The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-02-12
'RIGOLETTO' HEARD
AT METROPOLITAN
Mr.. CaruSo Rcappcar> aS the
Lucky and Wicked
Duke.

Nerdis "Rigoletto' was the dainty
dish Sc; before the kings and queens
AZ the Metropolitan Opera House last
evening. II IL a work associated closely
with the period OF forty days. one re-
calls that Noah believed in prepared
ness and was glad Of his faith when
II rained forty days 1t is also a matter
OF record that in the residence of the
Verdi family in Busseto in 1851 Il,
rainod musical notes eor forty DAYS. FOR
in that time Verdi put "Rigoletto' on
paper.
All except la donna = Mobile"
They do say that lie refused 10 g.ve
this air 10 his tenor I'll just before the
last rehearsal because h. was afraid
1t would leak OUT and then there would
have been present an audience already
acquainted with II. lie had read OF
what. the Nenetians did TO R~ossini's "pi
tamil palpit!" People all know the
tune now. but they 81, up and wait
for Caruso to sing I; just tho sama
And that Is what mos, Of them would
not do for the duet "V' no ~inganuato,''
which concludes the opera II which
is customar!ly cut out. /; was restored
last evening. but 1t should be cut out
again. II literally let's the cat out ot
the bag 10 revive a well murdered
soprano So that she may operatically
sing a duet with her unfortunate barry
tone father.
The thing did not signify. When
GUda il found to he the one whom
SparafuciIc has bagged instead Of tho
Duke. for whose carcass he has been
paid, that il the end Of the opera. No
one wishes 10 hear anything more, not
even the already stale Information vol
unteered by R'9ole'io, "Quel Necchio
maledlvsm!."
Tho real point last night was that NJ.
Caruso sang his old role. the DuEc o,
Montud. that In which he made his New
York debut. Maria Barrientos was also
In the vas; singing G,idd and Mr.. dc
Luca was the representative OF the
Jester, Mr., Rothier was the SparnJucilc
Miss Perrin the Mddddlcnu ard Mr.
Rossi the Monteronc.
II was as good = performance o,
"Rigoletto" as opergoers are likely o.
hear in this period. Questions OF style
might easily he raised, and they might
readily be directed at Mr.. Caruso, whose
advances into tine realm OF robustness
led him at times perilously close to the
robustious, Put II he does not sing al
the music Of HIS part now with tho acrial
quality OF tone and elegant finish whici
he disclosed at his debut. he imbues his
delivery with much warmth and may be
regarded rs a sufficiently impassioned
representative OF tho vicious ruler. |,
is a pity that every outhurst Of loud
sound is treated by the bravo shou,ers
az II IL were high art.
Nine. Barricntos revealed a GiiIo
uniting charming merits with SOM
defects. Her conception of the
character was Of course conventional
nothing else IL possible-but she was
artistic In certain hist rlonic details. Sh,
put real feeling into her "Caro nome a,
we'll as many varieties of tone. Her
finish Of the air on tho upper key not'
was admirably done II very effective
II not likely to efface memories of other
Gilias known to the local stage, she l.
capable OF sustaining her share OF tn,
new presentation Of the opera.
Mr.. de Luca was IA good Ri0olono
lie was not in any way remarkable, an
his numerous holds were PERHAPS no
always In taste but he sang with goo,
tone and intOnation and at times Wit
genuine dramatic force. Mr., Rnthicr''
SparoJuci!e was admirable, Mr.. Polaccc
conducted the opera judiciously. 1
would help the dramatic verities IL thu
abductors of Gilda would restrain theil
eagerness and not enter RiDoietto,
garden before he II blindfolded.