The sun., 1918-12-03
LIE PROPHETIC AGAIN
DELIGHTS AUDIENCE
Meyerbeer's Opera Sung to
Monday Night Subscribers
at Metropolitan.
DANCING Is ADMIRABLE
Skating Ballet Is Ludicrous-
Bodanzky Conducts With
Rhythm and Color.

hltyeTpeeT y HISTORICAL 1nySliC(hl, Sy III
bolical opera. lie Prophete," was
given to the delight OF the Monday
subscribers at the Metropolitan Opera
House last night. What can be said
now of this inhuman music, pompous,
arrogant, imposing. filled with the
glare OF specious glory, vocal and in
strumental?
II has its moments OF operate splen-
dor. when it glitters with a precious
alloy containing some gold. In the one
strong cry OF n mothers agony over
her. suffering son, the "Ah, mon fils,"
there is all that Is best OF Meyerbeer's
inspiration. In that same mothers
publication of her own agony in the
cathedral scene is betrayed all that is
cheapest in Meyerbeer's theatric trick
cry.
But operagoers have long loved the
spectacular contrasts so cunningly de
vised by Meyerbeer, and the corona
ton scene defies the foolish philosophy
OF criticism, which inquiries after the
relation between dramatic music and
the emotion of the moment In other
words. the greatest juEGler OF the
lyric drama can always entertain the
befooled spectator. lie Prophete" is
smart stun, and in the hands Of artists
entirely great can stir up the auditors.
Caruso Sincere as Jean.
Mr. Caruso is most sincere as Jean,
but 1t is not possible for him 10 be
entirely heroic or even moderately
mystic. He goes further than any
one could have expected. and he de-
serves praise. especially for his sing
ing. In certain passages of this score
he is at his best.
Nine. Homer makes no attempt to
turn Fidcs into a heroic figure, but
dwelis on her maternal tenderness.
which she delineates with some sue
cess. Her "Ah. mon fills" was beauti-
fully sung. albeit the measure OF it's
anguish was not reached.
The other members OF the cast were
/ the same as before. Miss Muzio as
Berthe. Mr.. Rothier as OberthuI and
Messrs. NIardones, Schlegel and Diaz
as the three black crows were COM
mendable. Rosina CALI and Mr.. Bon
figlio did some admirable dancing, but
the skating ballet was ludicrous. The
skaters could not skate. Mr.. Bodan-
zky conducted with rhythm. firmness
and color. The whole score sounded. :"
, as the musicians have It.
A Notable Audience.
The fourth week of the subscription
season at the Metropolitan began most
favorably. There was a notable audi
ence.
Mrs. Goelet's guests were Mr.. and
Mrs. +. Gray Griswold, Mrs. Whitney
Warren and Aspirant Whitney War
rem Jr,. of the French Army.
Captain Perry Belmont and Mrs.
. Belmont were with Mr.. and Mrs.
, Henry \. c. Taylor. Mrs. Henry B.
Hollins. Miss HollIns and Mr.. and Mrs.
A. Murray Young were in w. X VAN
derbilt's box.
Mr.. and Mrs. John z. Cowdin, the
Hon. Mrs Arson, Miss Alexandra
/ Emery and AIR. and Mrs. r. Horace
Gallatin were in Mr.. billiards box.
Mr.. and Mrs. Nicholas Murray But
Ter were with Mr.. and Mrs. w. Starr
Miller and Miss Edith Starr Miller
I With Mrs. William Douglas Sloane
were Justice and Mrs. Francis X. Pen
| dleton.
Mr.. and Mrs Goodhue Livingston
were with Mr.. and Mrs. W. Goadby
| Loew.
Mr.. and Mrs. j. Pierpont Morgan.
Mrs. J. S Morgan, Jr.. and Mrs. Paul
| Pennoyer were in the Morgan box.
Mrs. w. Watts Shermans party in
/ cludcd Mr.. and Mrs. Charles +. Hofr-
man and Mr.. and Mrs Lawrence l..
/ Gillespie.
| Mr.. and Mrs Pembroke Jones were
! with Miss Mabel Gerry.
Mr.. and Mrs. Joseph Earle Stevens
and Mr.. and Mrs, Oren Root were with
/ Mrs. Forsyth Wickcs.
/ Mrs. Newbold Morris, Mr.. ana Mrs,
! Ernest Harrah and Mrs. Francis
! Carolan were with Charles X. Sheriff.
! Mr.. and Mrs. Angler b. Duke ana
Mr.. and Mrs. James Il. Deering were
| with Mr.. and Mrs. John Aspegren.
There We're also in tho audience Mr..
and Mrs. Robert Endicott. Mrs Charles
. &. GreenouGh. Nine. Aida Mr.. and
! Mrs. Arthur Rye, Mr. and Mrs. G. Van
Rensselaer, Cogswell, Mrs. Charles H.
I Marshall, Mrs. Lewis Stuyvessnt
Chanler. Mr.. and Mrs. Lewis 1selin,
Miss Louise Iselin, L. Mcneil Bacon,
Norman Whitehouse, w. Rhinelandcr
| Stewart and Benjamin Wolles.