New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-04-15
MUSIC AND THE DRAMA.
BOSTOps WAGNER FESTIVAL.
THE OPENING CONCERT A SUCCESS
THE FAMOUS SOLO SINGERS INTRopucHD--A IA sGa
AND ENTHUSIASTIC AUpENcr.

| THE FAMOUS SOLO SINGERS ISTRopuc D--A IA tGa
AND ENTHUSIASTIC AUnENcE.
| fBY TELEGRAPH THE DtIBUSK.l
BosroY, April 14.--The Wagner festival
opened in Mechanics institute thiseyening Apprelen-
sons that the enterprise gea to promise success
were at by the enthusiastic participation Of the
public in this frat and respects least interesting
concert of the local Of The chief apprehension
which remained after the concert began touched tho
| artistic outcome, which seemed 10 DO rendered
somewhat questionable by The Institutes lack Of
fitness for concert purpOses. The room IA immense,
ana acoustic excellence not dreamed Of In It's con-
stcton. It's seating capacity Is 5000, and lis dis
trbuton Of galleries and ether architectural features
it far less satisfactory place in which to ve
concerts than the Seventh Regiment Armory, In which
Mr. Thomas gave mis- New York festival two years ago.
the old Exposition Building in Cincinnati, IN winch
Mr. Thomass first festival venture was made In 1873.
Nevertheless 1t was evident that the changes made VI
the interior had materially improved the room and IL was
vastly better acoustosy than when Nine fat" ."
tempted to sing in IL two years ago.
The programme onlyht was arrsn ged with special ref
erence to an effective Introduction OF the tho OF wagner
ian singers who came from Germany. The festival emo
rus had nothing sing except the march iro"
ser a niece 40 familiar that it scarcely furnished Isr
means for Judging the merit oil the choir Inc NUM-
Der was effectively given though no, WIN 'ne
snrit which "a invited by its buoyant cnar
aoter. and II required all OF Mr.. Tbomass devices for
tagging Brilancy department OF the concert was
ONT OF the question because Of the acoustic dulness
of the hall. magnificent orchestra OF 100
musicians, all from New-YOrk 1.-THE Same band
that will accompany Mr.. Thomas on his Wag-
merriam mission around the country, sounded small
indeed compared with the muscular body OF tone 10
which NEWCOMERS accustomed especially IN high
priced box seats which have been laid out to surround
the concert room three sides This will be the ehet
drawback of the festival unless the chorus should prove
unable to cope with the difficult tasks when lie De-
fore it,
MATERNA wINKELSANN AND scARIA
The programmo was composed OF fragments Of three
Z Wagners musical dramas: "Tsnnialser" do
WaIlurep and "siegfricd" OF the hrst the overture
opening scene first three Of the second act
and the march given Of the second the RIDE Of tho
Walyres VOfdn's farewell to B7thhde and the magic
fire scene OF the the third. the long duet WHICH ioio"s
tho waking OF By1,nhiide and ends the drama Madame
Materna Herr Wnkelmann and Herr scaria ap-
peared together I'm the first selection, Herr searia
in be second Madam Materna and Herr Winke,mann IN
rho last Their triumph quick ana compet@
especiaIly that Of Iatena The first phrase wmch sho
uttered showed that sho was different woman tnan
:, en- she sang in New-YOrk two years ago linen
WEAKNESS or something ese had 80 'nec'eo
her voice IA TO make her intOnation at times paHiuy
false This greyous fault not at all apparent 10
iht and her voice rang ont with freshness cleamess
and resonance that carried it with thrilling ehec1 u o
In snite of the admirable features which marked INC
singing of her cOmpat1ots, ana wien "i' iSis
Wns the triumph OF the evening Her engnea-
ton so marveilousy o71ni. inS, every
syllable could be understood with ease, ana ner
Reclamation was wonderfully dramatic and Impressive
scARIA's ITALIAN STYLE.
The fact that these two qualities in her singing were
also conspicuous in singing Of Herr Scara made PLAIN
10 all discriminating hearers what Is meant ny tho
Wagnerian style of singing. Yet there was amarkea
difference between the methods or the TWO herr
scara shows many signs OF having been
ttained to sing in the Italian manner In
sp,,e Of the manly energy Of his voice ana 1e-
ciamaOn hs singing Is not without uaess al rrs
of the ordinary kind. But they hrs NOV ~ an
unpleasant character lbs voice nSs oye apeeshs to
the ear while listens TO it, though at nIst SiAeS
| one a sOnewh t nasal
| MORE VOICE THAN ART.
Herr winkelmann revealed himself rs singer IN whom
tbe purely vocal quality outweighed the artistic not
Withstand ug that the latter was conspicuous He
Is a tenor OF extraordinary robustness Of voice.
and one whose instincts and art enable him 20 keep
true and in quality throughout Jus VIDE register
respect of enumeration and ne iss snort OF
Madame Maer9a and Herr sca Would n0" see
as rsoni if VOICE. voice selection had MADE him tns
ein sVmpat6y between his artistic style and the
gurements OF Waguer's art works He has the volume;
t6ere ia ine music in mis- voice. qualities may
appear better advantage In some Oh o'ne'
he Is TO sing.
SOCIETY WELL REPRESENTED.
The audience contained great many representatives
OF society and many prominent musicians several OF
whom had refused engagements In order to
be present Among the company were Robert
C. winthrop, Justin MinsOn. Richards Coleman.
Russeu snrgis, c. p Curtis, AlansOn Bigelow, ". II
Kepnard DIR. Beach, Dr. Langmaid, A. '. . Anthony
nsvid lila Dr. Messelh0ef James rturgis r. j. Lang,
Tmothee Adamowsh, Cheyaller dc kn9stky, Adoli
Neuendorf. Herr Listemann. DR.: j. n. DoIlanu anu
othe, prominent gentlemen, most or whom were accom-
panied by ladies' Colonel Walcote and MIS- james Lodse
NTs Bef and other ladies of society were also there