Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-11-21
AIDA" AND NATIONAL
AIR OPEN THE OPERA
Huge Audience Attends Metro
politan's Opening Bill, Which
Includes "Star Spangled
Banner"

The fortunes of grand opera in war
time will be as favorable here as they have
been abroad. IL the stimulating record of
last evenings inaugural Of the season at
the Metropolitan is sustained. Aida" the
first of the sixteen bills Of lyric drama
which Philadelphia is to have this year.
drew an immense aud ence Evidence is fast
forthcoming throughout the country that
music In tragic days is a spiritual neces-
sity. Symphony concerts and opera have
suffered less diminuton of patronage than
any other forms of entertainment Even
the ticket taxes-and they take on a finan-
cial dignity when IS scale of prices is
involved-are ungrudgingly paid.
1t had been expected of course that So
ciety would patronize last nights presenta-
ton. Renewal Of all the season subscrip-
tions for boxes was previously announced.
The general public's opinion on the value or
opera at this time could not, however be
emphattcally registered until impresarlo
Gatti-Casazza had rung up his curtain
His appeal was sympathetically and et.
fectively made. Time cannot stale Aida
It's spectacular, dramatic and mus.ral tea-
lures are unfailingly interesting so long as
the merit of the Interpretation Keeps pace
with them. This was eloquently the case
last evening. In addition the spirit or the
day was thrillingy recognized by patriotic
speciality pregnant also with art ana beauty
in a way TO turn Dr. Karl Muck's pedantic
words TO dust,
Following the final notes Of Radamess
triumph the curtain rose again and re-
vealed alleged Egyptians and Philippians
raising the many-colored flags of civil "a
tion's allies All were represented-Brazil
and China, as well as America andSthe COM
pete lineup Of all the liberty-lovins Euro
pean nations Thus was the Metropolitans
| great stage set for truly. colossal rendi-
| tion Of the Star Spansled Banner by prin-
| cipals and chorus, the scene band, Egyptian
horns and Gennaro PGpis orchestra. Ihe
effect superb.
M,rtineli, Matzenauer. Muzio, Amato,
| Mardones, Ruysdael, lifted their lusty and
| exquisitely trained voices Keys stately
| verses had some queer pronuncations. but
of the eloquence of the spirit there could
| be not the slightest doubt. To note Pas
| quale Amato was particularly profitable.
| Not in the most vivid portrait ins his dis
tnguishsd footlight cutlery he has ever
| appeared more stirr!ngly sincere. His
| every word was incisively ineligible.
The auditors responded with tremendous
| tributes of enthusiasm and then settled
| down for further enjoyment CT an excel
| lent performance of the best-lked opera
| of inspired Verdi. This great name alone
| has patriotic significance. When Italy a
| half century ago battled with the Austrian
| woke against which she heriocally struggles
| today a nationalistic an lgram was devised
| from the composers nomenclature. The
| 'V" "E", "R", "D', "I' of his surname
were interpreted to stand for "Vittorio
Emmanuele, Re d'Italia' Victor Emman-
| uel. King of Itaiy). The -tinglng
significance holds true at this moment.
DESPITE the familiarity of the bill. the
| occasion brought forward two perform
| ances new to this city They were Aida
| of Claudio Muzio. a magnetic artist, whose
| passionate sincerity and dramatic fire gave
TO the tragic Ethiopian heroine more flavor
of personality than the role has had here
in many days, and the High Priest of Jose
Mardones, the magnificent Spanish baritone
| recently recruited by the New York Metro
politan from the Boston Opera Company
who sang the majestic measures with ster-
ling authority and deep, rich tone. Miss
Muzio's vocalism Is manifestly on the way
toselorious development, Her tones in the
| onening scene were a shade shrill, but as
| the performance progressed the scope OF
her art became more and more Irresistible
There was exquisite tenderness In hei
| "Patria Mia" and the essence Of true
tragic loveliness in her share of the immor'
| tai Terra addio". duet which closes the
onera Giovanni Martinellis brilliant Rad
ames, dramatically far superior to Caruso':
| and lyricaly all but noteworthy, has
| been admired here for several seasons. Sc
has the Amneris of Margarete Matzenauer
perhaps the worlds finest contrllto She
was at the height of her wondrous powers
| last evening.
Amato who sang Amonasro WIS II
regrettably bad voice. His singing wal
} labored, uncertain, and often not on gooc
, terms with the key. Aside from his con
tribution, there were no weak spots n
the presentation. Basil Ruysdael was al
impressive King and Gennaro Papi con
J Quoted with zest, taste and vigor. TIL,
stage pageantry was brilliantly colerful
Graceful Rosina GALL led the coryphees
, Next tuesday nights opera will b
E; Puccinis "Manon Lescaut." ith Carus'
n and Aida as principals. II. TIC.
The costumes worn, the absence or pres
!. | Snss u thess ysusiiy nessd en sns srsnl
49,, - daserih6d ID the ceIunn wTltte|