The New York herald., 1922-12-15
Jeritza, a Lonely
Vision, Sings That's
for the First Time
Massenet's Opera Has Premier
Production This Season
at Metropolitan.
Ny W. J. HENDERSON.

Ny w. j. HENDERSON.
Massenets "Thais" was performed
at the Metropolitan Opera House last
evening for the first time this season.
Also Nine. Marie Jeritza made her
first essay at the role, for which she
had studied French since she came to
this city. 1t was brave undertake
ing and met with large public favor.
The opera was needed In the roper
toire OF the Metropolitan and could
not be permitted to lapse into OBJ
scurity merely because the former rep
resentative of the Alexandrian siren
Was no longer in the company.
AS they say in politics. Nine. Jeritza
was the logical candidate for the
name part. She had achieved her
most brilliant successes here as vari-
Gus ladies' of questionable methods.
Marietta in die Tote Stadt'' and the
heroine Of "Tosca" had marked her
for their own. Octdridn, the amorous
STRIPPING of Der Rosenkavalier," had
been but slim departure from the
eternal feminine. AS Elsa, the naive
and sedate lady of Brabant, the singer
had enjoyed less glory. and even the
forest founding. Sieolinde. proved
equally too innocent and confiding for
her talents
Novel ImpersOnatfOn
Mr.. Gatti-Casazza who is a lover of
all things scenic, seized the oppor-
tunity afforded by q novel impersona-
ton to provide the opera with entirely
new garb. The staging was especially
prepared for this production and with
all the sumptuousness which charac-
terizes Metropolitan revelations. The
apparel of the singers was splendid,
and there was feast for the eye
from the moment Athdndel reached
Alexandria till the converted courte-
san lay dead before the despairing
monk.
1t would be an invasion of the realm
OF speculation to make a summary OF
Nine. Jeritza's That's. She had plainly
not yet perfected her impersonation,
which will undoubtedly be one OF
strongly individual merits when 1t has
come to :ts full Towering. Last eve
ming it was an excellent impersonation
yet in it's infancy. The costumes and
the makeup had arrived; the acting
and singing were still in state OF
progress.
These facts being granted, It may
be said that Mime. Jeritza's That's was
q beautiful vision and that she devel-
oped the character from the vampire
70 the nun with commendable skill.
Her voice is well suited TO the music,
and she sang well, except for occa-
sional bursts of tone that seemed TO
lie beyond control. But these may
tave been due to the nervousness Of a
first performance. The indications
last evening were that the Austrian
sopranos first essay at the role OF
That's would be followed by perform
ances of great merit and that she
would be likely TO retain the part in
her repertoire.
The DisrobinR Scene.
Doubtless the episode most to be
discussed to-day will be the disrobing
Cor the discontinue Of AthanacI. The
singer wore a gorgeous red mantle
and much drapery. When she threw
off the mantle and some of the dra-
peries she left some extending to her
feet. but they were adorably indis-
Greet. So now the world knows how
tall and slender the vampire OF Alcx-
andria was. and some will call her the
scarlet woman and the more ribald
will prate Of Mr.. Kiplings poem.
Mr.. Harold was the Nicids. He
may have had his own ideas about a
Greek man about town. and at any
rate he suggested the free and easy
~swagger of bon vivant of the south
crn Mediterranean coast in the days
when people fed boars on holm acorns
and slew them in n mild south wind
SO that the flavor might be TO the
perfect taste of an epicure. There is
little chance for Nicids to distinguish
himself as a singer.
Mr.. Whitehill's AthdndeE lis an old
friend. 1t is unnecessary therefore 20
say much about 1t. Good wine needs
no bush. The admired American barry
tone has been in better voice than lie
was last evening. but he sang well and
his French. as usual. was a delight.
NO more singers count Iol HuCu III
"Thais" The two slaves were Mmc.
Eggener and Miss Ryan, con-ely
enough for their scene. Mr.. dAngelo
was a good Pdlcmon and Miss Telva
acceptable as Albine, mother superior
of the convent.
There was good ballet. with Miss
CALI at its head, before the house OF
That's. and that edifice was effectively
committed to the "devouring ele-
ment." Mr. Hasselmans conducted
the performance very well indeed.
Mr.. and Mrs. Newbold Edgar. who
were In Box 3. were accompanied by
their niece. Countess Marie, Louise
Moltke, Mrs. William Astor Chanler end
NJ, soudblnin. the Russian sculptor.
Mr.. and Mrs. Henry Rogers Winthrop
and Mr.. and Mrs John Il. Drexei. Jr..
were with Mr.. and Mrs. Robert Goelct.
ltr. and Mrs. +. Gray Griswold were
with Mr. and Mrs. Angus; Belmont.
with Miss Sllu Mackay in Box S2