of water from far He'll
con. A modern composer, with all
Strauss and Stravinsky 20 draw from,
had actually put his face toward the
heyday of aristocratic opera and was
turning out first rate limitations OF the
/ spirit all the world had believed long
ago to have vanished! But, alas Tor
such hopes, triumphant democracy Is
/ in the opera equally triumphant IN
orchestra. boxes or top gallery. This
/ Is the day for strong meat, brass ana
/ tumultuous tenors-Signor WOLFF
rari succumbed, Leoncavallo remains
Yet last night Signor Gatti-casazza
made another trial-this time OF an olo
work of the bouffa genre-and from
/ the size of the audience and the ap-
nlause. il really seemed as il at last
3 the wheel had turned full circle. The
Barber of Seville" is one of the mas
ter works of operate literature, and
given with Figaro such as Figaro
{ should be, with a Rosina of charm,
/ sprightliness and skill in coloratura,
! two good buffos. and a romantic tenor,
. there is no reason why it should not
+ fiji a theatre as it did in the days o:
/ its youth. Last nights performance
/ did not possess all these virtues but
/ il possessed more Of them than any
performance Of the work since the de-
/ parture of Nine. Sembrich and Mr..
I Campanari.
I Let us dismiss the tenor, a newcomer
10 the company, who is said 70 have
reputation in Italy. by stating that
there are voices which may be liked IN
Italy but which are not liked here. Mr..
Damacco was very nervous and may
do better at future performances. An
other newcomer unprecedented Or. bar
tolo. Pomplio Malatesta has been en-
gagged 10 take the place OF our old rat
friend. Antonio Pini-Corsi. He proved
himself worthy successor, not IN Tat,
but in fun. Adamo Didur has always
been an admirable ~-Basilio. Miss
Frieda Hempel is not an ideal Rosina
II is a long, long way from Seville to
Berlin. and Miss Hempe's tempera-
ment is not quite equal 20 the journey.
Yet vocally she was satisfying.
The Figaro was Giuseppe de Luca.
and in him il became speedily evident
that the Metropolitan has secured an
artist of splendid capabilities. HIS
voice is a fine one. not one perhaps o.
great sensuous beauty, but clear, well
placed. we'll tempered and well used:
His singing was delightfully."- free and
expressive. and his acting volatile,
graceful and altogether in the picture:
He made of Figaro. in face, figure and
bearing, just what Figaro was barber,
cynic and li6ertne. From Mr.. de Luca
we certainly shall hear again. Mr..
Bavagnoli conducted most effectiyely y.
After all, we should be very glad that
"The Barber" is back among us. Let
us thank Mr.. Gatti-Casazza for IT. and
above all let US thank Mr.. de Luca.
If we are ever TO enjoy again the old
masterpiece we must have more sing
crs such as he. As il was a first pc.
Torrance in two years, the cast VI
"The Barber" is worthy Of note:
The Count ~ Amavlra. ........ Giacomo Damaceo
ffiis FIRST appearance IN America.l
Dr Bartolo ...................P Ompili0 Malatesta