New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-11-19
A PERFORMANCE "rANNnAusER."

A PERFORMANCE OF "TANNliAuSER"
We rccur 10 the representation of Wagnera
"hnnhau-or" by the German singers at the Metro
politan Opera House on Monday evening, In many 10
speets this representation was tho most significant
musical erent OF many years, and II Will be- well " ih
bearing toward the present and future ~ our operate
affairs is thoroughly understood before an attempts
made estimate the merits Of the artists who Will make
the opera house their home for tho ensuing season.
for it will he found that the estimate Will depend largely
upon the standard fixed by what consider the new
phase assumed by opera ut our newest and mob est
artistic establishments We have no hesitation IN saying
that proper appreciation OF large portion Of the list
OF operas to be presented under Dr. Damrosch will ds
pend upon radical change in the attitude OF the pnhs
toward the repre- sentatons. Old standards OF criticism
will have to be abandoned tastes educated by long IN
diligence In the sweets of Italian opera NIL have TO DO
reformed, the prevailing opinion concerning the mission
OF the operate artist will have to give to one much
nober and the aesthetic canOns which have hereto
fore applied in the estimation OF performances will
have to undergo modification These things VIII not 10
necessary all times for there is that in the equipments
of the new company which will for the OLD enjoy
ments, but they inevitably come II the charac-
work OF the is To be appreciated al
It's ull value and their shortcomings are to be a'ru
noted
This being so, tho choice OF "Tannhanser for the
opening representation u1icious II is utterly hope
less to attempt arrive the real import Of this work.
the artistic dignity OF which has been established
throughout the civilized world by approaching II as
conventional opera Although the first OF Wagners great
works, aud cast in a large In the operate
mould far its musical structure Is concerned.
" Tannhauser" nevertheless is separated by a tre-
mendous chasm from all its predecessors and conte-
poraes. Ii II in spirit II not In form, as ucb lucM
drama ((;istin -uished from opera as Parsiial'
all its elements be considered and not only
singing OF the prima DONNA is ordinarily the casa
| aI.a nfof
star system
But Tannhauser" IL also something more than
drama OF the ordinary kind Well Ill expressed, 1t has
strong trend toward that gh type OF poetry OF when
the Greeks gave the loitiest examples. The myth
upon which is based all that part of 1t which il native
to the story OF Tdnnhduserl is portion OF universal
possession. Iannhduser. by the poets own admonon,
is to taken a prototype OF manhood IN It's pas
sionate desires and ideal ASPIRATIONS like the Fddoi
Not only does the character run back through
the ages cropping and In the masterpieces
Of all great entures but the incidents which throw"
into relief IN the form In which Wagner has east ha'e
an equally long line OF parallels The grotto OF Venus
in the Hprsebeig familiar place In classic literature
1t has changed its name and Its face, bit no'nns
more than that Garden OF Delight IN which the ancient
heroes met their ensavers. We recognize II 'u'h'
Avalon where King Arthur was healed OF MS "Ouh's"
his fairy-siser. Morgan. and again IN ogy' Tue w
nghtful Island where Ulysses met Calypso Inc s'aD'
too which bursts into green In the hands OF Pope ofpaa
i'm token Of Tonnhausrs forgiveness. has i,s prototypes
In the ances which, when thrust Into the gouh' Ds 'ns
virgin warriors Of Charemagne burst into ieay iores''
l the stan which pn on leaves IN the hands OF Joseph
wherefore the virgin gave him 'er hand IN mariagel
and far back IN the gloom of fnuqnty, IN ur iou p"
Aaron which, when laid MP amongst others 'n the taoer
nace brought forth buds, and boomed blossvms wv"
yielded almonds" -
IN the hands IT wagner the fannhan,er legend hss
i.,t.. tha
that mira have ~ woman which saves the WORLD !"
on,i,sv with ,,oethn's Faust IA near Al the mag
nntant energy ~ lde, man Ia brought foiwhfi W ~.
roes conception, but " is 80 energy That is sha'e
lls fluctuations between srhsnai pleasures anu 81
asptaiians between love foF teDas ahi love fe' hs'
beA Though there Ia q sephlhs contradiction W 'se'
loyes H,gehoUssp Ia half hearted ~ nelihs' heh'@v
far nam tho Meserheelian here who dfHs he'n Wv"
IA Isg from lies a. Mka, win every phahhe ~ shes
rant AT the play . action IOr love of kilsaA"' 800
ho reoogniles IA all It's se saoriirns h'llhess' 90" -
in,nes lin with love equally honndluss' he N'"s
Ia suffer tho agonies of tho damned Set '"N"" w.
rest of the world he remains the unswervahlo hhsH
had pledged himself To slug the praises o. INC 80" 80.
which had been his. Here Is the contradiction $50
which he Is shattered tho heroes OF ulo'A IN.
were shattered by the rock Of hnpaeamo '"'' IN.
transcen liant beauty Of the modern poe" ~ n.
ethical idea Of the salvation which comes "o' I'm
love n EhslJet.s salvation when ho "" Ma,
IulifihfUset
of the s,int and Venass cries OF woo are s,,o.
by the pious cautice OF the pilgrims IL Is ' a nr,.
Of the old Ta,nhauser legend which display - ~
fonndly poetical nature OF Wagnet' i'so =, MYTH
rli-1bsGt's love Ia original with hlui' "a" ,..rs,S
koows nothing OF II. does 1t touch ,e ,orv
tournament IL has all been developed ou' v. .s,
~ the unhappy Lisard. whose affections n'..,h.
won before he sets out for the Venusoers W ...f
oneen OF Love and Beauty, and who deslr's ,s,,aus
when she learned OF the ungodly mission % "e
knight And a touching and beautiful meta"
IL Ia. . -. q, with IN
It's scarcely necessary that We should ~ w .srvs
analysis OF the drama Enough has been '" 40. ,hA
our purpose which was to show how Tar s.,,aus
boundaries OF conventional opera WOE " n 70
such profoundly poetical elements iA 10 .,sratis
preseut the drama In the manner common W ' " aha
stagel Assn, eddy not The dramatic onA's h
action must be presented at all hazards anu ~ n,o,s
dome win the help OF all the elements that eh0
A simply singing Tannhausr would be no ia"" .r, ofs
Wagner has indeed written much music ior .no ssv
mo,odlous character, but OF t can DO gwen up.
mile !, seem natural expression unless n..,..ntx
charged with dramatic earnestness Inc oq A'...sl,
IN this respect are 50 great that the singer I"