The sun., 1918-11-12
OPERA OPENING is !
IN TIME WITH DAY
French Music With National
Hymns and Cheers for Bel
GUM at Metropolitan.
PERFORMANCE AS USUAL
Caruso as Samson and Homer
as 'Dalila' Repeat
Successes.

The regular season OF superlatively
grand opera opened last evening at the
Metropolitan Opera House under condi-
tons which transformed II into a giori-
fcat,on OF the genius OF France. The
opera selected by Mr.. Gatti-Casaxsa,
who is surely the son Of a prophet was
Saint-Saens's Samson ct Daiila-" SO
upon the close Of the day which saw
the king business wound up in Ger
many, and the conclusion OF history's
most tremendous conflict In the restora-
ton Of the lilies Of France TO the stolen
fields Of Alsace- Lorraine. the high gods
Of music chanted their pean OF thanks
giving In the melliduous measures Of the
dean Of French composers. ,.
The audience was suited TO the occa-
sion. II was representative of New
York. but II was cosmopolitan In Its
variety In spirit II was united. and its
peut up emotion found unchecked utter
ance when the national anthem Of the
United States flung forth its sonorous
cry Of victory. That demonstration
would FOLLOW was q foregone conclusion,
and that acclamations were ready for
the music of the Allies was equally GER
tain ft t.
sing National Anthems. CO. b.
The demonstration took place after
the first act. The curtains opened.
showing the principals In the fore
ground surrounded and backed by the
chorus. A United States nag was swung
at the rear In the middle of the stage
a,A tho ~ "A an h
waved a small copy of Il. Nine. Homer
held .aloft a large national nag. Mr.
Rothier held a French nag 30 that its
folds araped Mr.. Coustinou's head. Mr..
Caruso carried the italian dag. Mr..
Ananian the British and Mr.. Reschi-
glian the Serbian. The Star Spangled
Banner" was. Of course. sung first, the
"Marseillaise' second. the "Garibaldi
Hymn" third and God Save the King
last s -
Tumultuous applause compelled Mr..
Monteux to add the ''Marche Reaie" to
the list; After long delay the music
OF the Belgian hymn was found and II
was played. Major Creighton Webb
called for Three cheers for Belgium.
the nation that saved the world" The
cheers were given with will and the
performance went on.
Samson ct Dalila" has been per-
formed at the Metropolitan SO often that
comment on 1t might be regarded as
more than supernuous. Now that We
have the work among our fami Tar joys
let US not forget that we owe It's pres
ence to that amiabls old father-in law Of
genius FranE List. In the Rerue Mu-
sicale Of November s. 1901, Saint-5aens.
not only composer. but also poet, essay
list and litterateur. wrote:
"Hof nnlv did IISHf hava sQa ~ aon At
Dalila' performed at weimar. but with
out him that work would never have
come into being. My suggestions on the
subject had met with such hostility that
l had given up the idea OF writing H..
and all that existed was some illegible
notes. Then at weimar one day I
spoke TO Liszt about It, ana he said to
me quite trustingly and without having
heard a note: Finish your work I will
have It performed here The events Of
1870 delayed its performance several
years"
So to the grandfather Of the now ex-
tinct Siegfried line we owe the inspiring