The evening world., 1917-11-13

EsDAY, NovEMBl
airhis there 49, a crush a isns
linz ~ F1ui1 b. sianssss rathsfsd
slfig in no afternoon ara W. 7 0eioet
fHey were stretched sfSund Ire fguf
SIDES = fHs Orafs House w closely
fgfs.f rt.f hspi1S ~ by afmis.
Son tickets Hundreds ~ them. after
their iYrg sisII. we're disa ppoiatsd.
Capacity VS. exhausted before they
could fsicb the goal Tho hos once
90 - bsst % overcome the delay
sssssionsd ~ tho var las3 but max.
ing change hat involved tho ooiise-
fi1n ~ So cents Tor the Oovsrnmsnt
raH not - easy on a nfst trial
There viii b. less friction on succeed
Ing nirhts The rush ~ motor cars,
,4 ~ WIS In the days whom there
sefo no h0fssiess carriages, was the
Hams. inside. ~ usual. the standoss
behind the rail- wors hfmiy intfenohed
In sofried ranks before the seat
holders began 20 arrive. When tbs
curtain VAS raised at ton minutes
past elght-ton minutes Of grace hAv-
Ing been Eranted-there were not n
dozen people In the boxes. The whole
~ tho nrst act was more or less
spoiled by tho advent Of late corners.
80 much for the maintenance Of ira
dltion.
But trained observers couid not fail
10 notice differences. On the out
side, for Instance. there was no gath
cring OF %oniookers TO watch the ar
rivals. such as. for n generation, was
wont TO mark the opening night OF
tho season. No police guard. mount
ed or afoot. was necessary. Only
people who wanted to get In werO
present. Pedestrians along Broad
way pursued the even tenor OF their
way. Inside. when by the end OF tho
first act. the house had filled to the
limit and the Lights were turned ~.
one could fall to see that the gilt
! tering horseshoe" OF tradition no
longer "glittercd." There was almost
an utter absence of Jewels. Dark
colors In gowns were in the majority.
There was an unmistakable air of
sombreness. And, perhaps, most sig
nlficant was the dearth of men. Not
In the boxes alone were these things
noticeable. on the orchestra DOR
and In the galleries the same condi-
tons prevailed.
One m illuminated the eve-
ming. Al the close OF the second act,
when the curtain was raised after
tho first call, all the participants in
the Triumph scene-principals, chorus,
ballet and stage band-were disclosed
grouped across the front OF the stage,
the flags OF all the Allied nations
floating over the throne OF the King.
Then THE Star Spangled Banner
was sung, led by a quartet composed
Of Muzio, Matzenauer. Caruso and
Amato, the house outstanding in
breathless silence and attention until
the last note expired. Then there was
bedlam. Amato in his enthusiasm
broke the shackles that confined his
hands as the prisoner, Amonasro.
Caruso struggled manfully to main
tain his part. holding the words and
the notes before him. The women,
like Amato, didn't need such aid. The
orchestra did Its part well.
Now TO the performance! 1t was
admirable. Caruso, as Radames,
poured forth his golden notes prodi-
gally, acted with fervor and intelli-
gcnce, and maintained his steady
growth In artistry. There were some
OF the dilettant overheard expressing
their Views In the Hobbies between
the acts who hemmed and hawed
and shook their heads. Begone with
you! This Italian tenor. the like of
which neither you. nor your fathers
ever heard, Is In his prime. Think.
for a moment, OF what the Metropoli-
tan Opera Company would be without
him! But. a word in your ear, Mr..
Caruso, South America has sent
you back 70 us f. No. rather let
us say. ware the flesh, Sir!
Claudia Muzio looked, dressed, act
ed and sang the name part with dis
tinction and allurement. She gave
cause to Amneris, impersonated by
Marguerite Matzenauer, who wore
some fetching new gowns and looked
every inch the King's daughter, 10
be Jealous. Not all the Aidas have
this faculty. One sometimes wonders
why Radames should let his fancy.
or his love, or his passion. run
astray after the dark slave when a
peerless princess shows her desire for
him. Amato, as Amonasro. gave his
familiar and graphic impersonation
Of the rebel chief. Basil Ruysdael
was imposing as the King. Pietrc
Audisio was the Messenger, and
Marie Sundelius sang the music OF
n NV aAAoNNh ANoNSoo - oaN
1 beauty.
Jose Mardones, making his FIRST APP
pearance with the company. was
Ramfs. He disclosed a powerful
voice OF fine quality and well under
control. He is welcome, Another
newcomer was Roberto Moranzoni,
who conducted satisfactorily and
was included In the curtain calls
Rosina Call led the ballet with her
usual confidence and grace and
charm. Thanks to Pauline Yer
hoeven, Miss Gall now Is supported
by 1.-THE. supple, pretty, young Amer.
lean girls, the product OF the Metro
politan ballet school. OF which Nine
Verhoeven is the Mistress.
There were interesting recitals yes.
terday afternoon by Joseph Bonnet
the distinguished French %organist, In
the Astor Hotel ballroom. and by
Dorothy Berllner, an American plan,
list, at Aeolian Hall. In the evening
there was n recital at Aeolian Hal