St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-01-11

The ballet was charming and was made
dOubly interesting from the first appear
ance of the twelve pupils of the ballet
school, which is one of the institutions in
connection with the new American opera
They are all very young girls, children in
fact and danced with becoming ease. The
ballet attached to this opera includes the
twelve pupils, thirty six cOryphees, four
second dancers, Marchal, Cara, Falugi
and Coralli; two first dancers, Felicia Car
roZi and Ronilda Vic. and the principal
dancer, Theodore de Billert. The ballet was
one of the features of the evening and was
well received by the audience, which filled
every part of the house-it was a paying
audience. and not one familiar with the
use of complimentary tickets.
The members of the company were w.
II. Hamilton, Pauline L'Allemand, Kate
Bernsberg, Alonzo E. Stoddard, w. Ii. Fes-
sender, w. H. Lee, E. j. O'Mahony and
John Howson, by no means a strong
company for grand opera, but one
which in light opera would be very
acceptable. The academy is most too
large a building for them to sing in
and their voices in consequence sound thin.
In building the size of an ordinary theater
they would have been heard to better adj
vantage. Nine. L'Allemand has a good
prano. rather weak in the middle and quite
so in the lower register. She sings with
good expression, however. Mr.. Hamilton
acted and sang with discretion. The
others were but fair. The chorus
was admirably drilled, and the orches-
ira, under the direction of Theodore
Thomas, was superb, possibly little too
heavy for the singers. To-nights perform
ance of Gluck's opera, "Orpheus and Fury
dice" will be grand one without doubt.
The scenic display will be quite equal to
anything of this character that has been
seen upon the stage. Helen Hastreter,
who will sing the part of Orpheus pos
sesSes voice that is said to be wonderful;
some say it is as great as ScalchI's. ''LOhen-
grin" is in preparation.
There is no doubt that grand opera sung
by Americans will be a success, but, of
course, it is not possible with one bound to
meet with it. The nucleus has been
formed and all that remains is to build
around it.
On Monday night, at the opera house,
Wagner'S opera, "MeisterSinger Won Nurn-
berg" was for the first time in the musical
history OF the country sung entire. Music
lovers have long been familiar with many
numbers of it from their frequent perform
ance at concerts. but the enormous tech
nical difficulties of the music have hitherto
stood in the way of its presentation as a
whole. Since its first production it has
been largely cut with some regard to human
endurance. 1t is listed among Wagner's
works as a comic opera, but it is almost
needless to say that the comic element is
not its salient characteristic. 1t is a COM
edy, or more properly speaking a satire. i'm
that 1t deals with the follies and vices of
men and aims to instruct by first amusing
The humor is diStinctively German, heavy
and complicated, and is woefully lacking in
anything like vivacity. The plot is sim
plicity itself. Walther, young knight.
falls in love with Eva, the daughter of a
rich silversmith. To win her he must be a
successful competitor at the annual meeting
of the master singers on the festival of St
John. He fails in the preliminary trial for
admission to the guild. but is finally sue
cessful, and receives the hand of Eva as his
reward.
Too much praise cannot be given to the
manner in which twas put pom the stage.
The first scene, the interior of the church
at Nurnberg, was especially fine, and a
murmur OF admiration ran through the
house as the curtain went up. The princi-
pal parts were all well taken. Taken into
consideration the difficulty of the opera,
the cast, as whole. deserves hearty COM
mendatlon for their excellent Interpretation
of their parts. Herr Stritt made a noble
and manly Walther and sang with spirit
and feeling. Herr Kemlitz as Beckmesser.
was excellent. as was also Herr Kraemere's
rendition of the part of David. FrauIein
Kraus was the Eva and Fraulein Brandt
the Magdalena. Both were all that could
be desired. The opera was conducted nv
Herr Seidl, and much of its success was
due to him. The chorus, strengthened NV
seventy gentlemen from the different sing
ing societies. who gave their service volun-
tarily, sang well and gave evidence of care
full training. The chorus singing in the
street brawl at the end of the second act
was however jerky and unmusical The
lovely quintet in the third act was exuuis-
itely sung. and had the audience been al
lowed TO have their way, it would have
been repeated. Walthers prize song.
Sachs monOlogue and cobbling song and the
splendid guild chorus were all sung mag
nifcently. The opera is fortunate in that
its interest increases as it advances. The
first act with its long succession of recita-
tive is weaTisome and even monotonous at
times, but even the uncultivated ear cannot
but delight in the splenddly-rythmica har-
monies and orchestral effects of the succeed
ing acts. Wagner's greatest fault is his
tendency TO dwell too long on certain scenes
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