New-York tribune., 1922-01-24

Liko MOussorgSy IN 'Horls, hlM-
eky- -Korsakof depends largely on the
choral scenes to get animation into
the play; there is but modicum Of
of tho sentimental pcrsonages, ami
were it not for the participation Of the
chorus the drama would be stihed by
monotony. 1t was the lack Of variety
OF movement on the par: OF the prin
cirals that the piece had but a trlhing
success when it was brought out with
lschaikofsky's lovely music, and its
capacity for lyrical expression no doubt
that prompted his desire to turn it into
ar opera. Kmsk X orsakoif has flied
it with song from beginning to end
song winning and graceful! on the part
OF Lehl (thc best of his numbers has
long been familiar IN our concert
rooms), and Snegourotchks. song
hurorously characteristics on the part
OF tho peasant folk who become the
heroine's foster parents. fantastic on
the part OF the Cars court and sub
Jcct people
Tho chestration is peculiarly
charming throughout and Rimsky-
korsakoff's transition from genuine
folksong TO his own inventions is so
ingenious that mono but a profound
student of the peoples songs * likely
10 distinguish between the two ole
Mcnts. His defamation is lyrical
throughout and the boundary between
dialogue and set song is drawn with
master hand. The characters are
rusicaliy linncd in with ~ perfect p
mastering and BODY, Bohylvcka. Mizour
ard the Car Of BercndcycVka are made
70 stand out as distinctly fer the car
IS They look to the eye. Uuhappllv.
,t,o -
city Of ensemble music in the score.
a detect which forces itself upon the
attention of the listeners whenever
the story is carried on by the prn-
cipal characters without the help Of
The auxiliary chorus. 1t was one of
tho composers set notions that hc
wanted nothing to in,erfcrc with his
music and forbade all unnecessary
movement. lie also forbade cu,s in
his score; but II somothinc like a
quarter OF it had not been clldcd last
night VIC fear the final curtain would
have closed with hslf the seats in the
audience room empty.
Outside OF MIR. Anisfeld's scenery
every disclosure of which was greeted
BY applause, the dances, designed by
Rosina Cali, seemed last night to take
the strongest hold on popular fayor-
There was a dance of birds IN the
prologue which caused the first cNpres
sion Of approval, but a greater out
burst followed the grotesquc ballet at
the beginning OF the third act, when
the bright, net to say garish, costumes
and colnical tigureS, changing from NO
ment to moment like the figures w 4
Kaleidoscope under the inspiration Of
gay music, made perfect riot of life
and color. Here high tide in popular
approval was cached and Miss Delau-
NOis held the waters on q level for a
S"ace with her singing OF tho song oil
Lchl. It was Miss Pori in the charac.
ter Of the Snow Maiden, however, who
Ion admiration at the start and held
il unfalterinsly to the end by exqui-
site singing ana graceful, poetic ano
pathetic acting In figure, pose. gcs-
ture and voice she is beautifully
adapted to The role.
MIR. Rother. always excellent in die
tior, had little opportunity to distin-
guish himself and left tho chief histyi-
onic honors 20 Mr.. Bads, who showed
himself, as he always does when he
has an opportunity ii character actor
par excellence. For MIR. Harold there
must go & fair need Of praise for his
singing and also 70 Miss Yvorne
d'Arle, though her action betrayed the
novice. The chorus sang spiritedlY
and there was much reason for CRATE
tul expression IN the manner in which
Mr.. Fodanzky directed the music Ic
complete & necessarily hasty record Of
first American performance the cast
is appended:
snegoorotchSa one snow Masden)
Lucre4i, Bori
Lei Shepherd r. a ymonde Delaunois
hcnpavs ............ Yvunrc d'Arle
tie fHlry OF Spring ..... Marion TclNa
S"oylicka ...,........ ......-- Is hafhlcen howard
he Faun. -....-..... .li.ordauo Panrinieri
y PAGE. ..-......,. .,.. Gr9ce Anthouy
The Cssr. .prvltln Harold
~ @su!r, ;.....,.,,...,... Mario Laurenti
hinS winter. Leuu Not hier
ls"oTl. Tl.....-. ..............- Angelo ia d.
beTInlare. ..,.........!.o Louis = Angelo
oA"lN N-t' George Meade =
first Court jester ..-.-:..... Petro Audisio
Second Court Jester. .Vincen1o Neschielian
Birds, the Caar's SUITE. Bolars and
their Wives. Boufons Shcp-
herds, Boys and Girls
tpnnuctor ..-......... .Artur Bodanzky
stage Director. ....,.... Samuel Jhovman