The New York herald., 1921-11-26
By w. j. HENDERSON.

Boito's "Meistofele" was brought
forward at the Metropolitan Opera
House last evening amid jubilant
celestial trumpetings behind the scenes
ana juDiiaLt n.iuan app..Ls. Di .ne
auditorium The opera had been re-
vived the previous season after q con-
siderable silence. Indeed. the last pre-
vious denying spirit of great prominence
had been the distinguished Chaliapin,
who is now trying to recover the voice
with which he then defied the powers Of
heaven. The cast of last evening was
that which reintroduced the opera last
winter except that Mr.. Mardones re-
placed Mr.. Didur as the arch fiend.
Mr.. Gigli reappeared as FGust 1t was
In this part that no revealed himself to
this public last season Tn It he made
known certain excellences of his ART
which continue to give pleasure to all
who care for real art in singing. One
noted again last evening the charm Of
the pure quality and smoothness OF his
tone. the finish of his phrasing and
accentuatior In the delivery of recita-
tives. the finesse OF his transitions from
full to niezza voce, the fluent character
OF his elegant legato.
For McfstOJele Mr.. Mardones has a
most excellent voice. To be sure, he did
not make so much of the greatly over
rated 'son 10 spirito che mega" as
audiences are wont to expect of 1t /; but
the number achieves its effect. to be
plain. only when it is beloved. Mr..
Mardones has large and sonorous
voice. but being addicted to artistic
methods he declines at all times to any
thing but sing. He sang last evening
with organllke tone and with dramatic
feeling.
The feminine side of the opera was
presented by Mime. Aida as Marguerite
aud Nine. Easton as Helen in the epi-
sodic vision OF the classic Sabbath. 1t is
by no means easy to make conspicuous
figures Of these two ladies of F1uSt's
fancy. If the music Is acceptably sung
the women pass in contemplated review
without much emotional excitement eX-
cept that which may be aroused by the
pitiful spectacle of the demented Mar
guerite in prison.
Mime. Aida, who made her first ap-
pearance this season, repeated a per-
formance which has already commanded
admiration. Nine. Easton was equal to
the demands Of Helen, as she was last
winter
Mr.. Bada deserves a special word of
commentator for his singing OF the
secondary role OF Wagner. The chorus
was heard to advantage and the or
chestra played very well. Mr.. Moran
zopi conducted with skill and authority.
The Marchioness OF Donegal attended
las ii nt performance - guest or MT
L., l,nxr \
Others with Mr.. and Mrs. Wilson were
Miss Marion S. Wilson, their daughter.
Mr. and Mrs Robert Kelso Cassatt of
Philadelphia and Chester Alan Arthur.
The guests of Mr.. and Mrs. Henry
White in box II were Mr. and Mrs.
John J. Chapman. the Rev. DR.. Leighton
Parks and Miss Ellen S. Parks. With
Mrs. Frederick Pearson in box were
Capt. and Mrs. Woodbury. Phelps of
Newport, r. T.; Mr.. and Mrs. Beverley
Bogert and Mr.. George Ledlie.
Mrs. Whitney Warren. Mrs. Frank
Gray Griswold and Mr.. Charles Allen
Mum were guests of Mrs. Richard
Gambrill in box g. In the party with
Mr.. and Mrs. William Fahnestock in
box 10 were Mrs. Charles A. Childs.
Mrs. Julian W. Robbins and Mr. Albert
Morris Bagby. In box were Mr.. and
Mrs. Joseph II. Choate. Mrs. Adolf La
GenDurR, Mr.. and Mrs, fTHUcl5 ~. cteN-
eng and Mr.. Lawrence s. Butler.
Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Webster Fish.
Mr.. ard Mrs. Robert winthrop kean
and Miss Sarah Schuyler Butler formed
party in box II. The guests Of Mr..
and Mrs. Anson w. Burchard In box 25
were Mr.. and Mrs. Joseph Wright Ha"-
riman and Mr.. and Mrs. Howard G.
Brokaw With Mr.. and Mrs. Charles
Mather MacNeill in box 80 were Mr.. and
Mrs. Augustus +. Kountze. Mile. Tre"e
de Pourtales, Mr.. Harrison Williams
and Comte de Perigny. In Mrs. Van
derbilt's box were Mr.. and Mrs. Gren-
Vile Temple Emmet. DR.. and Mrs. Allen
M. Thomas and Mr.. and Mrs. Joseph
Larocque.
Others in the audience were Mr..
CASTOR Llebert, Consul-General Of
France: Miss Marguerite Liebert, Mr..
and M~s. Townsend Morgan. Mr.. Frank
lin a. Plummer, Miss Julia Berwind,
Mr.. and Mrs. Frederick M. Goodwin. Mrs.
Henry n. Tilford. Miss Annette Tilford.
Mr.. and Mrs w. Fellowes Morgan, Mr..
and Mrs. Felix T. Rosen, Mr.. and Mrs.
f. Egerton Webb. Mr.. and Mrs Ray
Shollard and Mr.. and Mrs. Henry w.
Taft.