New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-03-02
Operate Reflections
A Repiesc Of Performances by the Chicago Company
and a Discussion OF Opera and Singers: Remin-
iscences OF the Art OF Adelinn Patti
BY II. f. krehbiel

neopls of New York were privileged to
hear thirty-tve performances by the
Chicago Opera Company, in addition
to almost as many by the troupe per-
manently located at the Metropolitan
Oners House, Mr.. Campanini and his
forces have gone their way, leaving To-
cal operatic matters to resume their
normal course. The season at the Lex
incton Theatre provided much material
for gossip and little for serious re-
Election. The fact that five operas new
10 local lists were brought forward by
the visitors might have offered larger
subject for comment had the novelties
proved to be of greater artistic conse-
ouence than they seemed to be under
The circumstances of their representa-
ton. This qualification is made be-
canse in the case Of one work, at least,
we fancy that greater care and finish
in the mounting and performance would
have disclosed merits which convention
al acting, old-fashioned and provincial
scenic representation, crude singing
cealed from popular appreciation. The
opera was Catalani's "Loreley," to
which we purpose to return presently.
Twenty-seven Operas In Thirty Days
An energetic spirit on the part of
the management speaks out of the rec
ord of things done. Assuming that the
announced programme was carried out
down to last night "a thing for which
we cannot vouch at the time of this
writing, the company produced TWEEN
ty-seven operas in the thirty days of
its secular activity. The possibility of
such an achievement was due, of course,
to the fact that the local season was
preceded by one in the organizations
home city, at which the work of prep
arston had been done. In the list were
eleven operas which are in the current
list at the Metropolitan Opera House
and which therefore invited attention
only because Of the principal perform
ers concerned in them. "Madama But
terhy," which had the largest number
Of performances (three), challenged
curious interest because the little Jap
anese lady, Tamaka Miura, imperson-
ated part to which enc could at least
give verismilitude by her appearance.
"Thais" and Carmen" rested on the
PERSONAL equation of Mary Garden,
Lucia di Lammermoor," al Barbere
di Siviglia," "Traviata" and "Crispino
la Comare" on that of Nine. CALI
Curci. For "Manon," Faust" "Trova-
tore" "Rigoletto" ana "Cavalleria Rus
tcana" there was justification, outside
Of the popularity of the works them
selves, only in the fact that singers not
familiar to the public appeared in them
They were "of nights" so regarded by
management and public alike, which
were necessary to fill in the time, when
the singers whose attractiveness did
not depend upon their operas were not
engaged. They had a single perform
snce each. Of Miss Gardens operas,
"Gsmonda," "ThaIs," "Pelleas ct Nell
sande" and "Cleopatre" had two per
formances each, "Le Jongleur de Notre
Dame" Carmen" and "Monna Wanna"
one. Nine. Galli-Curci, who came in
the second week OF the season and was
Mr.. Campanini's most powerful magnet,
sang twice in Lucia" and "Traviata"
and once in al Barblere," "Crispino e
la Comare," LINDA di Chamounix" and
"Dinorah." One of the novelties In
which neither Miss Garden nor Nine.
Galli-Curci took part had two per
formances. This was "Le Chemi-
neau," by Leroux, composer whose
singular fate 1t was to wait years for
an introduction to America and die
shortly after the Chicago company's
production OF "Le Chemineau" was fol-
lowed by the Metropolitan company's
Presentation of LA Refine Fiammette."
10 complete tho list of operas per-
formed but not mentioned in tho spe-
I eial enumeration, wa must add "RomGo
q lulictte," Lies Contcs d'HofYmann,"
l "isabeau" "a revamped novelty OF last
Year,, "Werthcr." Fedora" and "Lc
Well Agile" tho last the product of
Raoul Gunsbourg. whose right to a
place among creators OF music has not
been established, but who has placed
MS name in the operate roster by his
stage adaptation of Berlioz's Gamma
ton de Faust" and his enterprise as
entrepreneur in Monte Carlo, Paris and
l elsewhere.
An Ignorant Comparison
concerning the singers Of Mr.. Cam
paninIs company no significant contri-
/ button to the comment which has been
current during the last month can be
maze. There was no addition to the
already extrayagant estimation in
| which Miss Garden and Nine. CALI
'urc' are held by large contingent
among the city's operagoers, and
'aere was no diminution. In tho lob
D'ss and in few newspapers there
was much fulsome and indiscriminatn
1 .auistion Of the former for her act
ing and the latter for her singing
CHARACTERISTIC of tho absence Of a
Il s'ahdard Of judgment based upon
Il knowledge, taste and experience. was
'he occasional coupling Of the lattera
.ame In favorable comparison with
II mat OF Mrne AdeI;ra p..t