New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-11-08
MUSIC.
METROPOLITAN OPERA HOUSE.

VI Ina hOOPE'
Some of the most obvious criticisms on the
performance of Lohengrn" by MT. Abbey's company
last night are Of the kind which it would be unfair to
,naks under all the circumstances Of the
case This company is an italian company, more
ITALIAN even than we have been accustomed
n here for the nationality did not stop with the singers
with few exceptions the members Of the orchestra are
also Italians and upon them devolves in "Lohengrn'
as in the other operas Wagner of the most char
aceristc and trying work. Now although this opera
does not mark the elimination OF wagner
style, it is thoroughly Teutonc, ana i0
proper performance calls into play factors
which are natural to Germans but very foreign nuecu W
Italians. In even the best Of Italian represen.a.on,
"Lohengrin is obliged to submit to change Vi pS
ognomy which is disappointing TO the DIVORCES Vi
man-in this case, also, correct-ideals bu. % V'
cal affairs are shaped at present we are oohe'u
an Italian "Lohengrin" none ana III 'iilS ' A'''
loaf is infinitely better than no bread. -. $50
The interest exhibited by the pnbnc IN inc
fortunately a Wagner opera Is an event VIII US
oost GRATIFYING and significant fact. The Deauiu opera
house was filed by an audience tha' "'u no'
seem to lack more than TWO hunuVU p0'a 49,
of being as numerous as inc auu'nVo , Ui''
tbo unioue attraction the opening night brought wn
a. - 7, 1ros an audience, moreover, that for the
t art seemed filed with different spirit than the
ordinary audience of the house. Inc pNch 10
which interest In the music was raised, ana tne
anxiety to ignore the conventional Things vi
an italian opera performance which was feIt
were attested by the rapt attention with which tho music
and the play we're followed and the impatient emphasis
With which outbursts OF applause during the progress OF
scene were Kissed into silence Other things than hgh
notes engrossed the attention OF last nights
listeners, and many Of the unoDtusNe
instances Of intelligent, artistic effort received
romp recognition and decorousy expressed reward 1t
be argued from this that the patrons of the opera
in New-York are ripe something better and nober
than the sweetmcats of the hurdygrdy reporory ana
that a winning card to play IN the gHno no"
going ON between the rival managers "ouiu
be list, not necessarily large OF lho "oaI
works of the German and French schools Certainly II
the difference between last nights audience and eight OF
the nine audiences that preceded it can be taken as
comparative measure OF the interest in the two classes OF
operas no manager can keep his eyes closed 10 lne
demonstration completed yesterday
"Lohengrin" will be repeated next Monday When oc-
casion will be given for more discriminating as well as
more deliberate discussion of the merits and dement's
of the performance than could be mad aiter
the late hour at which the opera cioSeu
last night. 1t is compliment to the per
Torrance that it must be set down as worthy Oh
more careful Judgment than is ordinarily given TO the
amusements Of an evening The Interpretation OF the
work rs a whole no less than the accomplishments oil
each performer, furnish food for rsSecuoh'
The pleasures Of memory were stirred by the
temperance of Madame Nilsson ana SlShor
Campanni in the characters which they INTRODUCED
IN the American people for tf not mised by or
recollection, "LOhengI1n," when these two adhia"e
artists first aided in its production more than dec!u
ago had only been heard here by the NlS0rS 70 1or'
German performance in the present Ihalla ihelue'
then the German Stadt Theatre, in the BoWeIy Maudie
Fursch-M adi. who made her first appearance tus go I
as Ort,pda land fairly earned the laeis que 10 ne
most artistic work the evening" Signor haschnah
signor Noyara and signOr Contni all ought to be reIe
befed even in this note of preude but there Is time oy
for the enumeration We cannot refrain howeyef nom
COMMUNICATING the management OF the house lot tne
brilliant setting given the opera, and the magnncchee OF
the costumes by principal singers anu choiS",e
The play was thrilling spectacle, and only te eIOuhVc
of the music prevented an interruption OF thG ACTON 10
permit the people TO express their deIsnt WIN 'o '
scene. III. 90 ,orious
Another feature OF the performance worthy OF serious
attention was the use of the depressed orchestra space as
Constructed by architect OF the opera house MI D.
Ccayel0nd Cady We inclined TO vote tho lnnoVa-
tion success acOustcay-the fact that IL WOuiu en-
hance the spectacular effect was never open 10 question
but prefer 10 give 1t further trial on Monday night