New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-12-30
MUSICAL AND THEATRICAL.
BROADWAY NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
EIDEIIO

bhOADNAI b-' -
FIDELIO.
Broadway Theater was well filed last night to hear
Beethoven's Opera of Fidelio performed by German
Company. There iseomething that makes an Amer-
can not biased with New.York life stare, and say,
"This is great country" when entering an American
Theater to find German Opera, and moreover to q
large degree German audience
The performance exceeded our expectation, for we
had been disappointed hitherto in the grade Of Ger
man singing Last night, however, the singing was in
the ain good and agreeable. The characters were
sustained az follows: Lemore under the name Of FL
delool, Mad. Johannsen; Mad. Marzeone, Don Fer
nando; Mr. WelleIbrch, Florestan; Mr.. Pmkanseer,
Rocco MIR. OhhniIien, Jacquino, Mr. Beutler.
Their success was so unequivoca that the audience
called them before the curtain at the end of the piece
appreciative spirit thap if we have read angnt
attended the opera some half century ago, wheh
Beethoven produced it unsuccessiuly at VIENNA MAD
Johannse did the part of the faithful wife very sweeuy
indeed there was a Sonows-of w erter-lKe devoton,
yery Teutonic and very charming Her performance
of be scena was particularly well received.
The characteristics of the music liberal, rich and
detailed orchestraton and above vocalzatoD, and
dramatic harponies nobly Indicative of the scene. The
d. fciencies are want Of melody-clear, wen.defned
and memorable; and, in fact, cannot recall single
one hich would be commended in that capacity alone
to the unsophisticated hesrer Tns is defect in dra-
matico-musical writing which nothing else can CON-
pensate for with the public. The prodgious merit of
Shakespeare is that amid the grand complexities of
plot and situation he is the most popular of dramstss
as regards his melodies, or his phrases quoted and
remembered off the stage. Another deficiency in
Fdeo one color to the scene-it is all 10 prison, and
nearlG all Sad, up to the denoument
The opera was well put on the stage. The chorus
covered themselves with honor, and rendered the
fine Prisoners Chorus with deep effect. Mr. Berg
manor led with fine discriminating hand an excellent
orchestra. This opera should be beard over and
over sgain to make the auditor acquainted with is
character. The most notable unity in it s IGNORES
soo-and the duet at the grave-diggng scene the
latter being magnificent to dramatic coloring The
introduction to the tenor air is superb piece of drs-
matte unity but the air is oldfashioned, and wants
be sustained quality of oratorical defamation.
Eideio Is a most agreeable change from Italian
opera, for we have 90 few German operas, and go
little chance Of making acquaintance with the peculiar
nature of the musical minds of German composers on
the stage.
The NEw-YoRK AMERICAN NCsIc ASSOCIATIONS
will give the first concert of their second this
Tuesday, afternoon, at O'Clock M, at Dodworths
Academy, No. SOC Broadway This Association IL
due to the enthusiasm of young and gifted amateur
Of music, Mr.. c. j. Hopkins son of a very clever
man, Bisl op Hopkins of the Episcopal Church,
Vermont. He has engineered his project into the vi
taes of second season; brought out Constitution
and By Laws, and in word, organized Society. The
object is, first, middle and last, to perform American
music; and as nothing can be known of American
music unless is adequately performed the least that
eminent artists from Europe, equally with those of
American birth, who are well received here by the
public can do, win be render their services soiun
tsrly 10 this young body The pieces to be
tomorrow are composed by hessrs. g. II. Curtis, Z.
Hommsn, C. J. Hopkins K. A. Paine G. F. Bris-
tow, W. II. Walter, c. GOdone, and j. N. Pychow-
ski-an new and American As the growth Of art
in any country IT, Is general rule, dependent chiefly
on the support il receives from the public the utility
of upheloing this American Music Association will
speak for ITSELF Our counsel TO the Society s TO burn
crude works after performing them privately, it may
be, and TO have no bad performances in public. Toe
public viii not play wet-nurse.
ROWFRY THEATER-REVIVAL OF KING