New-York tribune., 1918-02-24
The Part Carnpanini Played

For the love of opposition NJ. Cam
panini deserves our boundless thanks,
as he also deserves them for the pres
entation of number of French works
which the Metropolitan does not give
and for the opportunity he has given
us Of hearing Nine. Ame.ita CALI
Curc, Miss Mary Garden and Lucicn
Muratore. None Of the novelties was
of moment. "Azora" was utterly un-
original and supremely dull, and
had anything to commend them except
their excellent workmanship and few
passages of melodic beauty. But it
was delight to be able to hear
"Louise" and "Pelleas ct Melisande."
The Charpcntier opera ought long
ago to have been in the rcpcrtory of
the Metropolitan; the Debussy one
might at least have received some spc-
cial matinees.
OF Miss Mary Garden nothing new
can be said, except that our admra-
ton for her as an actress has deepcned
since those nights when she Quccncd
it at the Manhattan. Her That's was
as fine as ever, her Mtlisande as OK
Quisite, while as Carmen she created
the miracle of overcoming the handi
cap of nature and temperament bv
sheer intellectual power. \ cerebral
Carmen before had seemed a contra
diction in terms, but Mary Garden be-
1ieves in contradictions AS she IS a
woman we can understand this. What
we cannot understand is that she
makes us believe in contradictions
also,
In Lucien Muratore we made the
acquaintance of a great singing actor.
His Prinzivalle and his Romeo will not
be forgotten. He brought romance into
the tenor choir. Nine. Gall-Curc has.
Of course, been the talk of the town.
NO singer, not even Patti herself could
possibly live up to such press agcntry
as Nine. Gali-Curci was burdcned
with. The reaction is bound to come.
with some persons has como already.
Yet Nine. Galli-Curci is very great
singer and an exquisite actress. Hey
Iraviata was as perfect and as moving
performance as anything New York
has seen since the days of Patti. Her
Rosina was very lovely, her Dinorah
beautifully sung. Her Lucia and ner
Gilda were less admirable Nine. CALI
Curci's bravura has not the dash
her tioratura, the brilliancy, of a
Melba or Tetrazzini, though as an
artist, or in the quality of all except
her upper notes, she is incomparably a
greater singer than Tetrazzini. Nine
Galli-Curci also sings at times off
pitch, though in "Traviata" her intona-
tion was nearly fawlcss. The truth
is that her vocal mechanism is so deli
cate that the slightest physical aiment
may serve to derange it. When she is
at her best she is lyric soprano who
knows no equal, coloratura soprano
who possesses grace, facility and
charm Of utterance. Above all she is
simple and sincere. Volumes mirht
be written on the power of these two
virtues. A living example of that
power is Nine. Amelita Galli-Cur
Rarer far than a beautiful voice, rarer
than taste, or charm, or intelligence
are simplicity and sincerity. And the
poor, dear public the average singer
SO despises knows this and, when it
finds these virtues, takes their pos
SCISSOR straight to its heart.
This is the bright side of the picture
Unfortunately, there is another side
and Of this it is we'll to be frank If
Mr.. Campanini returns to US next sea
son, and We hope he will. he must
bring to us a far more perfect ensem-
bic than the one with which we were
regaled this year. The minor singers
Of the company were largely made