Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1884-05-18


donnas," and then launched out in great
admiration of Nilsson's "Elsa," which
role she sang to Materials "Ortend" in
Vienna.
When l rose to 90 my distinguished
hostess seemed more the lovable woman
than before. Holding my hand in the
tightest grip have ever felt, she empha.
sized each gracious, kindly parting word
with an extra shake and squeeze, l could
readily understand still more than at first
what Ruskin meant by the beautiful SEN
timent already quoted. 1t is a. rare thing
to find SO much heart with so many rich,
mental gifts and voice of such majestic
beauty.
Aside from the sensuous pleasure one
experiences listening to six such pro-
grammes within three weeks, it is lib
eral education, and requires decidedly
bracing exercise of ones intellect to follow
understandingly. Let each person keep
the hand book open and so along care
fully with the singers, and most OF Wag-
ner's obscure meaning and intricate har-
mony, seemingly tiresome and heavy, will
become clear, interesting and enjoyable.
The Spectators Caught.
want to say word before closing as
to the spectators. If the family circle
and balcony were not uniformly full at
every concert, it was owing entirely to the
greed displayed by the aforesaid fiends.
On the day of the first concert Sc apiece
for seats in the family circle were de-
manded by the spectators, while there
was nothing to be had at the box office.
The house was full that night, as before
stated, but the next morning happening
in the foyer of the Operahouse l heard
these same spectators offering good seats
at box-office prices. What a fall was
there. People had been scared away, and
something had to be done to coax
them back. Good tickets for the
first night were sold at an i'm
mense premium. Ten, fifteen and
twenty dollars single seat were paid
With the exception of the first night and
the night Nilsson sang the house never
was as full. Empty boxes and empty seats
in the balcony and family circle were con-
stantly to be seen. If the spectators got
their money back they were lucky.
Finale.
Summing up, however, the Wagner con-
certs were brilliant success financially
and artistically. 1t is foregone conclu-
sion, therefore, that German opera will be
the next move in New York. Whether or
not it will be next season is not yet known,
but do not think l should be unwise to
predict the affirmative.
Among the ignorant, prejudiced sneers
l have heard respecting Wagner and his
disciples, man who pretended to be
connoisseur In opera, music, ETC., said the
other day "he did not see what attraction
there was in such tiresome stuff as Wag-
ners music; no fashionable people went
to those concerts. His houses must be on
paper, as nobody ever heard of a German
willing to pay S. for seat at concert,
and the audiences were composed Of moth
to be SO entirely blase, and beyond all hope
done for him hereafter, when Wagner's
operas are produced with all their color
and clang in New York. At present he is
pitiablel
"Art only reveals her deepest secrets to
those who cling to her with true SELF
denial and from pure love, but not to
those who desire something different from
her, who would make an ostentatious dis
play of love, and to whom she is
nothing higher than charming mistress.
Although she may shed around even
] these artists some reflection of her light,
it resembles the brilliant but swiftly
I fading glow of sunset, to which deep OBJ
| security succeeds. May those understand
| this metaphor who stretch out their arms
| to her, for they will merely receive from
| her that which they demand. Only her
| alluring earthly charms can fade, and even
| those may appear indestruetible, but with
| those men whose aspirations rise beyond
what is merely transitory, the lovely ideal
| forever remains, forever retaining lis Sc.
1 raphjc bloom and purity" LEX
Z =