The sun., 1919-01-19
OLD OPERA BUFFA
DELIGHTS AUDIENCE
"Crispino Q la COmare' Is
Produced Brilliantly at
the Metropolitan.
MISS HEMPEL SCORES
Scott Is Irresistible and dc
Scgurola Immensely Funny
Other Triumphs.

"Crispino la Comare," an old opera
buffa. written by the Ricci brothers
was introduced into the repertory oil
the Metropolitan Opera House yester-
day afternoon The musical comedy
was first heard In New York In 1885
under Maretzek. with Miss Kellogg as
Annetta. but its triumphant year was
1866. when the great Giorgio Roncon'
sang CIspino.
1t was again vitalized In 1885 when
It was the medium for the play OF
Adelina PATHS exuberant spirits and
the exercise OF her captivating skill 1T
the delivery OF florid music. On Marcn
6. 1908, its lifting tunes were again
aroused to life in order that Oscar Ham.
merstein's Importation from the golo
coast Nine. Luisa Tetrazzini might carol
through its entire length making or II a
prelude to Sir Julius Benedicts aston.
ishing variations on the Carnival OF
Venice"
1t was sung twice ip the followins
season and subsequently followed Nine
Tetrazzini into the mysterious regions
beyond the vision of Broadway. II has
not yet reached Nine. Galli-Curci, but
all forid music comes to the prima
donna who waits. Miss Hemrel OF the
METROPOLITAN forces, In sear,l OF new
fields for her art has found the Rec
brothers creation and bravely aided by
Mr. Scotti. whose illness caused n post
ponement Of its first performance
launched herself gayly into Its scintil.
lating measures before the delighted
auditors OF yesterday afternoon.
A Capering Farce.
There Is no need OF solemn discussion
OF the opera. 1t Is capering farce. not
tNl II
mood and pretty in musical conceit
Many heroes of fairy tale. whether in
Shakespeare or the Arabian Nights. have
been monarchs OF n sort for day OF
two through the power OF enchantmen'
and this opera offers a happy variant
In the tale o. the cobbler who Is miracu'
lousy tran formed into successful
physician. Naturally his Uranium be-
comes infamed. he scorns the power
that hefriended him, is properly pun
ished and returned we'll chastened &c
tho bosom OF his considerable family
1t &c all naive and childl!ke. yet. like
nll real comedy. 1t holds up human
roibles to rldicule and administers a
sanitary lesson. The music is mostly
Joyous in temper and infectious in style
o. course when the fairy gives the
puffed up cobbler a moment OF terror
the score moves into that outer dack-
ness where tromhones wall and tympani
gnash their teeth. but IL soon returns
TO float happily on its running river
OF innocent merriment."
It was once upon time the fashion
to make n catalogue OF the gems o!
the OPERA" naming each air or duet or
what not by the first words OF the firs'
line: but this roll call no longer seems
important The waltz CANON eta, the
brilliant ensemble Of the berg ( scene
the delicious trio of the IT, nedico,
and the pretty finale can be snJoyed
without being enumerated.
The melodic character OF the opera Is
similar to that Of a hundred othei
works OF the Italian bura type. II
might have been composed by Donizett
or Cimarosa or some other OF the Tor
line OF maestr,. But although IL dis
closes no striking individuality, the mu
sic Is filled with the buoyancy, thu
sparkle and the gayety OF 1taly's humo.'
Performance Is Admirable.
In the hands Of such Artists "a thos,
in yesterdays cast Il must always please
an audience. The performance was ad
mlrable in spirit and In detail. hart
hearted human would be that one VIII:
found no pleasure in It. Miss Hempe
sang and acted Annettd charmingly. He
comedy was light, discreet and conta
gious. Her singing was fluent. lumin
Gus and elegant. Not to be outdone b,
her predecessor. she sang Benedict's vi
riations in the banquet scene, herself
CARRIED IN costume revealing a fine ap
probation of the situation.
Mr. Scott as CrlSl.io was irresistible
All old operagoers know that this re
markable actor sweeps the scale OF i'm
personaton from ScdrpiG to Don Pas
qlIale with supreme ense. but at no TIM
has his comic actin" been so full o
! champagne as It was yesterday As d.
Mirdboldno Mr.. de Segurola was In
mensely funny. and Mr.. Chalmers a
| Fab,i=io completed the comic trio.
Miss Braslau sang the music Of TIL
fairy In thoroughly suitable style
, The chorus had little TO do. but did 4!
well. and the duties Of the orchestri
were OF comparatively small weight. Thu
| opera was presented with new scenery
which was we'll conceived and wei
painted. The production as who'll
brought new credit &c the metropolitan
and ought to insure for ''Crispino Ii
Comare" a permanent place in the roper
tory.