The New York herald., 1922-11-14
Vivid and Moving Perform
ance of the Famous
Work Given.
MARTINELLI AS MARIO
Scott Appears as Baron Scar
pia-Prima Donna Sings With
Splendid Vitality.
BY w. J. HENDERSON.


The fifteenth season of opera under
the direction of Giulio Gatti-Casazza
began at the Metropolitan Opera
House last evening. Two years age
with LA Juive." Enrico Caruso being
The star OF the occasion. One year
ago, the king having passed away a
queen WIS offered to the peop'e In the
who was shown as that popular pull
monarv nightingale Violettd Vdler,
in Verdi's LA Traviata." This sea-
sons lyric drama comes before the
town with another heroine, Nine
Jeritza. Her role was TOsca. a dis
tinsuishcd Roman diva equipped with
costumes and morals quite as pic
turesque as those Of ViOiettd.
The scenes and incidents attending
the beginning OF an opera season at
the Metropolitan have become almost
conventional. Only stereotyped phrases
can be used to describe them. The
house was packed. Every seat was
occupied and the standing room was
jammed. The audience was of bril-
liant quality and appearance. 1t was
generally demonstrative and in some
parts frenetically enthusiastic. The
principal singers were called before
the curtain many times. The conduc-
tor was also led out and shown to the
people. Mr.. Gatti- -Casazza, who above
all others ought to be seen and ac-
claimed. remained In his accustomed
seclusion.
This capable impresario does not
court the glare of publicity. Like Ma
poleon, grand, gloomy and peculiar,
ne sits sceptered hermit, wrapped in
the solitude" of his office on the Thir-
ty-ninth street side of the house. He
says little even under the stress of
European wars or prattlng PATHS
from Kansas City. He appears not,
neither does he sing, but when he puts
his foot on the starter and let's in his
clutch, season of grand opera gets
under way.
Performance Vivid and Moving.
In the vivid and moving perform
ance of Puccini's familiar '.Tosca,"
With which the season began, there
was no novelty. When Nine. Jeritza
thrust her nervous brilliant aggres-
sive impersonation of the unhappy
heroine into the glare of the Metro
politan footlights last winter, it was
accepted as a revelation if not quite
divine at least Of diva. Dictionaries
were ransacked for adjectives to praise
its splendors Young operagoers In
the throes of their first season ex-
perienced such ecstasies that no lines
in Swinburne could be found to de-
scribe them.
That Nine. Jeritza impersonated the
Roman singer admirably, eloquently
and with moments of kindling excite
ment was indisputable But it was
not true that the role had never been
interpreted before. That delusion was
deftly created and it was an injustice,
not only to certain predecessors of
Mime. Jeritza but to Nine. Jeritza her
self.
The captivating Austrian singer is
now requii ed to live up to the sensa :
ton manufacturing of last season. 1t
is unfair TO ask it Of her. but 1t will
w oohCo ltNC tAticcS. lie IIlOIIltnL
that her Tosca begins to be accepted
as an established fact that moment the
star Of Its glory will begin to wane.
This ought not to be so, for the i'm
personation has splendid vitality and
pictorial Qualities which should delight
the eye OF spectators for many sea-
sons TO come.
stnnae0tss a ArsS~ - n
Puccinis "Tosca" was performed for
the first time in this country on Feb
ruary 4. 1901, at the Metropolitan
opera House. Incidentally IL may be
mentioned that one Giuseppe Verdi
had died on the previous January 81
The origina. Florid Toscd was Milka
Ternina, the Cara, dossi was Cremo-
mini. the Sdcitstdn Mr.. Gilbert and
Scdrpid Antonio Scotti 1t was briefly
said on the morning after that pro-
duction that Mr.. Scotti revealed the
combined cunning. cruelty and passion
of the man fully His singing was
broad and vigorous"
Critical comment of that calm and
contemplative type is questionable
to-day, but the facts then recorded
are sui living truths. Mr.. Scotti re-
mains the Incompatible Scorpia, the
singing actor who fully discloses the
cunning. the cruelty and the lust OF
the Roman minister of police.
Mr.. Scott Is in good condition after
twenty years of chasing various
Toscus around the furniture. and his
impersonation was received last eve
ming with a cordialty that bespoke
affection. The opera house verdict is
indeed true Scott is not a barry
tone; he's an institution"
Mr. Martinell impersonated Cara
7ddossi. the unhappy painter who was
put through the old fashioned Roman
third degree in order to make him
confess that he had helped his friend
TO dodge the police. The tenor's popu-
larity was evidently as great as ever
and his voice was In it's best condi-
tion. He sang with great gusto and
died eloquently in the last scene. Mr..
Malatcsta as the Sacriston, Mr.. Palri-