The New York herald., 1922-12-07
Aida for First
Time Sings Title
Role in 'Loreley'
Generally Good Performance
at Metropolitan of Cata-
lani's Opera.
ny w. J. HENDERSON.

'LOreiey" is with uSs once again.
1t is an opera by Catalani and was re-
vealed to Metropolitan Opera House
auditors on March last. Its career
on Broadway Is therefore still in its
infancy. It's only other disclosure had
been one brief strut on the stage OF
the Lexington Theater in the Chicago
Opera season of 191S-1919. 1t was re-
stored to the Metropolitan repertory
last evening and seems likely to re-
main there for some considerable
time. not only because the public en-
joys its undisturbing melodies but also
because it provides media for the art
of certain singers who might other
wise have less to do.
There are popular elements in an
opera which deals with the old Rhine
legend of the submarine siren and
which leans heavily on the early style
Of Wagner. Catalani had no impor-
tant ideas. but he knew the theater
and he knew how to write an opera
score. The result is that people who
ask for the same kind of food every
time they go to sit at the operate
able Iever find themselves puzzled by
the appearance of strange dishes and
foreign sauces. They know what they
are getting and they feel comfortable
and at home.
Catalani's craftsmanship is nowhere
better shown than in his recitatives
and his building up Of climaxes for
voices. Almost any operagoer knows
that nothing tan be -duller than recita-
| tives in which the conventionalized
| phraseH are strung together loosely
| and without regard to the musical con-
| text. Yet this kind of writing is conf
mon in the works Of some composers
whose airs show more invention and
| greater dramatic force than those of
Catalani.
| The composer of "Loreley" uses his
chorus with Judgment. Any musician
can make chorus Sound" as the
musicians say. When he cannot do it
| any other way he can adopt the simple
method of writing unisons and these
are good at any time. Catalani, how
! ever, does some musicianly part writ
| ing, and if one Of his scenes reminds
us of "Tannhaeuser" the lihr-ttist is
he Is. Some of the lyric passages in
"Loreley" are clever because they give
the singers good opportunities. Moth
ing new or important is said IL these
passages, but they are agreeable to
the ear and they help we'll clad ladies'
and gentlemen to pass a pleasant hour
| or two, which seems to be the purpose
of opera in these days.
| The performance last evening was
generally good. Nine. Aida as Lorcley
| Ian orphan afterwards bride OF Al
| berich and queen of the Rhine) was
in good voice. Her singing of the lyric
portions of her role was the besr ste
has done this season. The more dI'a-
matte defamation was sofnewna: too
heavy for her voice, but in her deliv-
cry Of II she showed her knowledGe of
style and her understanding OF the
content of the scene.
Nine. Aida was the only new MEM
Der Of the cast. The others were all
heard last season, and all of them re-
peated what they then did excellen:ly.
Mr.. Gigli as the hesitating lover
Walter sang we'll and did as much
acting as the part required. Nine.
Sundelius once more . delivered the
measures OF Anna well, and Mr.. Danise
made much of the stupid role of Baron
Hermann. Mr.. Mardones was admir-
able as the Mar0rdre The choruses
were well sung and the ballet, with the
delightful Miss CALI at its head.
danced airiy. The orchestra deserved
commentator and Mr.. Moranzoni like
wise for his judicious conducting.
Mrs. Douglas Robinson. Mr. and Mrs.
Henry Parish and Mr.. Charles Allen
Mum were with Mrs. Hamilton Mex.
Twombly.
Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Gawtry, Miss
Beatrice Gawtry. Miss Sibyll Bliss, Mr..
Edward Leroy, Jr., and Mr. Stuyvesant
Leroy French were In Box f6.
Mr.. T.. Francis Hyde's guests in Box
80 were Mr. and Mrs. Henry Varnum
Poor and Mr.. and Mrs. Charles Lemaire
Zabriskie.
Mr.. and Mrs. Robert Brewster were
with Mr.. and Mrs. Tracy Dows in the
Astor box.
Mr.. and Mrs. Walter L. Maynard, Mr..
and Mrs. Samuel a. Weldon and Mr..
and Mrs. Seymour LeGrand Cromwell
formed the party in the Goelet box.
With Mr.. and Mrs. Lewis l.. Clarke
in Box IL were Mr.. and Mrs. Finley
]. Shepard. Messrs. Dirk Foch, Edmond
Pizzella and James p. Clews.
Mr.. and Mrs. Joseph Earle Stevens.
Mr.. and Mrs. Edward II. Kendall NM
Ellen Parks and. Mr.. George Floyd
Jones were with Mr.. Shipley Jones In
Box 23c
Mr. and Mrs. Egerton l.. Winthrop
and Miss Caroline Duer were among the
| guests OF Mrs C;ambrill.
Mr.. and Mrs. John Henry Child and
Mr.. and Mrs. Ansel Phelps were with
Mrs. Reginald Rives In Box IL.
Mrs. LeGrand Griswold and Mr.. Gif-
ford Cochran were with Mr. and Mrs.
Winthrop w. Aldrich.
Mrs. Percy Fearn and Mrs Edward
Mcvickar were with Mr.. and Mrs. f..
/ Reeva Merritt