New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-04-16
THE BOSTON WAGNER FESTIVAL.
SINGERS FROM NETWORK TAKE PART.

THE SECOND CONCERT A FRAGMENT OF "DIE
MEIsTERsINGER' BRILLIANTLY PRESENTED.
IRON sTAFP CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUSE.l
BosToy, April 15.-The general verdict of
and public tonight is that far depended
on the abos Of the artists employed the artistic successor
the Wagner Festival assured The obstacle to entire
satisfaction placed by the unness Of the Mechanics In
sute for musical purposes grows smaller becomes
accustomed to the hail. but the vastness Is not reduced
and it Is impossible to eser into that affinity with the
performers which is unqua1edy essential if the moving
music Of Wagner is to be felt In all It's power strangely
enough yet the drawback seems to work most injury
to the nstrumentaiss the phenomenal power Of the pin
cpa singers suiclng to I'LL the hall In spite Of its masn-
tude and -conditOLed construction. The phenomenon
is not new, though 1t excltc5 wonder that single
voice should assert itself tellngly than
the combined voices OF many instruments. Per
haps the uncOmpromisng dramatic delivery
which Wagners music exacts has good deal to do with
1t. 1t insists upon good natural declamatory tone,
rather than the artificial voice often trained up by
Italian teachers who hold beauty OF tone TO be
the first requisite Of artistic singing. It would not be
strange lesson which the singing Of Nine Materna
and Heron 5caria and Wnkemann should teach In this
country likely be- not that there is need OF vocal
culture Of the Kind which made the Roman schools
OF two centuries ago forever memorable, but that there's
greater need than ever for basic training that Will
enable singers 10 indIlgein the yre, dramatic deca-
peculiar to these singers without loss OF purity
steadness and beauty of voice. II is tho misfortune OF
Wagners art that has had long upon range,
power and endurance OF voice that many Of its eHponeAS
have not reached point whero perfection Of decama
ton begus until freshness and purity OF their voices
were sacrificed This consideration has kept many
singers Of the oder school who mbued with love
for WagneP5 musIc-AInc. Patti instanceOut Of the
ranks Of Wagnerian singers.
SELECTIONS FROM BEETHOVEN AND WAGNER.
The programme OF tho concert tonight was composed
OF Beethovens Heroic symphony and fragments from
Wagners only comic OPERA Do Meistersinger" Most
critics are inclined Had the be Ginning Of the character
istlc development OF Beethoven in this symphony, TO
trace It through the Fifth and have It eliminate in
the Ninth It IS for this reason. doubtless that tho
Heroic and minor symphonies the only twOp pieces OF
music composed by another than Wagner admitted
in the festival scheme York another
exception will be made In favor OF fragments or NeDers
" EuTyanthe that being the modern opera In WlIch
Wagnerite5 v no liberal enough % admit thaI their
true dramatic spirit which Wagner made the "be all and
eud all OF his operate scheme
For tho already noted can DO imagined that
the performance the symphony not particularly
its virty than hall disspated ia the waste
spaces OF tho audience The selections from
"Die Meisersnger" had d twOfOld interest Not only
were they characteristic Illustrations OF aSuer5 comedy
style but the male choruses were sung BY YORK sing
er5 One hundred members OF the German Liederkran1
came special train ~ sing the guild choruSeS In the
third act OF opera. After the concert hey
tanned by the Orpheus Club in tho hOspitable
and merry manner peculiar 10 German
" MGnnercl0re" IRe selections given embraced
the entire third act with few comparatively nsgnin
cant cuts In the solo parts After the prelude came
Hans sachs monolOgue;