The New York herald., 1922-12-12
Nine. Aida Sings
the Title Role in
ManOn LeScaut'
Brilliant Audience at the Net
ropolitan Hears Puccini's
Opera.

Puccinis "Manon Lescaut" with Nine.
Aida In the title role was given last
evening at the Metropolitan Opera
House before large and brilliant
audience. The work had been sung
once before this season. but this was
its first subscription performance.
The rich pictorial settings, the singing
of the cnorus. and the playing of the
orchestra under Mr.. Papi's baton formed
an admirable background for the sing
ing of the star artists. Mme Aida, inn
personating one of her best parts, was
dainty and charming to see. There were
times when her voice was hardly in
Its best condition. but she used 1t with
taste and often effectively.
Mr.. Gigli replaced Mr.. Johnson as
DeS GrieuT. He had sung the role here
once last season. His beautiful voice
was heard to advantage In the part, and
his acting was more that of the lover
than in some of his other parts. Follow
ing his big air in the first act. the per-
formance was delayed because of the
applause.
Mr.. Scotti was again admirable as the
LcscGut. Mr.. Didur sang the Geroute,
Miss Myrtle Schaaf was A Nusictun
The others in the cast. all heard in
their parts before, were Messrs. Paltri-
nieri. singing both the Edmondo and the
Ballet Master; Picco, Reschilian, Audisio
and Ananian. The performance seemed
to be much enjoyed.
For several of the parties in the boxes
the opening performance of the fifth
week at the Metropolitan served as a
preface to the soiree In the home OF
Mr.. and Mrs. Charles Z. Alexander
Mrs. Marshall Orme Wilson and her
in Rox frc l. I'll ~
III. Sheriff. and Mr.. and Mrs. J. Ser
geant Cram. later were guests OF Mr.
and Mrs. Alexander. The party in the
Alexander box. No. IS. included Mr.. and
Mrs. Francis X. Pendleton, Mr.. and Mrs.
Edward NJ. House and Mr.. and Mrs.
John Clinton Gray.
The party with Mrs. Charles Frederick
Hoffman included Mrs. Allan Forbes of
Boston, Miss Marian X. Hoffman.
Messrs. Lawrence S. Butler and Aymar
Johnson and Count de Perigny.
The party in Mr.. Frank Munsey's box.
No. 8. was composed of Mr.. and Mrs.
James w. Gerard, Mrs. James Il. Duke.
Mr.. and Mrs Edward Harris Coy and
Mr.. James Alexander of Atlanta, Ga.
With Mr.. and Mrs. George Henry
Warren in Box 13 were Mr.. and Mrs.
Felix d. Doubleday and Miss Grace Van
derbilt.
In Mrs. Hamilton Mex Twombly's
party were Mr.. and Mrs. +. Townsend
Burden and Mr.. and Mrs Henry Rogers
Winthrop.
The guests of Mr.. and Mrs. John ~
WHY'S in Box 25 We're Mr.. and Mrs.
Charles S. Whitman, Mrs. William Diss-
ton and Messrs. James e. Clews and
Arthur Williams. Mr.. and Mrs. Frank
Gray Griswold were with Mrs. Henry
Clews.
In Mrs. Richard Ganbrill's box, No
20. were Mr.. and Mrs. Richard Stevens.
Mrs. William Watts Sherman. Miss
Dorothy Stevens and Messrs Charles
Sampson and Charles X. Beekman.
The party with Miss Mabel Gerry in
cluded Mrs. Edmund Randolph and
Messrs. T. chesley Richardson. Jr.. and
William Rhinelander Stewart, Jr.
In Box with Mr.. and Mrs. John
Aspegren were Mr.. and Mrs. Henry
Parish and Mr.. and Mrs Stuart Duncan.
With. Mr.. and Mrs. Robert Goelet in
Box were Mr.. and Mrs. Alexander
Stewart Walker, Mr.. and Mrs. James r.
Deering and Mr.. Rawlins Lowndes Col
lenet.
The group in Box 32 included Mrs.
John Sanford. Mr.. and Mrs. Frederick
III. Allen and Miss Sarah Jane Sanford
In Box 6 were Mr.. and Mrs. Charles w.
Fisk. Mr.. and Mrs. Frederick II. F'rellng-
huysen and Mr.. and Mrs. Allen Gouver-
neur Wellman.
In Box were Mr.. and Mrs. John s.
Rogers, DIR. and Mrs. Stafford Mclean,
Miss Helen Peabody and Dr.. Haight.
The guests of Mr.. and Mrs. Ebert H..
Gary were Mr.. and Mrs. Lewis Nixon
and Mr.. and Mrs. Stanhope w. Nixon.
In Mrs. vanderbilt's loge were Mr..
Reginald c. Vanderbils his daughter,
Miss Cathleen Vanderbilt and group
OF her young friends.
Others present were Mr.. and Mrs. John
b. Marsh, Mr.. and Mrs. Eugene 3.
Reynal, Miss Adele Reynal. Mr.. and Mrs.
Arthur Curtiss James, Mr.. and Mrs.
David Dows and Mr.. Summer Gerard.