The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-03-06
AMUSEuEN1S.
The Italian opera-Lohensrln and Faust.

Inc ltnllnn Onern-l4ohenUrin ana fnuat-
Nothing was wanting, SO far as the spec
tacle was concerned. in the presentation Of
Wagner's exciting opera. Mt the Academy. on
Tuesday evening.
The stnge. when peopcd with the array Of
knights and ladies " tn" court. the king and
his rctinur. and Elsa and her pages, iurnish"da
bright and moving picture. full of life. notion
ana interest
Nor was tho performance. unsteady con-
sidcrcd. below the level OF tho spectacle. Tho
orchestra had been increased. the chorus
further drilled. Gaassi assumed the part
Fred0ick, according to first intention. Nine.
Gerscr and Nine. Lablache. both entirely new
to their characters ut the representation OF last
week. had gained the ease that comes from
repetition. and. in fact the performance in
every way was an improvement on the first.
But the production OF Lohengrin" has given
rise to great differences Of opinion. The out
and-out Wagneritcs find no satisfaction in It.
and are loud in their discomfort. For them
Nine. Gcrstcr Is not sufficiently powerful. tho
cuts are too numerous the teinpos are too fast
and the German work under Ardti's hand is
Itnllnnized. These exceptions to the peri orm-
ance we believe To be n straining OF the point
Arditi may possibly Mt times tdke the tempo too
fnst but coniu. tor il entitled to certain de-
| iu position To- know. iio Inns received the in
| dicutiOns Of time, NJ well NJ those OF express
! sion. directly from Wagner. aud he knew IN y
| opera well from long experience in conduct
| in IT,
There nre certain shortcomings. beyond n
doubt. The chorus il TAR from perfect. and tho
cuts are sometimes 50 made as to lend To violent
| changes of key AMI of rhythm. ami even mere
! and therr Wnrner's music is altered 10 adapt il
| to those sudden Transitions
| But. On the other hand wa have an Elsa thor
| oushly inhu.d with the poetical shirt ~ me
~ lN NOM
| ness candid. gentle. AMI pure nature " Elsa.
| both in her manner. when IL always unaffected
| and in her voice. which Is sweet and pure.
| Then Cnmpnnni 10 conceded to be- me h's'
| Lphengril. ut beast among Italians. Mm". La
bache has made her strongest mark in Ort'Ut
and given u rendering of 1t that for dramatic
force and general artistic excellence has moi
been surposs@d on our srgG. Galnssi has
| tninly Mr.. Foil has done himself great credit as
In view ~ this II ia useless 10 say that the
representation H. q bid one. On tn" contrary
though Col. Maplrson HIS undoumrlJ
pushed this very complex work too hastily
upon the stage. and made a first Performance
| ~ what should have been n rehearsal, stu ih'
opera now comes even M tho second renderinl
into better shape. and one that il both crafty
INK 90 tho public and credit to the manage
ment .
not differ materially from that Of IN" last son
son excerpt IN that Miss Hauk assumed The
character VI Marguerite. then taken 10y Nine
Gerstar In certain portions of the opera Mis-
the ballad Of the" King Of Thule" with gre.
sweetness. delicacy. AMI sgntingnt. ana pc
hut IN some Of the scenes Miss Hanks singing
| lacked fervor and pnssion.
| Cumuauini did not specially exert himself
which is not 20 be wondered M, since on IN
previous evening h. had taken the arduou
role % Lolcugrui. Nor docs Del Puente com
M tn the requirements Of the part of Nsplis
i0ph,lcs. H. is too good an artist TO make "A rep
! failure in the role. hut he comes dangerous
| near IL. For these reasons the urrtorman'
WAS q somewhat tame and coli less one. To
! night thu company Is 10 hN heard in Rrooklyf
and on Friday evening the Magic Flute" !
/ given here.