The New York herald., 1920-01-29
IRUFFO ACCLAIMED
IN RAVEL OPERA
Worlds Highest Salaried Barry
tone Sings in Premiere of
'L'Heure Espagnol."
WITTY AND NAUGHTY TOO
Music Not the Feature That Attracted
Most Attention from Enthu-
siastic Audience.

While the preniere OF an opera by one
OF tho foremost living composers would, as
a general thing, outshadow all interest in
Individuals. the first Performance in New
York last night of Maurice Rayel's
"L'Hcure Espagnoi." fresh from successes
in Paris. London and Chicago. took a sec
ordary place compared WITH the return to
the local operattc stage 81 Tito Ruffo. the
highest paid barytone in the world.
He was heard es Tonic, in II Pagliacci"
which followed the new work. When he
finished the prologue. the whole audience.
from the top gallery to the front row of
the orchestra, burst into spontaneous
applause. There were shouts and whistling
1t was good to see New York operatic
audience really wake UP and shout its ap-
proval There Is too much polite applause
and too little real enthusiasm. But such
an ovation as Mr.. Ruffo received is almost
unparalleled in the history Of barytones
in New York He had to repeat part of
the Prologue. His voice is the most vital.
the most thrilling among operate barry.
tones His idea Of the Prologue dramati
cally is different from that of other sing
ers. He is original as we'll as thrilling,
and his singing was more artistic and
less theatrical than when heard here be-
fore.
There were reports that Tito Ruffo lost
his voice during the war, for he did not
sing when his country was in the fighting
on account of his military duties, but his
singing is now better. IL anything. than
before. though his high notes. are not
quite so large.
Witty and Naughty, Too.
AS for IL 'Heure Espagnol," it is very
witty and very naughty, and, In spite of
that or perhaps because Of that very
charming. The music was not the thing
that attracted most. II is modern and
dissonant. but Louis Hasselmans. the con-
ductor, played 1t so softly that 1t did not
interfere greatly with the enjoyment OF
those who heard 1t.
Ravel is composer of intellectual music.
"L'Heure EspaCnol" Is an opera Of animal
spirits. SO the r"usic and the story were
mot always in accord. Yet all Of the naugh-
tiness was suggested rather than actually
Iacted The suggestiveness of the music
was excellent. 1t suggested great deal.
The opera tells the story OF CLOCK
makers wife who has admirers. She has
them carried up to her room in large. COM
modious clocks. She has muleteer carry
them. And somehow before the end of the
opera, which lasts only three-quarters OF
an hour, she finds the strength of the
muleteer more desirable than the money
of banker or the refinement Of a. young
bachelor And finally the husband re-
turns. It is a very modern work. for il
ends happily with quintet, instead OF
tragically, with a solo at the clock
makers discovery that his wife Is not too
faithful 4
Miss GaIp's Performance.
Miss Yvonne Gall was very seductive as
the errlng wife, and she sang her music
with spirit Alfred Maguenat's portrayal
of the character of the vulgar muleteer
was a masterpiece Of acting. Edouard
Cotreuil. making his first appearance here,
and Edmund Warnery. as two of the low
ers, and Desire Defrere, as the husband
were excellent. 1t was all well done. and
the audience was amused. Few found the
story shocking, though 1t would have
caused much blushing II it had been sung
in English.
Aside from Mr.. Ruffo's sensational sing
ing the performance of II Pagliacci' was
not very interesting. Gino Marinuzzi. the
new conductor put life into the orches-
trail score. He is real leader and a fine
musician. But the chorus was rough and
| the performance lacking in distinction.
| Miss Marie Santillan made her first ap-
pearance here as Media. She Is a Mexi-
can singer of Spanish descent. Her VOICE
| is of good quality in the middle register
but she has an explosive uneven style OF
singing. Forrest Lamont was an accept
able but not a brilliant Canio. The audi
ence, which was of large proportions and
contained many Italians. received it with
demonstrations OF approval.
Among those who attended the perform
ance were Mrs. Vincent Astor, Mrs
Charles T. Barney, Mrs. Frederick T
lFrelinghuysen, Mrs. Devices w. Dilworth
Mr. Peter A. 3. Widener. I'd; Mr.. and Mrs
Bernard NJ Baruch. Miss Belle Il. Raruch
Mr.! and Mrs. Herbert d. Robbins. Mrs
l.. Stuart Wing, Mr.. l.. Stuart Wing Mr.
Alfred +. Seligsberg, Mrs. Frederick Pear
son, Mrs Frederic Nelson, Mrs. Charles
NJ Oelrichs, Mr.. Albert Norris Bagby, Mr
and Mrs. Adrian Iselin, I'd, and Mr.. l.. F.
IIobrook Belts.