Metropolitan Opera Archives

Appropriate words with which to ring down the curtain on the last opera of the present season, the last season of the present century; words that bring in their train a multitude of thoughts and memories. Thoughts that cannot be expressed in the few brief moments allotted to a consideration of last night's performance; but whatever may be the final summing up, one fact cannot be disputed - that the last evening of the season passed off in a blaze of enthusiasm.

Verdi's familiar '"Il Trovatore" and Leoncavallo's "I Pagliacci" were both down on the bill for presentation and the public were invited to be present, not at the hour of 7, as Canto's provincial friends were, but a half hour after. Not many were present at that time; most of them arrived in time for the anvil chorus and missed Nordica's glorious singing in the first act. It seemed strange to hear her singing the flowing Italian melodies with their bravura ornamentation after the heroic roles in which she has so frequently figured of late, but the music, made hackneyed by a million barrel organs and constant repetition by 25-50 cent operatic organizations, turned to gold in her artistic hands, like everything else that she undertakes.

She was in magnificent voice and looked wonderfully handsome in a succession of beautiful gowns and she was recalled again and again. Evidently her efforts inspired Signor Perotti to do his utmost, for he sung the score with as much spirit as if he had been ten years younger and, after being recalled for his "Di quella pira," he sung it again, adding an extra high C at the end in the most airy way. Mme. Mantelli sang Azucena's music very pleasingly and Sig. Campanari was excellent as the Conte di Luna.

"I Pagliacci" went rather tamely, though it began well with Scotti's magnificent singing of the prologue. Mme. Suzanne Adams was substituted for Mile. Zelie de Lussan as Nedda and, though she sang the music sweetly enough, she appears to be quite unfamiliar with the "business" of the role. M. Cornubert proved himself wanting in the same respect. He sang much better than he did last Thursday in "The Huguenots," but there was very little of the frantic passion of the deceived punchinello in his acting and, between the two, the tragedy lacked the essential note of' suppressed excitement.

Search by season: 1899-00

Search by title: Il Trovatore, Pagliacci,

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