The sun., 1916-11-25
samson Eft DALILA"
BXCELLENTLY SUNG
Nine. Homer as the Temptress
and Mr.. CarusO as the
Strong Man.

S~aint-Saens's opera Samson ct
Dalila' had its first hearing Of h sea
son at the Metropolitan Opera House
last evening. The auditorium was
crowded TO It's capacity. The standing
room was packed. and there seemed TO
be IN air Of eagerness.
These facts perhaps Justify the con
clusion that Mr.. Caruso's assumption OF
the role of Samsor has met with decided
popular approval. This Ia a subject for
congratulate ion for he has made OF this
i~mpersonation one Of his most artistic
achievements.
His hrst appearance as the strong man
who succumbed to the daughter OF the
PhilistineS was not wholly successful.
but he had the good judgment TO discern
that there were possibilities for him In
the part. He has worked at II assidu-
ously and elaborated Its details I'LL II Is
now . picturesque and At times strongly
dramatic portraiture.
In Fine Vocal Condition.
Mr.. Caruso WAS In excellent vocal
condition last night. and his singing had
splendid breadth and spirit.
Nine. Homer was the representative OF
the temptress. and was very good to see.
She eang her music very well. Her i'm
p<T SOIl8tiOu nAu inc tHeTlt Ot NOT DclUk
overdrawn. II Ia a Common error to
make DaIia 70 obvious a siren that not
v a simple Samson could have been
fooled.
Mr.. Amato was q stalwart and stento-
rian High Priest, and Mr.. Rothier was
competent As the old Hebrew. Thu opera
has been well mounted at the Metro
politan. The ballots are effectively ar
ranged and the important choruses sd-
mirably sung. Mr.. Poiscco conducted
last evenings performance with judg-
ment.
In the Audience.
There was a splendid audience:
Mr.. and Mrs. Henry Clews had as
their guests Mrs. John r. Drexcl and
Mrs. NJ. Lawrence Kecne. Mrs. Fred
erick Pearson was with Mrs. Hamilton
Mex. Twombley.
Mr.. and Mrs. j. Nelson Borland's
guests were Mr.. and Mrs. A.. MURRAY
Young and MIR. and Mrs. Karrick Riggs.
Mrs. Charles q. Peters. who was In
Mrs. Pearson's box. had as her guests
Mr.. and Mrs. q. Morgan Barnewell.
Mrs. f. Tiffany Dyer and Charles +.
Sampson.
With Mr.. and Mrs. Charles r. Alex
ander were Mr.. and Mrs. &. Tcmpleton
Croker n Miss Harriet Alexander.
Mr.. and Mrs. Henry a. Costcr's guests
were Mr.. and Mrs. Ansel Phelps and
Mr.. and Mrs. q. De Lanccy Coster.
Mr.. and Mrs. George II. Post. Jr.. Miss
Harriet Post and C.. Suydam Cutting
we're with Mr.. and Mrs. George B. Post.
Mr.. and Mrs. Nicholas Murray But
ier's party included Mr.. and Mrs, Ste
phen II. olin and Miss Sarah Schuyler
Butler.
Mr.. and Mrs. Loriliard Spencer and
Mr.. and Mrs. Dudley Davis were with
Mr.. and Mrs. Stuart Duncan.
Mr.. and Mrs. Leonard NJ. Thomas
Miss JEANNE Emmett and her iance. W
Barton French, were with Mrs. Pulitzer
Mr.. and Mrs. Pau Renshaw. Mis-
Eleanor Lawrence and II. Thornton
Wilson were in the Aston box.
Mr.. and Mrs. Francis X. Pendletor
and Mrs. l.. Stuyvesant Chanler wer,
with Mr.. and Mrs, NJ. Ormc Wilson
Mrs. J. Turner Atterbury's guests wcr,
Mr.. and Mrs. George Bird, Mrs. q. Nor,
ton Miller and L. Coster Wilmerding.
Mr.. and Mrs. Paulding Fosdick AM
Mrs. James Il. DUKE were In Mrs. Og
den Goelet's box.
and Mrs. Ernesto G.. Fabbri. Mr.. anC
Mrs. ]. Lowell Putnam, Mrs. W. Aston
Chanler. Mr.. and Mrs. Orme Wilson. Jr.
Mr.. n Mrs. ]. Woodward Haven. Mr.
and Mrs. John d. Ryan. Mr.. and Mrs
W. Rathbone Bacon. Mrs. Jose Aymar
Mrs. James II. Haggin. Miss Julia Der,
wind, Or. and Mrs. Stoddard Mclean
!, the Hon. Mrs. Alfred Arson. Miss Wini.
fred Ives. A. Van Horne Stuyvesant. Mr.
and Mrs. Chauncey NJ. Depew and Rob,
ert Van Cortlandt.