The sun., 1918-12-15

the casts for them.
AS a close observer OF opera for
many years. The Suns recorder is
convinced that "Ffdelio" was sincerely
admired in New York when Lii Leh-
mann sang Leonord and Anton Seidl
conducted; but that no artist can re-
vitalize it to-day, when it must be
sung to empty benches, while the
agonized shrieks Of almost any tenor
in "Pagliacci" will jam the audi
torium with nearly hysterical people
ready to shrek in approval of the
ar splitting outcries.
Net Given Because 1t Doesn't Pay.
verdrs "Falstaff'' is not given by
Mr.. Gatti- Casazza because it does not
pay" 1t does not attract large audi
ences. The reason it does not do so
IS that in order to enter into the joys
Of its music the auditor must abandon
his customary attitude of mental in
dolence and instead of lolling in his
seat waiting for some one to sing
something ,vocally exciting must
sharpen his faculties to perceive the
exquisite devices by which Verdi has
published the humors of the story and
drawn musical portraits of the char
acters
That Is an achievement Of art. Who
cares for art? Let us hear Mr.. Caruso
making the loudest possible sounds
with his voice. That is the kind OF
art we desire, and we pay our good
money to get it. Mr.. Gatti- CasazZa.
who is not conducting an educational
institution, delivers the good.
Therefore the structures Of COM
Inentators who make war upon false
art are a waste of good paper and
tolerable ink. Some few people, a
small company of sincere music lovers,
really deplore the decay of the art
of singing and the swift descent of
public taste in regard to IL. To be
sure, the expression of grief over the
degeneration of vocal art is always
likely to want sympathy, for the goot
reason that lamentations of this kline
have been common to all periods ant
TO all countries
fortunately there are still SOM,
operagoers who remember what thu
standard of Metropolitan Opera Hous,
singing was few years ago and the!
may feel inclined to believe that thi
plant is not merely the repetition o
an ancient refrain. And there ar
some good singers still at the Metro
politan. Not all OF them are tn
foremost favorites of the public; tina
Is unquestionable.
Caruso stiI OPERATE GOD.
Mr.. Caruso is the god of the oper
ado temple and no other singer &
the sacred choir at present indulge
IN more really bad singing than h
does. When he sings as well a
he can. he is still the great Carus'
But no one knows better than he tina
q does not make any difference whe
he does so long as he makes stuff
GENTLY loud and brilliant high tones.
Mr.. Caruso is not wholly
blame. The general state OF voc;
art at the opera is one of rudenes
OF style, blatant noisemaking, senss
tonalism in the treatment of climaxe
and complete lack OF finish and RI
pose 1t is the easiest way. AS
Is difficult for a pianist to engae
the attention OF Sunday night col
cert assemblage with a Beethove
sonata and easy to win fifteen recall
by playing LISTS Hungarian far
tasia, so is it not easy for a sing
10 move listeners by the sheer beau'
OF chaste vocal art,
II Mr.. Caruso's name has bee
mentioned, it was chosen because
Is the supreme power in opera II
leads, all others must follow. He
IN position to dictate the artist
policy OF the house in 80 far
singing is concerned. He can do
ny the irresistible force of exampl
Let him ignore the clamor of Il
c'aque and the unciIltivated seeke
after mere noise and sing always
beautifully as he can and we sht
nave a beneficial revolution in Il
metropolitan Opera House.
Is il not about time that the pc
'iActory playing of the national a
mem at concerts and the opera w
stopped?
II the public showed the slighte
respect for the performance the
might he some excuse for its contin
snce. but the conditions attending L
PROCLAMATION Of the triumphant 81
NVA Of Old Glory are now such as
'F.ng the blush of humiliation to eve
patriotic American.
from the very beginning OF the W
mas been impossible to persua
nay parsons that enything beyo
IN'ng was required of them. Ma
1'' rise because they had learned tn
S,'tnE st!il was resented by othe
OUT once on their feet they regard
''e'r duty as discharged.
show II Is m BOre In Them
Ih's" persons never felt that tn
's"i to stand STILL refrain from tai
,"F or laughing, omit turning arou
- stare At the boxes and in gene
."ou's" in conduct which betra!
"''F opinion that the playing OF