The New York herald., 1921-12-13


the Metropolitan Opera House last eve
ming for the first time this season.
Miss Geraldine Farrar was again the
representative of the music hall singer.
In this part, when she first assumed II.
the popular American soprano achieved
one of her greatest successes with the
public. II was declared in the first days
of excitement over this unique perform
ance that the success OF the prima donna
was due to her amazing stage business
in the first act. and conversation In
the corridors last night appeared to be
chiefly concerned with the vital ques-
tions of dress and undress.
Miss Farrar may or may not have
toned down. moderated. graded or modi-
fled her delineation of a young woman
untroubled by moral scruples eXercis-
ing her abilities In the art of bewitching
men who are so foolhardy as to visit her
In her dressing room and risking their
equanimity in the Immediate neighbor-
hood of her generously exhibited charms.
Nevertheless the pith and point. direc-
ton and conclusion of this famous scene
remain unaltered, and the delineation
claims the highest rank in the kingdom
OF the realistic.
The prirna donna does nothing in this
episode that does not belong TO 1t. The
nature OF the text and the action does
not invite an appeal to the imagination.
She does the thing as II clamors TO De
done. Her supreme reward is fame. A
spectator last season exclaimed: Nv hen
she vamped him on the sofa II was
fierce" But there is more in this scene
than acting of a hazardous KIND Inc
first act exposes the utter irresponsible
ity. the hectic gayety and the sudden
n. nf
Miss Farrar's real achievement Is her
excellent treatment of the whole sig
nificance of the act
In the subsequent acts she accom-
plishes more in the revelation of sincere
and laudable feelings. She acts the
scene with the child admirably, but the
child Is a destroyer of Illusion, because
1t speaks, and necessarily with child's
shrill voice. However, 1t is in this act
that Miss Farrar reaches the emotional
climax of her Zdsa. Last evening, as
heretofore, she here aroused the audience
to a high pitch of enthusiasm and had
many curtain calls.
II is impossible to share all the rap
lures which Mr.. Martinelli's vigorous
singing seems always to excite. Doubt
less some hearers wish that he would
De a. times more moderate in the utter
anc- of his passions and not feel con-
tinLally impelled to publish his senti-
ments as ii an operatic hero were the
town crier. But he looked very well in
his evening clothes last night and did
some good acting when he resisted the
Establishments of the siren to whom he
ultimately yielded.
Mr.. de Luca repeated his capable inn
persopation Of Cdscdrt, the music hall
singer.
Only one change in the cast was made.
Miss Myrtle Schaaf replaced Miss
Frances Ingram as Fioridna, the young
woman who fights a two round bout
with Zasd. and fails to get the decision.
The general performance of the opera
was good. Mr. Moranzoni conducted.
There was a notable audience for the
opening OF the fifth week of opera.
Mrs. Gambrilrs guests. in Box %,
were Mrs. Hamilton Nick. Twombly,
Nj. and Mrs. Alexander 8. Webb,
Nessrs Reniamin s. Welles and Charles
z. Sampson.
Mr.. and Mrs Francis De II. Wissmann
were with Mr.. and Mrs. Adrian Iselin,
in Box 81.
Will Mrs Henry Clews in Box 12.
were Mr.. and Mrs Francis *. T'endle-
ton, Mr. ard Mrs. William II. Crocker
and Mr.. Frank A. Munsey.
Mr. aud Mrs W Goadby Loew. the
Misses Florence and Evelyn Loew were
In Box IL.
The young Prince Cantacuzene and
his bride. who was Miss Curtis Of
Boston. were in Box 23 with Mr.. and
Mrs. T. j. Oakley Rhinclander and
Mr.. and Mrs. J. Lowell Putnam.
With Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt in
Box 8 were Mr.. and Mrs. John G Brin-
ton and Dr. and Mrs. Walter r. James.
With Mr.. and Mrs. Forsyth Wickes
in Box 25 were Mr.. and Mrs. Joseph
Earle Stevens and Mrs. Richard Morti-
mer
With the Misses Katherine and Ellin
Mackay in Box % were Miss Josephine
Noel, Messrs. Frank McDermott and
John Clark
Mr.. and Mrs. J. Pierpont Morgan
made their first appearance at the
opera this season. With them i'm Box
80 were their son-in-law and daughter,
Mr.. and Mrs. George Nichols.
There were several debutantes in the
parterre. Miss Shiela Burden was with
rer parents. Mr.. and Mrs. James a.
in Box II. as was also Miss
Kate de Forest Prentice. Miss Clarisse
de r. Rham and Miss Lispenard Sea-
s..-,s- -