Metropolitan Opera Archives

Meyerbeer's most popular opera, "Les Huguenots," was repeated at the Metropolitan Opera House last evening. Since the work is now given in Italian the natural course would be to call it "Gli Ugonotti," as it used to be called in the early days of opera in this town. But no one really cares what it is called, since the "Les Huguenots" by any other name requires a star cast with Mr. Caruso as the central sun. The audience of last evening was of the kind usually seen in the opera house when the famous tenor sings. It was a great one, and its applause was what might have been expected.

The performance of the familiar old work was as good as any that has been heard in the course of the current season. It is admitted that most of the singers in the cast are not exponents of the correct style of French grand opera music, but on the other hand the voices are mostly of the best quality known to the present opera stage and each singer has artistic merits of his own.

For example, Mr. Rothier, the St. Bris of the cast, has all the traditions of the French stage and a good voice, but he lacks the weight to carry full conviction in the role. Mr. Caruso sings the music of Raoul beautifully, but in the Italian style. Mme. Destinn is a good if not great Valentine and Miss Hempel sings the music of the Queen very well indeed. Mr. Scotti is the finished artist always, Mr. Braun a too explosive Marcel and Miss Garrison as Urbain a very promising beginner. Mr. Polacco naturally has no great trouble in conducting the work and any good set of choral routiniers can sing the choruses effectively. The ballet is good and the premiere ballerina, Rosina Galli, is good to see.

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