The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-10-31
~ W. J. HENDER son.

NAlAb piNStUN lNl VI tllc IpvSNOIk
Opera Company gives oppor-
tunities for studies in con-
trasts. The incubus of the
ballet. which fastened itself upon
French opera at its birth. still lies
upon It a dead weight. Occasionally
some n discovers a means of util-
ising the dance as an element in a
consistent drama. What a mighty
part II plays In the "Orfeo ed Flu
ridice' Of Gluck! There 1t IL a vital
part Of the tragedy. But when Sa-
nazzaro wrote his Arcadia and reo-
pied italy with fauns and satyrs he
was not dreaming Of melting into the
mould Of the dramatic form the tragi-
comedia Of the pastoral dance. In
the "Orfeo' Of Poliziano the dance fell
into the place allotted to 1t for three
centuries of Italian opera. 1t con
cluded this poetic drama of 1i7i just
- Il concluded Mozart's "Zauber-
floete' in 1871.
Moliere and Lully had no such con-
tinence In their treatment OF the
dance. n X they had conceived this
manner they would speedily have
been shown the royal door. For the
Kings wits we're in his heels aud IL
he lived to-day his royal progress
from n Broadway cabaret to
another would be no greater news
than the morning weather indications.
lully and Mollere concocted comedy
ballots, az they were called, till they
finally rose 10 a tragedy ballet. After
that they reposed upon their laurels
and went their separate ways
But the ballet. which had always
captivatcd the spirit of France. had
got its talons into the fair flesh of
opera. AND it has only lately been
shaken on. Even poor Wagner suf-
fered from the slavery OF France to
the opera ballet. for the age of the
Jockey Club fell upon him because
he insisted On putting the ballet into
"Tannhaeuser." where it dramatically
belonged. instead OF at 2 =. NJ. when
people Of social position arrive at
operas.
Urged by the gentlemen even some
persons whose blood was
red and whose ancestors were UNI
mentionable Joined in the disturb
ence though they were not quite sure
what it was all about. Meanwhile the
audiences grew larger, which sug-
gests the appalling thought that the
Grand Operas press agent may have
made capital of the disorders. The
composer, however. who V had a
business head, peremptorily Withdrew
his opera after the third perform
ance. Later in life he revealed pom
derous operas tn Germany without
any ballet, early or late.
Presently the Metropolitan will open
Its season with the Samson ct Dalila"
Of Camille Saint -Saens, n those who
have o already heard the work will
learn how careful the composer was to
introduce ballots at suitable places.
And Of course Mcyerbeer attended
strictly to his business OF pleasing
the public on which he depended for
his fame. one can never forget 'for
they are unforgettable) those dances
IN Lies Huguenots." In the whole
range Of French theatre music there
can be nothing more cheap than the
music of these marionette p~rancings.
But doubtless in their day they gave
pleasure to certain amiable %lounGers
in the boxes, just as they do now
10 Meyerbecr's somnolent wurshipr"rS
wflo SottIt tl'i N'N'h Spiii'N ~
the dream that the benediction Of tn"
pOignards il better music than the st.
Matthew Passion Of Zach.
However, let the lead past bury its
dead. The performance of la Muette
de Portici' at the Manhattan Opera
House last Monday evening was n
season Of sorrow. 1t is Il dull old
work and it was made duller by "A bad
Interpretation. Some saw asst and
overwhelming ~eloquence in Pavlowa's
impersonation of the dumb girl. The
unfortunate writer of this column
tried to become inspired with this kind
of divine insight, but for the life Of
linn could sec nothing more thar "A
Neapolitan hundrY suffering from an
exaggerated form of chorea.
As for MIR. Zcnatello he n u of
voice. There could he no question
about that. Miss Lyme, OF the other
hand, had plenty Of voice. such as it
was. 1t is a pretty voice. but hard,
bitter hard. One could not blame
Alfonso for shutting his ears to its
strains and going for comfort 10 "a
dumb girl. But then why not pick out
a good looking mute"
II IL over now. LA Mucttc de
Portici' will go its way again into
peaceful silence till some other prima
ballerina acquires such an important
position in AN opera company that she
desires 10 be prima donna of a produce
ton. Then the old opera will he taken
down from the shelf. busted of and
given an airing. Meanwhile ERA
1lioVynlnb which IL also in the scar
and yellow leaf, will Turk in the back
ground awaiting its deadly opportu-
nifty.
Fortunately for the Boston Opera
Company the presentation or
"L'Amore del Ire Re" on Tuesday
evening was decidedly good. Miss
Villains Flora was beautifully sung
better sung than acted, ~indeed-and