The sun., 1916-01-30
THE WEEK OF OPERA.

From the moment Of her entrance she
captivatsd the senses and enchained
the affections. She literally danced
through the part Ike the echo of her
own laugh. And she sang the music
with an opulence of futelike tone with
n consummate mastery OF its style and
with an abandon which have never
been equalled
After her and very close to her was
Marcclla Sembrich, who. wanting GER
tain traits Of PATHS nature. replaced
them by others equally precious.
Nine Sembrich had a deeper note in
her impersonation. a sweet and win
some vein of tenderness which was
rot within the sphere of patti's ex-
preston. As "A comedian she was
nearly the equal of her predecessor.
Tor what she uid not receive from ma
ture she supplied by finer and more
fastidious art. Her musicianship was
deeper than PATHS and this gave her
larger scope of Interpretation.
These two have been the greatest
Rosinds within the memory OF opera
goers now living.
Figaro has been variously imper-
sonitcd. but probably no other has so
generally satisfied the oognoscenti as
Del Puente, who had the airy light
ness OF touch essential In both singing
and action. Other roles in the work
have been we'll sung by numerous art
lists. but among the impersonators of
Don Bdsiiio two persist In the men,
ory. Chaliapine the Russian basso,
irretrievably injured his chances for
success in New York by his vulgar in
depreciation. This amazed and cha
grined him so greatly that he has not
yet ceased TO vent his disgust az
Americans. Mr.. Chaliapines per-
formance, however. would be regarded
az mastery in Russia. and We shall
better understand his apparent blum
der If We bear in mind that in the
country of the Car this Is the most
popular opera but that 1t is always
treated in boisterously farcical
style.
| The best Don Bdsilio within the rec
| election of the present writer, which
goes back to hoyhood. was that of
t.douard de Rcszke. whose ingenious
! adaptation OF his entire action 10 mis-
own ponderuus physique and az his
singing to the quality of his voice was
"A piece of genuine art. His BGSiliO
was comic without eNtravagance. q
result something not often achieved
1t Is worthy of note in closing that
I'll Barbiere di Siviel!a' IS III good
company in keeping the stage for 50
many years. Mozart's "No2ze di Fl
Garo." which finds its material In the
same sources, has come down from
, 1856, Don Giovanni from 1897 and
Die Zauberiioete' from 1891. "Cose
fan tutti," which Is not given here
still lives in Germany. 1t dates from
1890 Die Entfnehrung aus dem
Serial" enjoys some festival per-
formances still, though 1t is the oldes,
of all. II dates from l7S9 Beetho-
Ven's "Fidclo" was first performed In
1895. The most venerable of all works
IN the local repertory, however. Is
Gluck's "Orfeo ed Euridice," whict
was first given in. l762.
| Critical commentary seldom con
Cedes to I'll Barbiere d! Siviclia" Z
position Of equality among this augVs
company and probably the vcrd'c
which awards It a seat somewhat L
the rear is correct. but an opera wh,cl
has lived for a century and whic'
when well performed IS so filed will
the true Wis Comica az this one can
not be denied very high admiration
There must te few lovers OF sCin
tillant fancy and hubhling humor VIII
will not he ready 20 declare that thi
Is one OF the masterpieces Of the lyri
| stngp