The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-10-27
MONTENEGRO WORK
BY BOSTON SINGERS
Excellent Performance Of
"L'AmOre del IRE Re"
ArOuses Enthusiasm.
A CAST OF HIGH MERIT

Having discharged It's solemn obliga-
ton to It's ballet attachment by giving
Auber's la Muette Dc Portici'' on the
frst night Of it, brief season. the Dos
ton Opera Company devoted itself last
evening to what In the language Of that
miShtisr show world Of Broadway might
b. denominatsd straight" opera and
relesatsd the tsrpsichorean festivities to
. separate place after the lyric drama
had ended. Doubtless lovers Of both
species Of entertainment were better
pleassd by this arrangement.
The opera was Itslo MontemezsI's
greatly admired work "L'Amore del
Ire Re-" which has been famllis rized
here by repeated performances at the
Metropolitan Opera House. Perhaps a
fresh interest wa given TO last eve
ning's production by the fact that WI
instead Of one Of the original italian
cast appeared. Edouardo Ferrari-Fon-
tana. who sang Arito In Italy and at
the Metropolitan. again sustained the
burdens OF the role. and the represent
tative Of Flora was L.uisa VILLAIN. who
created the part and who has sung suo
cessfully OF this side Of the Atlantic
In sBoston and Chicago.
The whole artistic atmosphere Of the
Manhattan was different last evening.
for the performance OF Montemessi's
opera was one we'll worthy OF serious
consideration. II had the essential ele-
ments OF vitality and II aroused the
audience to real enthusiasm. The great
second act came to an end amid long
and loud applause. 1t was real applause.
too, and the numerous recalls were thor
oughly earned.
No small measure OF the success Of
this representation was due to the con-
ductor. Roberto M%oranxoni. In italy the
opera was never productive OF such emo
ton as II has caused here. and the Tea
son was invariably poor conducting. Not
till Toscanini took up the score was II
disclosed that the original tempt were
mostly deadening. Mr.. Moraazoni modi-
Ned some Of the Toscanini tempt accord
ing to his own individual taste but he
did not radically change the now tradi-
tional Interpretation Of the opera. His
orchestra sounded better thar could have
been expected from its exposed position.
Save for the Inevitable defects In wind
intonation It's work was c~ommendable.
Mr.. Ferrar i-Fontana's Acito needs no
new comment. beyond the note that the
singer was not vocaliy at his best with
the audience. Miss VILLAIN achieved a
personal triumph as Flora. and she de-
served II. She has not the personality.
the Elasticity nor the ~aristocracy for
an ideal delineation Of Sem Benefits
heroine. but she sang Montemezz!'s music
admirably with a voice OF beautiful
quality. perfectly suited to her role
and with a delivery which united good
technic with dramatic value. Her mus!-
cal Interpretation was a piece Of excel
lent operate art.
George Baklanoff. a Russian barry
tone. made a splendid figure Of Man
fredo. He filled the part with emotion.
commanded the sympathies OF his audi
ence and sang the music with ine the
atrical skill. A heroic physique and a
masculine bearing added not a little to
the interest Of his impersonation. And
In Jose Ma rdones the cast was provided
with an Archibaido of noteworthy I'M
portance. This basso has an uncOm-
monty good voice. a ound style and a
grasp OF dramatic methods. His con-
tribution TO the representation was adj
mirable.
With four such competent principals
and an able conductor "A performance
of Mortemezzi's opera could not fail
10 repeal the impression made by its
predecessors. The opera wears we'll. !
Its simplicity OF melodic line. it's direct.
ness of dramatic u%tterance. the brilliant
OF it's music to the embodi-
ment OF Benefits thought. together with
its freedom from t~hreadbsre tricks OF
popularity, make II a grateful addition
b. the repertory of this time and prom
Use for Il a more lasting favor than
OF the more pretentious operas !
which have been put forward in the
last decade will have.
After the opera the E.lysian fields
scene from Gluck's 'Orfeo ed Euridic~"
was given with Maria Gay as Orteo,
Peralta as Euridice and Anna
Pavlowa and her ballet company in
the dances