New-York tribune., 1921-12-25
By II. f. Krehbiel

Yorza del Destino" as novelty at the
Metropolitan, we recalled an old Italian
restaurateur Of delightful memory
who behind his bar in Third Avenue
kept clock standing on it's head 80
that his countrymen among his
patrons might know the time of dav
in Rome. We wondered then if the
clock in Mr.. Gatti's room was also
kent inverted so that its hands might
indicate the musical time of provincial
Italy. and speculated as to when the
hour would strike for the revival OF
"Luiss Miller" 81 due Foscari' ard
al Lombardi,' which were the oldes. of
the operas in the Verdian list which
we knew from hearing them except
@Ernani." Chronologically "Ernani"
stands between 81 Lombard;" and SCI
due Foscari" 1t would require con-
siderable time ard research to de-
tcrmine when and in what order
Verdi's operas were produced in New
York, and if we were to compile the
list it would have little value other
than one Of curiosity. 1t is with that
feeling only, mingled with q modicurn
Of amusement, that operagoers whose
memories go back to the death throes
of the Academy of Music in October,
1886. recall that Signor d'Angelo. who
from Colonel Mapleson's baggage agent
attempted TO become his successor as
en- impresario, produced in rapid sue
eession "Luisa Miller" II due Foscari."
81 Lombard" and Petrella's "Ione," to
something like the CONSERVATION of
the critical faculty of New York's
newspaperdom. Whether any one
realized at the time that "Ernani" be-
longed TO the same period in Verdi's
creative career we do not know.
"Ernan" was a perennial memory;
no critic could remember when he had
not been familiar with it.
And so it remained until a short
time before the dynasty Of Maretzek
Strakosches came to an end. Until
January 2S, 1908, the walls of the
Metropolitan Opera House had never
echoed TO the strains of the opera,
for when old Silva had last blown his
horn III the spring of 1888 eve fancy
i. was) there was no Metropolitan
Opera House in existence, and Italian
opera was staggering about like Sind
bad the Sailor under the weight of
three managers - Mapleson at the
Academy Of Music, Strakosch at Booths
Theater and Abbey with Patti) at the
Germania Theater. Patti, we believe,
did sing the role of Elvira in Novem-
Der, 1888 when the Metropolitan had
just opened its doors, but she, Paola
Rosini and Miss Abby Darlington were
the last representatives of the un-
lucky love of the princely bandit until
Nine. Sembrich blotted out the mem
ories OF two of them at least by her
impersonation in January, 1908.
Now, though we have no representa-
tive Of Elvira to compare with Eiviras
Of old, we have "Ernani" again, and
the favor with which it was received
at its first performance on December
started US to pondering as to whether
or not Mr.. Gatti's apparently topsy-
turvy clock may not after while be
pointing to the real time of popular
taste. Are we possibly reverting to
admiration of the operate style OF
seventy-hve years ago? If so, is it be-
cause Of some elemental force in that
style for which lack in modern opera
has made US crave? With that craving
has there come a disregard of the vo-
calization which in the time of Elviras
like those of Sembrich and Patti was
deemed essential to the success of
performance? 1t is hard to believe it.
We used TO be more or less tolerant of
rudeness in the men Of the opera, but
never of lack Of finish in vocal style of
the Elylra.
We cannot speak by the card be
cause we do not know what may be
doing in all the European towns, in
which a lyric theater is as essential as
picture theater in the United States,
but We fancy that "Ernani'is the oldest
surviving opera from Verdi's pen. It
Certainly is the oldest opera in the
American repertoire. There are four
teen operas of which we do not know
that they have ever been performed in
New York. They are: "Oberto," ''Un
Giorno di Rigno," "Nabucco," "Glovanna
d Arco," "Alzara," "Athila," "Mabetto,"
i Masnadieri." !" Jerusalem" Ga revision
OF 4 Lombardi"), III Corsaro," LA
Battaglia di Legano." "StifElio," Simon
boccanegra" and "Arnoldo" Ga revision
OF "Stifiio"O. Some of these may have
oeen performed, but the records are
not convenient of access at this writing.
selections from half a dozen of them
nave been heard, are still occasionally
neard, in the concert-room. Somebody's
admiration for the overture of "La
nattaglia di Legano" led to its inclu-
slon In Sunday night concert at the
metropolitan two or three seasons ago.
The chronological record of first per-
esmances in New York, fer which We
DO not voach, but give "on information
and belief" as they say in the law
courts, reads thus: "Ernani," 1S46 Cor
o4Tj; I'll Trovatore," April 80, 1855
(Steffapoor Uo,+xol; prirx,,n1; ond