New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-02-06
MUSIC.
WACNEK,S "PIENZLD

WAGNEKS "RIENZI."
"Rienzi,r the first of Richard Wagners
operas that obtained a foothold the Stage was
brought forward at the MetropOtn Orera House last
nj ght ia the presence If vast assemulaSe with much
display on the stage with such clash ana elatter Ot
drums and bells, OF sbortswOrds and -eds. and sucha
cangOr Of braZen trumpets ~ lever fesOuhded III an
American theatre before The opera is new TO the Met
ropohtan list but the local record. 1t was per
formed though under diseourasing circumstances. at
the Academy OF Music on March 1, 1873, by German
opera con pany headed by Madame Eugrnia 4 open
helm ana Charles L. Adams. That 1t failed To win adj
mlrdtion then ana permitted 10 slumber undis-
turbed for nearly decade was 10 loss TO the
name aud fame OF Wagner nor serious deprivation
of the New York public his ar sure. the SINGER
ct admirers Of the spirit OF this century IN the
department o; dramatic composition VIII gduy eo"'
code Its revival in the line of the lo!tiest en-
dcavOrs Of the Metropolitan mdnagen eht, though We
have 40 doubt will swell the tide oi prosperity when
has supported German opera 50 Duoy"Dtiy ever since
the a.tr.tc drvot.on wisdom aud enterprise Of Dr.
Dnmr5sch establishes the upper house. IL will do
this because brilliant and imposing specacei
because lis nusic 4, OF the kind which appeals to the
majority OF The public even to-day; bccaus" great
many people will attend the representations out
Of curiosity, to study the growth Of Wagner.
To listen to The youhful uterauces of one OF whom It
known historically that did attain 10 artistic
manhood until lac had rebel Ell against The state OF
things under which for time he SOUGHT u work out his
artistic salvation For those who incl ned to apply
seriously such standard OF Judgment to the work "a Is
iIred 10y existing Circumstances however, IL Is SAFE
to triict that The chief pleasure that RienE Will
nfori will be that given the eye Muscay almost As
tr honor Is done tho OF agner 10y rs revival
~ was done by the performance last sunday night VI
DAs Lirbe smah der Apo,te," a comp1sition which
dates back to the period when " KienA was sim
a novel sensation and considered an artistic
I "a mt Aid
IA IN form an opera OF the old style, VITA all the aDsurd
ties against which the wagner Illuminated his
crushing criticisms. Int because In tins FORM IL Is I'M
worthy Compared with the operas which served
As It's moleIs-" La Muette dc PJrtci" william Teu,
The noisy works Of spOntni sensational pieces OF
MrycrUcer-" RenH" is uuquAihedly weak, and this III
sp OF IA noble ubeot: aud. such things went at tho
time "a clrvcry constructed and suggestive book There
4, no mus cal wee which Wagner WAS 50 mcrcless IN
cuudemnmg MeycrOeers operas which does hoy exist
Ia th. score exaggerated form and with much less
tocxt,nuae It In The matter OF fertility In invention and
real uscal brauty. It's sweets out-Iian the Italians,
It's noise puts widest exravasances OF MeyerOeer to
shue OF SpUntini 1t related that while lie was pro-
his operas the Royal opera in Berlin the statue
o. some historic parsonage near the Opera House one
mUrnnx was found bearing note containing Piteohs
appea that 1t be removed from the Royal opera
out consideration ts ears On the theory OF the
possibility OF feeling the need Of escaping from
amor Ale din the memorial to William l.. Dodge, ut
broadway and Thirtyfourth St. should have protection
during the representations Of "Renu' at tho Metro
pontan.
70 the features OF It's representation. There are five
aets and OF course, i've cimaxes In which the popu-
| lace suidery and nobility Of Rome five
hnndre, years ago the ENJOYS OF the Italian States.
giadators dancing girls and what not Gisport them
selves IN operate style with such Accompaniment OF
opnence IN stage attire aud paraphernaha as could he
Invented by imaginative young artist filled with tho
| images Of Bulwcrs novel. and bent on outdong
Scribe and Meyerbecr IN the very home
OF their trumphs For all these SIP ectacuar glorles the
| management OF the Metropolitan have exhibited synpa-
tbetc appreciation There is some use OF seen ry ana
properties which associated In the public MIND with
| other operas. but pictures they present them
selves In their totally are new In composition.
vivid In color varied IN detail and frequently suggest
I've of the veritabe scenes as they have been made
! familiar by painter and photograph The nrst act
shows u picture of the Lateran which Is agree
able to the eye until tho doors are thrown open, when
disparity between the external aud internal dmen-
sions and style OF architecture dtstur5s the Illusion
More successful Is the view In the second act when
view from great chamber the capitol shows an ex-
ceent painting castle OF ST. Ang To- Tho opera has
a close like LIE Prophetic" which, as the story goes
WAS cons ructed on the model OF Rienzl'-lhe nero
aud heroine go down To death In eonhgratlon This
! scene Is n great improvement on The one that
hns done service In MeyerDeer's opera;
it is thoroughly effective. The ballet
is Of extravaganza proportions. aud reaches ts climax
when mimic gadiato.ial combat takes place on plat
form Of shields he'd above their heads by body Of SOL
diery.
The best talent OF tho company (all Of IN fact.
| since the artists who not In the cast sing
| in tho choir OF the Lateran church,
was the representation OF the individuals
the gueron excellence in singing easily belonged To
Fr,ulr Lehman. The beauty of her voice and style
seems TO grow each hearing and IL pleasure
| that We do not always have In opera. that
the ausions the beauty OF Irene IN the first act did not
in this case be- taken tho iucus n0n uccndc
| principle Fraulein lehman was lovely In np
lsaluncs her voice was charming. Lei
roe, however, Is striking that oil
AdaHO Unsigned to Fraulen Brandt and which received
apOwerTuy dramatic Interpretation at that experienced
aud Intelligent artists hands. The heroic sde
OF RleHzfS character was well brOusht ou
in the bearing and snglng OF
SYLVIA albeit the peculiar hOllowness or his tones
wnicn have roforrcd heretofore nhrred IL vi Her
Fischer (SeytO dt COLONIAL aud Herr RsblnsOn tOfstt
nothing spoken but wOrd OF praises the r. nalhhs
characters have ttlc Individuality OF pbysiOgnon)
10 warrant To add TO the p0mp slC
circumstance allegorIepl ballet large COMPANY
| of German turner's called on to play the part o
gladlaors. -. -, -
Tue opera was received with frequent rouads OF ap
| plauss but not with great enthusiasm Al the emu