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At the Metropolitan Opera House last evening the audience had an opportunity to compare a contemporaneous Italian opera with one of a fashion now fading away. Leoncavallo's "Pagliacci" and a part of Donizetti's "Lucia di Lammermoor" were performed in the same order as named. Owing to the fact that the great lyric soprano, Mme. Melba, appeared in the latter, the comparison was less unfavorable to Donizetti in the popular estimation than might have been expected. Furthermore, it must be admitted that, if one does not trouble himself about the dramatic inappropriateness of much of Donizetti's music, his melodic gifts show to far greater advantage than Leoncavallo's. The famous sextet is indefensible on dramatic grounds, but musically it is perennially lovely.

The performance of "Pagliacci" rested rather heavily on the shoulders of Signori de Lucia and Ancona last night. Mme. Arnoldson sang Nedda for the first time here, and though her work was excellent in intent, her voice was hardly equal to the demands put upon it by Leoncavallo's orchestration. Signor de Lucia repeated his impassioned interpretation of Canio, and Signor Ancona was again a good Tonio.

In "Lucia" Mme. Melba repeated her first night's triumph. She was in good voice, and it goes without saying that she sang the music beautifully. The other members of the cast were Mlle. Ibles as Alice, M. Dufriche as Enrico Ashton, Signor Mastrubuono as Arturo, Signor Carbone as Raimondo, Signor Rinaldini as Normano, and Signor Vignas as Edgardo. Signor Mancinelli conducted with his usual skill.

At this afternoon's matinee "Die Meistersinger" was to have been given, but owing to the illness of Mlle. Bauermeister and M. Mauguiere, who are cast for necessary parts in this work, it cannot be given. An excellent substitute is offered in Gounod's "Romeo et Juliette." with Mme. Eames, the de Reszkes, M. Martapoura, and M. Plan?on in the principal roles.

Search by season: 1893-94

Search by title: Pagliacci, Lucia di Lammermoor,

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