New-York tribune., 1920-11-18
Adorable Aida
Again Thrills
Opera Audience
Giuseppe Danise Makes
Debut at Metropolitan
With a Notable Cast
i'll Ever.Popular Score
Destinn i'm the Title Role
Matzenauer, Martinelli and
Rothier Also Heard on
Second Night of Season
BY II. E.. Krehbiel

Admiration for the pomp and cir
cumstance OF "AIda," musical as we'll
as scenic, is as firmly rooted in the
opera-loving public of New York as
a banyan tree in its native soil. Like
the banyan. too, it is wide-spreading
and ever throwing out new boughs,
new stems, new branches and new
foliage. Respect for it grows with each
hearing, and also affection.
The surviving members Of the gem
Grafton, which loved it when they and
it were young, love it still, with a
wiser, a ripper and deeper love. 1t
was the pride of the old Academy of
Music and has been the pride of the
metropolitan Opera House from the
beginning till now.
Inspiration for Singers
It's habiliments have sometimes been
excessively bedizened, and singers who
were unequal to the dramatic demands
of its story and the musical demands
of its score have sometimes par
tlcipated in its representations, but
the time can not be recalled when the
performers as whole did not put
their hearts into their work and evoke
responsive throb from their audi
tors.
There have been seasons without
Faust" and other children of popular
affection, but a season without "Aida"
IS scarcely conceivable. Year after wear
1T has led the list, regardless of it's
casts.
Such an opera deserves the most
honorable treatment at the hands of
managers that they can give it and
such treatment has been accorded it,
as rule, at the Metropolitan estab-
lshment. 1t would have made more
brilliant opening for the season than
the opera performed on Monday, but,
s'nce an opening night must have its
Caruso, and as Caruso, in company with
at least four more first-class artists
end other costly accessories. is prop
osition which does not appeal to the
metropolitan director (why should it
on any but artistic grounds?) it was
reserved for the second performance.
Danise Makes His Debut
1t was none the less welcome last
night when the pleasure of listening
to such fine artists as Mesdames Des-
tinn and Matzenauer, and Messrs. Mar
tinelli and Rothier was paired with
the pleasureable sensations evoked by
a newcomer in the company.
This newcomer was Giuseppi Danise.
who played the role of Amonasro with
ali the impetuous vigor, picturesque
pose and action and sang the music
with all the barbaric spirit which any
nearer, novice or veteran could ask.
This latest addition of Mr.. Gatti's male
forces has an opulent endowment of
voice. 1t is heroic in quality, sonorous
and warm. Verdi's Ethiopian King
stands quite alone in the gallery of the
lyric drama, however, and concerning
Mr.. Danise's vocal style, it will be safer
to talk after he has been heard in
operas of different order than Aida "
Comment beyond word Of gratitude
at the privilege Of meeting them again
ought not to be expected on Miss Des
tinn's Aida Nine. Matzenauer's Anne
rls, Mr.. Martneli's Radames and Mr.
Rother's Ramhs ought not to be ex
pected; but q reviewer who failed to
mention the finished singing of Miss
Seundelius the the unseen priestess
might be justly charged with neglect
OF duty toward the art of pure song
Mr.. Moranzoni conducted the perform
ance.