New-York tribune., 1921-12-09
'Ernani'' SUNG
I'm Revival at
Metropolitan
Sudden lndisposition of
Ruffo Puts Danise Into
Role of Don Carlos,
Where He Wins Applause
Opera Well Remembered
Miss Ponsclle Heard as
EIvira and Mardones
Appears as Don Silva
By II. {. Krehbiel

For thirty-five years after the
Havana Opera Company, with Badiah'
whom we do not remember, as director,
and Arditi, whom we do remember
very well indeed, came to the old Park
Theater IN the spring of lS4i ana
produced the opera, down to 1883, when
Patei sang Elvira in the Academy OF
Music, "Ernani'' held a place in the
hearts of New York's opera lovers.
Then it closed its eyes in sleep and
STAYED in siunber for as long time as
Rip van Wrinkle remained dead to the
world in the Catskills. An entire gen.
Grafton had been brought up on
"Ernani, involami," "Infelice' and "Oh,
sommo Carlo" but a new one had to
wait twenty years before hearing those
airs in their proper surroundings. So
"a. as the patrons of the Metropolitan
Opera House were concerned, the opera
remained book which might as we'll
have been sealed by seventy seals as
we'll as seven until they were broken
hy Maurice Grau on January 2S. l9u3.
There was a possibility that sentiment
inspired By the death of the composer,
which had occurred only two years
before, lad prompted the breaking, but
that would not serve. inasmuch as the
event had been permitted to pass at
the time without recognition III the
repertoire Most directly the revival
was due to the presence in MI. Grau's
company Of Nine. Sembrich,, who was
tee arch -preserver of the Italian tradl-
Of 1aVS in New
York.
During all her later years at the
Metropolitan Nine. Sembrich was q
most persuasive teacher of operate his
tory, and there was no loveslef tribute
to her voice and art than the obedience
with which a latter-day public followed
her from the heights of the modern
dramat; manner to which it had been
horn down to the sunny meads to
which ner st lie was native.
Revival Here in 1907
Verol's opera was performed three
times Oefore the end of the season 1907
O3. Mr. Hammerstein attempted Its re-
vival n the early days of the Manhat-
tar Opera House and gave perform
ance of it on December IL, 1907, with
Nine Russ as Elvira, Bassi as Ernani,
Ancona as Don Carlos and Arimondi as
Don Silva 1t was rude performance,
and n second representation, announced
for a fortnight later, was called OFT.
Since then it has slept, SO far as our
memory serves us, though there can pc
no certainty in the records of opera IN
New York so long as it has been possl-
hle for any one who wished to summon
an Italian company, composed Oh the
hotsam and jetsam of shlpwrecXed or
csnizations at days notice on the
t.f ENrZa dol DGS-
tino' was hailed as novelty at the
Metropoiitan two or three years ago 1t
lad figured over and over again in the
repertoires of ephemeral companies
which had lived their little day in the
Bowery or, perhaps, in the Academy
Of Music after it had lost it's prestige
as fashionable lyric playhouse.
Last nights revival was prooapiy
due less to the presence OF successor
10 Madame Sembrich's Elvlra, tor tnere
i none. but to the acquisition by ME-
Catt; of 8 sort of prima donna barry
+ooe-Sienor Titta Ruffo. He is not
a stranger to the house except In the
role of Don Carlos, and as member
o. Mr.. Gatti's company. So our story
would largely be concerned with hln
# he had sung. But he did not. In
stead Mr.. Danise was the Don Carlos
of the occasion, and very good one
indeed though he addressed an "i'
sneeches to the audience and seldom
had even eyes for the people OF the
story in which ne was supposed to b'
implicated.
Absence of MIR. Ruffo
The absence Of Mr.. Ruffo was ex
piained on the ground of sudden IN
disposition. If the audience felt
large disappointment it failed to snov
the fact On the contrary, Mr.. Danlse
fine vocalization was greatly enjoyed
and heartily acclaimed, as was tn
singing of the music of Ernani, Mis-
Ponselle's of Elvira and Mr.. Mar
dones's of Don Silva. There seemed t
be no unfam larity with the opera S
far as the people in the higher reache
of the house and behind the brass rail
were concerned evidence of tn
predominant nationality in those re
gions. Miss Ponselle's characteristic
of voice and style are not those wit
which we have been accustomed to as
sociate the mus C of Elvira. and he
airs were shorn of some of their old
time glitter, as well as their essentis
charm of sustained, well-phrased sons
Convenience was also consulted, w
fancy, by some transpositions to
lower key. But why should any one la
stress such a circumstance! Th
opera was lavishly dressed; it was in
posing to the eye, and the audienc
inquest onably received it with grea
favor. Mr.. Papi conducted.