Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-12-15

The Metropolitan Opera Co. last eve
ming gave an excellent performance OF
Arrigo Boito's strikingly original opera,
"Mcfistofcle,' work first produced
more than half a century ago, but which
today sounds fur more modern that
many operas written since. and which
at the time of its original production
must have sounded quite unbearablc to
Italian audiences. II probably comes
closer to the ideal music drama which
Wagner had in mind at the time than
any opera composed by any one except
the Bnyreuth master himself, and Il
should be remembered that at the time
il was first produced Tristan" had
been finished only three years and the
Ring" had not yet been finished.
The production was full Of spirit and
was supcrbly staged. Mr. Didur in the
title role had the most to do. and all Of
1t was splendidly done. There were
certain places. such as the dramatic
interlude in the prologue and the mas
sive aria. Son 10 Spirito," in the first
act. where one might have wished for
more tonal power and rounder quality
Of voice, but the solo, "Ecco ii Monde. I"
in the Brocken scene, was sung with
fine tone and power, and throughout
the opera he certainly left nothing to
be wished for in the magnificent dra =
matte Interpretation which he gave to
most trying role. Didur IL unques
tionably one OF the greatest. II not the
very greatest actor, among the operate
singers, and Mefstofele gave him full
scope for his remarkable talents. II
also presented him In new light as
an actor, and he proved to be rs re-
markable in the sardonic. malicious role
as he has shown himself to be in the
tragedy Of "L'Amorc del Ire Re" OF
the comedy Of "Gianni Schichhi."
| a new italian tenor. Beniaminu
created "A most favorable impression
His voice is rather light. but he had
sufficient power to hold his own against
an unusually heavy orchestration, al
| though he was at his best in the more
lyric numbers. and in the two great
duets, "Lontano, lontano," with Mar
gherita in the second act, and Will
Elena in the third act. His dramatic
work was also excellent.
For an Italian opera the parts al
lotted to the chief female characters ar,
surprisingly small compared with thos'
Of Mefistofele and Faust. They wer,
all we'll done. Frances Aida made {
charming Marghcrita both in voice ant
| appearance, her opening aria, LII
Altra Motto Fondo al Marc. in tn
second act being one Of the best piece
of work Of the evening, while she SAM
to good advantage also in the ensembles
the eccentric quartet in the gardcl
scene and the duet with Faust. Florenc
Easton displayed an equally high stand
ard as Elena. doing her best work Il
the graceful duet ia Luna Immoble
with Pantalis and the love music wit
Faust. The smaller parts of Pantalis
Marta, Wagner and Nereo we're ac
ccptably sung and acted by Misse
Perini and Howard and Messrs. Bad
and Paltrinieri, respectively.
The staging was magnificent. and FIRE
qucntly brought applause before not
had been sung. The Broken seen
and that of the Classical Sabbath wer
especially elaborate and beautiful. I'll
ballet had much to do, and the dances
arranged by Rosina Cali, fully carrie
out the paganism expressed in II
scenes in which they occurred. TT
dance which closed the wild scene
the Brockcn was as accurate and beau
, tiful In its satanic like movements {
any ever seen in this city, while II