The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-12-25
METROPOLITAN HAS
WONDERFUL SEASON
Opera Is Crowded Nightly Regardless
of Artists Name-Who Is
to Sing.

NEW YORK, Dec. 24-Its light un-
dimmed by the passing OF its greatest
iluminary of recent years -Enrico Car
uso-the Metropolitan Opera has reach
ed the height Of what its social and
professional sponsors acclaim as the
most successful season since the
worlds eyes were focused on New
York as the hub of the operate uni
erse.
Not, officials of the opera said today,
that a great gap has not been left in
the ranks of the artists who have made
il so famous. Caruso's place, they de-
cIared, cannot be filled in a few months
or even in a few years. But his death
has served to defect the interest of
opera goers from the brilliancy of the
individual singer and to widen it to en-
brace the opera itself and the great,
though less well known stars who
nightly are drawing multitudes to the
historic Broadway auditorium.
Great changes have taken place in
the opera as a social institution, they
declare. The social side of the gather
ings there season by season, has again
taken on the aspect it wore a genera
ton ago. Once more it is the brilliant
show place it was in the SOS and sos
Nightly, regardless of the name of the
tenor or the soprano who is to sing,
boxes, stalls and chairs from orches-
ira pit to peanut gallery" are at a
premium, and every foot of standing
room in the shadowy horseshoe about
the walls is solid with the mass of mu-
sic lovers who would rather stand three
and a half hours than miss the per-
Torrance.
In a widespread reaction from the
fashions of years before and during the
war, the gentlemen opera goers appear
in evening dress. whether they sit in
a box or any other part Of the house
below the gallery. And many who
stand through the succession of acts
parade the Hobbies and doff the shini-
est of silk hats to acquain:ances or
when they go to exchange visits
among the boxes filled with richly
gowned and jewelled women
Apace with the changing custom in
dress and the etiquette of the entracte,
the public has mastered its post bell
lum aversion for German opera, mani
tested in 1919 by threats of violence
that would ensue on their presentation
Twice this season the stately meas
ures OF Wagnerian opera have re-
sounded in the ears of the audiences
that have taxed the capacity of the
house. and Die Tote stadt,~ new to
American devotees of the art, was the
vehicle upon which Nine Marie Jer-
tia, a yiennese. took a Metropolitan
audience by storm at her debut
A few nights later the same imposing
daughter Of the former enemy country
tore and shook into dishevelment her
coronet of shining golden hair through
the passionate scenes of La Tosca' 80
role long regarded as the exclusive
property Of the American idol, GeraI-
dine Farrar. while an American audi
enee dissolved into tears and interrupt
ed the scene with san outburst Of APP
plause and braves" such as seldom
mars the serenity of New Yorlx's biase
first nighters
As to the much herRlded successor
Of Caruso. the operate maesros de-
clare they are seeking none and hope
to find none. After touring Europe
most Of last summer, General Manager
GluIo Gsltti- CassazZa returned with
many new singers added to his COM
pany and several new operas for his
But he announced that
while Carusos place in the hearts Of
his admirers must remain untitled the
roles he made famous would be sung by
the great tenor's former colleagues.
Bada Crimi. Mart.neIli and a
half dozen others. with FERTILE, a new
conner from overseas.
Time only" ne declared. and the
Judgment Of a tickle public can deter
mine who the eventual idol of the
American opera viii be-
Titta Ruffo and Amelia CALI Curci,
who. as visitors with the Chicago OPP
era company. have had New York tri-
umphs in past years. are among the
new members Of the Metropolitan
company.