The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-11-22
CARMEN ARTISTS
LACK VOCAL COLOR
Crimi as sDon jose Shows No
Great Success in Well
Known Part.
FARRAR IN POOR VOICE
Czecho-SlOvak Consul General
Among Audience at Metro
pOlitan.

Carmen was the offering at the
Metropolitan Opera House last evening.
The performance served TO introduce
two new representations, that Of DON
Jose by Mr.. Crimi and that of Bscamteo
by Mr.. Couzinou. In the present temper
Of the public toward the opera these as
sumptions should have been matters OF
great moment, but It would be extrava-
CANT to bestow upon either a more laud-
atory adjective than the war worn "ac-
ceptable" Mr.. Crimi seemed moro than
uncomfortable In his dealings with the
French language and this may have ac-
counted for the cramped and unlovely
character OF his tone.
Mr.. Couzinou sang the music OF Esod-
milo correctly. In good style and with
dramatic appreciation, but there was lit
tic dash In his delivery, chiefly because
his voice was not large enough for the
more vigorous parts of the music. How
ever, a Frenchman has the right school,
ing for this opera and Ia, as remarked,
surely acceptable.
Miss Farrar appeared in the hrst act
in most gorgeous costume, went into
the cigarette factory and in the fight had
the whole thing pulled of, 70 that she
reappeared in a-well, 1t was all white
and had q rune around the bottom. This
was one Of the most striking features OF
the American sopranos performance.
She continued to be in very poor voice
and sang without power or color
Those Bright Gypsies.
Miss Peterson, the Micheld, was also
In poor voice and produced feeble tone
OF a dull quality. Her style was decid-
eddy wanting in authority This brings
us to the minor gypsies unprecedented by
Misses Sparkes and Braslau and Messrs.
Rada and Ananian. These made the
quintet 10 with such spirit that II was
the brightest spot in the opera Mr.. de
Segurola was also In the cast with his
transparent monocle and his opaque
voice. Mr.. Monteux conducted and the
general dulness OF the representation,
caused by the average weakness OF the
singing, was not frightened by hif
| efforts.
In the Audience.
Mr.. and Mrs. James w. Gerard had
as their guests in the Wilson box Mrs.
John Turner Atterbury. Mrs. John r.
| Drexel and William Hude Nelson.
Mr. and Mrs. Frederic CORTLAND Pen
| fields guests were Mr.. and Mrs j.
Robert Mckee and Mr.. and Mrs. Edward
VI. Padelford.
Mr.. and Mrs Oliver @. Jennings and
Mr. and Mrs Robert Brewster were with
Henry r Taylor.
Mr., and Mrs. F. Gray Griswold. Mr.
and Mrs Nicholas Murray Butler and
Mrs. Ralph Ellis were in Mrs. Sloane's
| box.
Among the 0pcraKOers.
Mr.. and Mrs Stephen II. Olin's guests
we're Mr.. and Mrs. j. Fred Tams and
Miss Sara Schuyler Butler.
Mrs. Charles De Loosely Oelrichs
| Mrs. Newbold Leroy Edgar. Mrs, Fred
! erck I,ewisohn and Norman de r
! Whtehouee were In Mrs, Goelet's box
The Czecho- Slovak Consul-General, F
Kopecky. and several officers were ir
| Mr.. and Mrs Otto II. kahn's box. There
were also in the audience Mr.. and Mrs
Finley j. Shepard, Mr.. and Mrs Charles
II. Braman. Mrs. William Chamberlain
| Augustus u. Juilliard, Miss Louise 1se
| lin and Mr.. and Mrs. Henry Reese
Hoyt.