The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-05-06
THE NEW YORK MUSIC FESTIVAL
A Memorable Concert, with Frag'
ments from Wagner, on Thursday.

mems from WI
The concert Thursday afternoon was
wholly given up 10 extracts from the works
Of Wagner. II was correctly entitled upon
the programme Fragments from the Me-
belungen Ring" The collocation was a
masterly one. II gave a swift review OF
some Of the most notable scenes from each
OF the great works constituting wagner
tetralogv. Together the extracts occupied
three hours OF time in the performance,
and they nearly equalled in length one OF
the entire dramas, while certainly they
surpassed in interest any possible concert
representation Of either OF the dramas
singly.
The selections were made with great
skill. First and last they gave to the
hearcr a great proportion OF those famous
leading motives or themes that are woven
into the structure of the four dramas. and,
appearing and reappearing in every form
of counterpoirt and under every possible
harmonic guiSc. give TO the whole its life,
beauty, aud stimulus, marking each sepa-
rate character with a strong mclOdic figure
which becomes q part OF him. No more
admirable summary could have been de-
vised OF the essential and most picturesque
portion Of Wagner'S great work. Certainly
no one could ever again hope to hear
his compositions so Splendidly pre-
sented upon the concert stage. In
proof witness the splendid group OF artisans,
headed by Frau Materna, Miss Hattie
Schell. Miss Antonia Ilcnnc, and Miss
Amalia Wurmb for the three Rhine daugh-
tiers: for tenOrs. Signor Campanini, Herr
Candidus. and Mr.. TOedt; for basses, Sig
nor Galassi. Mr.. RemmertZ, and Mr.. Stems.
The cooperation OF all these, together with
the mastery playing OF the great orchestra,
which proved itself in perfect sympathy
with the work in hand, made for the great
audience an afternoon that should be
memorable in their lives.
WHAT THE GRBAT MATERNA HAS TO SAY.
The following is from yesterdays Her
aid:
After the concert was over yesterday af-
tcInOOn Madame Matcrna held an informal
reception in the armOry, at which num-
Der OF ladies OF the chorus were present.
They were thoroughly charmed by the
great singers unaffected manners, and
begged for some sort Of Il mcmento OF her.
She complied by giving all OF them flower
or two out OF the large baskets which had
been presented to her on the stage, accom-
panyng the gift with pleasant. graceful
speech TO each one, sending the delighted
choralsts away happy over their little
relics and enthusiastic about the giver. She
then put on her wraps and drove to the
Windsor Hotel.
"It was delightful concert" she said
later to a Herald reporter, speaking Of the
afternoons music" one OF the best ever
heard-and perfectly reproduced the spirit
Of Wagner's music"
"AS YOU have been so identified with
Wagner's own production OF his operas,
you must be competent to Judge If his
views were thoroughly expressed to-day by
the orchestra"
81 can give YOU no better idea of my
opinion Of the concert than 10y saying that
when was listening TO it sad to myself,
Il wish Wagner himself were here to-day,
that he might hear his music rendered so
perfectly 1t was magniiicent-grand so
far rs the orchestra was concerned nothing
could have been finer. have sung parts
OF the 'Nibclungen in concert before. In
Berlin and Vienna Wagner rehearscd the
orchestra most carefully. and that under
such supervision the instrumentallstS were
near perfection il, OF course, no matter for
surprise. But that they should here, with
out Wagner, so faithfully reproduce the
effects which / have myself heard Wagner
studiousy teach his musicians amaZes me.
The 'Walkuerenritt was simply perfect
II must have surprised the people that
carried the notes Of music so identified
with myself, and which have so repeated
" sung. Do you know why did this
Simply TO curb myself. | hope / succeed
ed for detcst To be carried away by my
| dramatic feryor and make involuntary gcs-
lures upon the concert platform. The or
| chestra so inspired me that could scarce
ly restrain myself. How | should delight
in showing the public-which has become
SO dear because it has been so kind TO mC
at these concerts-what | can really dc
! bestl",
"And is there no likelihood Of that wisl
being realiZedI"
~ have had offers from Mr.. MapleSor
and Others-olfers which my contracts il
Vienna alone prevent me from accepting
| hope, however, that shall be able TO ar
range to come here TO sing on the operate
stage Of New York in the spring Of 1884.
"Will the Vienna opera allow you tC
absent yourself for such length Of time 2 >
81 have four months leave OF absenc,
annually, and hope that may be granted
a pr0longation OF this privilege sutlicien
90 I'LL a season here
"Would yon sing in Italian or German
in such IN eyenty"
Here Herr Friedrich, the husband o
Nine. Materna, unexpectedly broke in will
the remark, "My wife might sing in Chi
nese, and be none the less great. Ii makes
no difference at all, none at all, my dea
SIR" To-day" Nine. Materna con
tinued, "was the first opportunity durin!
the festival that have had TO display m!
powers to the full. While l love TO sing al
music, feel as II ought only TO be judge,
in the masic-dramas OF Wagner, in wncl
my chief successes have been gained. | an
sorry there is not an opera troupe, Ger
man opera troupe, here, " (something abou
Chinese was again interposed,) "in which
could present those creations OF Wagner
Brinnhllde, Ortruda, and Elisabeth"
"And Kundry:"
"Ab, 'Parsifall' / am anxious to &c
back TO Bayreuth for 'Parsifal.' Tha
alone will lessen the regret | shall fee
when leaving America. But | have beel
treated so kindly that shall gladly try L
arrange for my return here"