New-York tribune., 1885-02-12
MUsIC--THE DRAMA.
GERMAN OPERA.


GERMAN OPERA.
Tho p,easure manifested by numerous audl-
80 a, the Metropolitan Opera House last night' wnch
. Tsnuhauser was presented for the eigheh uie 'n
.as.on taken In connection with the equai oesreo Va ~
...a which has followed the nine representations VI
= Inhengrtn and Ave OF Die wakure. was evidence
that there Is In Newyork City numerous po's y,
,overs who are willing and eager to accept the chseu
na,tions which precede proper appreciation OF "as
marian opera The fact Is interesting In It's reitio,
the aud future lyric drama In the onoo
states for what Ia Of New-fork CITY is III s
or less degree true OF the country generally "o
out nj the beginning Of the season that an app.
Of the work of the German artists would depsho uion
radical change in the attitude az the pubic towsru
ropresentations upon reformation oi '"a ,aunont
NV long Indulgence In italian sweets an ap"u :,
NJ old standards Of criticism. and amodncauo'
,,. ,.s,bet,c eanons which 1t has been cus'oi'
70 the work of operatio artseA .,,,v i'm
o,o circumstance which has been most Iorc'oi' ,"i
-, mon the constant attendants at the opera makes
=, ex,r.meIv difficult 10 say what extent TINS ne" us
,,ensation I'm operatic affairs has setin Anexporuh'
laree number OF the patrons of Dr. DamroS0"
prise have been people OF German brth anu euu Gu 80
These 40 far rs they had artistic training NJ All III ~
native land. prepared to accept wi'n u.i. ~ ~,
new operac reegime. Besides, at Intervals ouihs '
last onarter OF century they have had operate repre-
septations here in their mother tongue which, 'housn
modcstly equipped, nevertheless reneo.eo 'no 'p
rbch DR. Damrosch and his coadjucrs nave emooui0u
I'm the Metropolitan representations Weree' W 'n p
formances in which Nine. Johannsen appeare" "nu0' ~
a,reetion of Carl Bergman in 1885, the first production
of Tanuhauser under the same able musician AT 'no
s,ast Theatre ON August 27, 1859; Carl Anscno%s
brief season at wallack's old theatre al broau
vuy and Broome-st in lso2; sono y.
later sporadic effort. in which Nine Liehtmay anu c
Tappenheim took part. and Neuendorhs noteworthy Po
forrnance ia bringing out Lohengrh lor 'ho "a ,,
I'm America at the stadt Theatre In April ls" 10 ''
,se,, ~ onr populaton German opera, interpreted oy
eer,sn artists made q two-fold appeal-artisuc anu
patriotic-and the manner In which they nave
has given the directors OF the Metropohu'n Ol l,,
Company reason to remember them win "'"i9 - -
tude Nevertheless they have been hear'iiy :. 49,.
,he,r suppot OF the opera and their appreciation Vi ~
o.,,once. nv n larger class Of native Americans ana
IN the limit of the support of this class we are "
beevins that the German artists have worked chahsc
N the operatic tastes Of our public
Anoher fact one that relates TO the artists was ae
centuaed by the Of success attained las. night
i, has been most noticeable those who have s'eheu
10 nil the representations that the most emeoh' nave
been those of wagners operas That this should DC 30
"a the resnt of the influence which Wagner mas eNer
eised for more than decade over the 1erhah oPoi"
stage The current Of popular admiration ior MS "o
has been irresistible 1t has carried everything oeioie
md svept away many the old landmarks OF the lyric
Hrapdt and Frau Kraus were obliged by inc
growing taste TO abandon the departments IN whgn AT
nrst they thought their lncnatious "a IN wa,ayna we
know that the change was fortunate one 10, m % n
FOR art. since her rare phy ana ,b renresena
lives OF Wagners her0ines In the case oI rIau I
fear the change was not 80 ungnasc nc m fpcrtecty
eharmingy fresh. lovely and true voice Is ma maiehg h
adapted 10 such music that In which she maie her
debut vepns and her seeSRs Rsr Ye p"r But the
erog dramatic roles in which she ls ambitious 10 SHINE
s mon il thai her we'll wishers may well regard her
continuance in her present course win d
contrast the i'm preston which II made with TINT pro
duced by Frau Maerna last night VIII az once pelGeNe
Row vast js the difference between artist ntted ont
with the phenomenal vocal powers demanded oy Nager
and another whose intelligence ambition anu
dcpreriate the sweety tender ana poeuea
impersonaton which Frau kraas gave US 81 t.S nne
tion of stature Wagner has drawn Asdoem IN generous
fasPwa1e her such woman as TdHnAdnser. tho pro,
totype of manhood" in its passionate desires anu lu
Ing love i'm hunger which he fed from the delights OF
Venm. He has presented this woman 70 Us III % neI
growth from a frank ard trusuul maiden who |
needs must ask what are the first STRINGS |
Of love which she feels to woman whose |
tween the righteous of the MINISTRIES aud us gny
object and then to even s III se I ct enS
singing of Maerna where depth of conception anu
inlnes & Si artistic % the Of the
opera have undergone no material chance ee slne9
performance. anu nave Decn "ihpil
in this column. Herr Schott's Tannhdusr stll
seems 10 us a powerful mpersonation, ana one
fiat is so perneaed with the poetcal essence OF inc
drama that his frequent offences against the ear are
easily coudoned. -. .,.- -,
The stscripton season OF thirty-eght nights ended
with last nights performance, which owing 10 the IN
disposition OF DR.. Damrosch was conducted by MS son.
walter the crganist and director OF tho music at
Plymouth Church. BROOKLYN. DIR. Damrosch caught
seyere cold on Tuesday. and his physician forbade MIN
a. the hon last night lest he should be unable 10
conduct the opera this evening. The young gentleman
acquitted himself well OF his task, thanks TO MS rnhes
An. ritv afa af.hc
music. A supplemental season Will begin tonight
when Die Wakure will be given Tor the siAth ume'