The New York herald., 1921-12-02
Jeritza Triumphs as Tosca, Singing
and Acting Tragic Role Entrdncingly
Acclaimed by Opera Audience
as She Appears With New
Tenor, Fertile.
by w. j. HENDERSON

|
Pucc.nis "Tosca" has had a long and
honorable career at the Metropolitan
Opera House. IT started on a new ca
reer last evening when It was sung with
n new representative of the beautiful
Roman singer and a new impcrsonator
| Of the distinguished painter of the much
| discussed Avanti, who left her fan in
the chapel ard caused some trouble.
Nine. Marie Jeritza was the new Tosoa
She lately made her debut as the
naughty Mo,ictta in young Erick Korn-
COLDS dreamful opera, "Die Tote Stadt,"
and in that melancholy work gave prom
Use that as passionate singer she
would probably give delight equal to that
which she gave as a dallying dancer.
Nine Jeritza's Toscd departed from
some Of the conventions but in matters
of detail which are too insignificant TO
mention. But 1t was more significantly
| unconventional in the larger sense in
that IL put new and enthrSlling vitality
| into the role which has threatened to be-
come constrained by routine. Mime. Je-
rita does not look the ideal ToscG But
| she sang and acted the part entranc-
! ingly.
| Her singing was her principal histri-
cnic asset. as singing always must be
with reilly great operatic artist. The
snort recitatlve passages. which have so
often gone without apparent meaning,
! she read with luminous intelligence, Civ
| Ing every phrase, every word, every syl-
| liable avalue. In the broader lyric pas
! sages she revealed an amazing range of
tonal coloring used with an unerring
| Judgment that made her singing-not
always technically flawless-alive with
dramatic eloquence.
She sang either piano or moderate
| most Of the time, and reserved bursts
of full voice for those passionate out
breaks without which ToscG cannot be
made real to an audience. Her tones
! in the Earessing measures of the scene
| with CGvdrodossi in the first act were
| liquid and melting. When she pealed
out her rage at the Avanti's picture they
were Of hammered steel. In "Vissi
! d'arte" they were moist with tears.
| Such a vocal colorist could not fail to
make Toscc human.
Her action had dignity and grace
in the first act and panther fiereness
in the CORY climax Of the second. There
was no mistaking her discovery of the
fatal knife and the dawning on her mind
! OF desperate -na bloody purpose Her
pantomiIne oven the dead body OF
ScdrpiG was that Of an excellent Judge
of theatrical values. n mistress of stage
technic. The whole second act was
| tragically done and stirred the audience
| to enthusiasm.
Aureliano Fertile was the new tenor
who made his debut az CuvoradosS. His
voice has tendency toward white
ness. but in its fullest volume it is
| warmer and resonant He sang his
music He did not shout it. but de-
| livered 1t with free tones and smooth
ness. His acting was that of the every
day tenor. 1t was manly and simple.
but without any characteristic to set 1t
apart.
Mr.. Scott was. OF course, the ScdrDir
and as usual 1t was not his insy cloak
but his highly trained art that kept his
villainy as dark as ever. The smaller
roles We're cared for by persons who
| have long been associated with them
! Mr.. Moranzoni conducted. The audience
was large and bestowed much applause
on the singers.
At the end OF the second act Nine
Jeritza, Fertile and Scott were called
before the curtain six times. while the
new soprano took as many more recalls
alone. The audience gave vocal ex-
preston to its approval of her singing
and acting.
As IL in anticipation OF doings of ex-
ceptional interest in the opera house
last night. box parties arranged for: The
performance were In their places by the
| time the new soprano made her ap-
| pcarance in the first act.
Mrs. James Russell Soley and Messrs
William Rhinelander Stewart and AL
bert Morris Bagby we're with Mrs.
Hamilton Nick. Twombly in box II.
| In the party with Mrs. william Watts
Sherman in box were Mr.. and Mrs
John s. Rogers and Mr.. and Mrs. Harry
Pelham Robbins.
Mrs. Burke Roche. Mr.. and Mrs
Charles II. p. Richardson, Mrs. p. c.
Porter and Mr.. Benjamin s. Welles were
! in box 90.
| Mrs. Richard T. Wilson's party in box
| included Mrs. Charles Mather Mac
| Neill, MIR. and Mrs. Louis G. Kaufman.
Miss Louisa Steedman Wilson. Mr.. Paul
Reimers and DR.. John A. Harriss.
Mr.. and Mrs. Ogden II. Hammond and
Miss Evelyn Byrd Burden we're guests
| of Mrs. Henry Clews in box ~.
/ The party in box 20 included Mrs.
lie Grand G. Griswold. Mr.. and Mrs.
| Charles Dana Gibson and Mr.. Louis
/ Wiley
Mr.. and Mrs. Ten Eyck Wendell. Mr..
and Mrs. Arthur D. Weekes and Mrs.
Mitchell were in box 10.
Mrs. Alice Mclean, Miss Eleanor
Lamson. Mr.. r. Chesley Richardson.
Jr., Mr. Lawrence S. Butler. Mr.. An
tonic Algara Terraros and Mr.. Saurez
formed n party in box 23.
Others present were Mr.. and Mrs. Fin
ley ]. Shepard. Mrs. Henry Asher Rob
bins, Major and Mrs. Theron Il. Strong.
Mr.. and Mrs. J. Nelson Borland. Mr..
and Mrs Herman y. Kountze Miss
Elizabeth Kountze. DIR. and Mrs. Walter
y. James and Mrs. Henry Fairfield
Osborn.
n,rAnv NnADnCED