New-York tribune., 1885-01-06
MADAME MATERNA IN OPERA.

The entrance of Madame Amalia Materna on
the operatc stage OF this country was effected last nsh
the Metropolitan Opera House under circumstances
which most hattering to the LADY
and most significant In their bearing upon
the operatio problem which the Metropolitan
managemcnt is this engaged with The ineidens
was one which looked forward to with pleasur-
able authorizations ever since this eminent German
dramatic artist sang here for the first time in May 1857
Herself delighted at the sympathetic interest MANIFESTED
by the American people in her singing at tho
festivals conducted by Mr. Thomas In 1sS2 ana again
year. she frequently expressed the desire 10 'aAe
part in series of operate representations which wod
supply the factors that she he essential to
perfect understanding OF the vocal style in which she
stands pre-eminent among the dramatic singers OF
Germany This desire was shared with equal degree
OF ardor by the patrons OF Mr. Thomas's Festivals
especially after the Wagner concerts OF last year IN
which the very excellence of the singing Oh
Madame Materna and her olleagves from
yienpa, Herren winkelmann and soaria, maao
paner than had before been made in this country tho
absolute necessity OF maintaining the integrity OF "as
ners art to end that the poecodramatic intentions
OF the composer might be realized Those concerts wefo
Of the highest educational value and the lesson whlcn
they enforced with the greatest emphasis was that ho
more excellent the vocal interpreter OF wagner On 'no
concert stage the more is he she crippled by inc ao
sence of the theatre Last spring in fact we were aught
the truth which has been exemplihed at the representa-
tio,s M "Tannhauser" and L0hengrin " at the
Metropolitan Opera House this namely that the
nterpreers OF Wagner not yocasts, but sing
ing actors and that their performances can only be cor
rectly estimated when viewed factors In an artworE
I'm which poetry music pantomime, and spectacle h"Ns
eoual rights That DR. Damrosch was fortunate enough
to establish series OF performances capable OF exhmp
in Madame Materna in her entire artistic stature
fact for which the public no less than he 10 oee""
graduated. ~ ,
That the coming OF this magnihccht uis
matte singer will increase the already uhusua'
nrosperity OF the enterprise was Indicated
tho anxiety manifested last week In tho phren'~
of seats for this weeks representations Last nish
was Insured by the attendance of an audience whieh "
only crowded the large audience-room but was m''s
brilliant in appearance and delonstrauve III tesus
its than any since the first night OF tue ses
The disposition to obtrude welcome to the singer INV
the drama was 80 stroug restrained win u'
aculty Notwithstanding that Nine Materna herso.
gave no eountenance to 1t by sinking the drans'"
character that she was mperscnatins "
her own individuality The opera "Tannhsltses
and amidst the tmult OF applause which greeted ne -
rance into the minstrels hall In the second aet sue ~
gan her song OF greeting. In moment her m,sss1
iously powerful and ringing voice n"d X da''iSs iSs
end end ei or" the act she had the attention % .
the audience her artistic creation rather than "
personality. At the close of the act however the q
gave way to their desire TO testify tnelr prari q
her coming. and she had repeatedly to come iorwa'u
acknowledge their tributes. -, or. ~ 8
Unfortunately, tho representation OF the mas
whole, was not up the standard hxad py In,t re-
roschs artists earlier n the season Herr sd no0
] obviously under tho weather; Herr koegei coS'~