New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-12-16

n1ouENGRIN AT THE.METRopoLrTAN

"LOHENGRINp AT THE
Several new faces we're seen in Wagner's u Lohes-
prinv as it was performed last night at the Metropo
ton Opera House. First and foremost OF course, was
that OF Herr Niemann who enacted tho titular
character. There was new Elsa" IN the
person of Frau Herbert Forster, new KING" IN
Herr sieglits. new Telramund" in DR.. Basch, and
n new Herald in Mr. Max Heinrich. Practically
It was new @LohensYla," and the features In which
it surpassed those preceding representations at this
bouse were about equal in number to those Ia which
fell short The traditional reading of the score has
been so long and so firmly fixed that revelations IN
this respect are not to be expected. The splendid
eoquence of the orchestra under the baton OF herr
seidl we commented on last season In recording inc
brilliant conductors first appearance before an Amer
lean audience, and this eloquence was one OF the
admirable things in last nights representation IL
lacaed tho complement however OF equally correct
and tuneu chorus singing and so many OF the broader
musical effects which the public are wont to admire
were missing. Herr Niemann and Fraulcin Brandt
were with the orchestra the saving graces or me
representation and their performances were OF the
highest order of excellence, unsteady as wen as IN
trnscay. Doubtless the majority Of those who went
TO hear Herr Niemann last night after learning TO
admire him in the strongly tragic characters ID whcn
he has appeared thus tar were prepared 10 make many
allowances for him in the many lyrical passages win
which Wagner has beautihed the score OF " Lohenl
grin but to the surprise OF all he drew but small
draft against such forbearance 1t IS true that he
gave the lyrics certain ruggedness not altogether
eOmpatible with the sweet sentimentalty OF me
majority of our earlier Lohengrns," but he stu
maintained great dea; OF that musical ccmposure ara
euaviry which We feel bound to associate with the
ntterances. OF knight panopIed In rlght ana mgh,
as the messengers of the Holy Grail were In legend
conceded TO be- The mos: serious charge that could
be brought against his singing by such as chose 10
dissocate it from his impersOn alton whole Is that
ID showed evidences of effort in forced tones ana
obvious effort to avoid sustained tones. But as
whole the character that he presented was thringy
impressive.
fraulein Brandts Ortrud" we know perhaps
.l.L.. Ill AaI upla Ifp1np
the inspiration OF such association she could not IAN
to be at her best and she In tact she dwarted
all her associates with the exception OF Herr Niemann
Dir. Basch's Teramund" coloress, though
unsteady commendabe, and Herr Sieglitz tell much
short what the audience are entitled TO expect.
From Frau Herbert Forsters Elsa" we expect
greater pleasure in the future than enjoyed asst
nigh when she sang obviously under much constraint
Mr. Heinrich is we'll suited vocally with the part OF
the Herald but he appeared to forget that it is not
becoming in of his position to take too active an
interest the doings of those to whom he communi
Gates the Kings" DEGREES. After all he is only
sort OF living Executive Message.
Herr Seidl recently received the honorable con-
pliment of an invitation 10 become one of the con-
ductors at the Court Opera in Berlin. lie had to
decline by cable and Herr M0tt received the appoint
ment on Monday.
THE BEETHOVEN STRING QUARrETTE.
The Beethoven String Quarteete the first OF three
concerts OF chamber music last night in Chckerng Hall
This was the clubs first appearance, and as the excel
lence of the organization set forth short time ago
this Journal II is pleasure to note that the prediction
made of its fully realized by the perform
ance last night The club is composed Of Gustav Damn
reuher first violin Ernst Thiee, second violin; Otto
X schl. viola, and Adolf Hartdegen, viooncelo Last
night they had the aid of Mrs Emil Gramm soprano, aud
OF Alexander Lambert who figured to better advantage
as an accompanist than solos showing good ideas OK
the somewhat neglected art OF subOrlinaon
The most important piece played by the club was the
opening number quartette by Beethoven OPP H. No o,
o1u,fra Ilx ofNo
of expression great feeling and delicate shading An
other artistic performance was that Of an andante cana
bile, op IL, by Tschaikowsky, in which quaint little
Russian air played by Mr. Dannrenther with rayls
ing expression. scherzo, by Borodin Astounding IN
harmonlcs and consequently difficult, WIS played with
considerable skill For its final number the club payed
a quinette by Jadassohn-a weak composition mat dd
not deserve a place the programme. Mrs. Gramm
sang several by Schumann, Schubert and Hartman
The audience large in spite Of the bad weather. ana