New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-11-29
MUSIC.
FIRST NIGHT OF THE GERMAN OPERA.

In all respects the opening Of the fifth season Of
grand opera In German the Metropolitan Opera
House last night was suspicious. Tho opera was
Meyerbcer's Huguenotsn This is good opera for
testing the artistic equipment of company Of singers
The whirlgig Of time which is said to bring its
rsvengcs has brought IT pass that every troupe of
singers Is supposed TO be able to do something
approxmaiing Justice to operas of the strongly
dramatic and deolamat9ry type. 1t is different
matter, however, with the operas in which the public
have long bcen accustomed TO hear brilliant singing
from Italian artists, and whose success Is generally
measured by the excellence of tire individual per
formances Of the prima donna, the prn-
cipal tenor, baritone and bass In tho
representation Of these operas, the German
companies al the Metropolitan have not distinguished
themselves heretofore. There was consequently,
natural curiosity to hear the company which Mr.
Stanton engaged in Germany last spring in an opera
which would put their vocal merits 10 trial This
curiosity, well the sincere interest felt In the
ambitious enterprise, demonstrated by the sze
and character Of the audience. more numerous ana
brilliant audience has seldom been gathered within
the walls of the Metropolitan Opera House. Every
scat in the parquet balconies and gallery was filed,
hundreds stood in the spaces behind the seats. and
the only vacant boxes those whose vacancy was
easily accounted those familiar with the ooliga
tons imposed by the usages Of society
AS for the performance, IL can without exasgera-
ton be set down as all things considered. the most
successful one that non-German work has ever re-
celved at the Metropolitan. Only one Of the four
teen singers whose were on the house Dill was
known 10 the patrons of the German opera This
was Herr Fischer, who, In the character OF MARCEL
was enthusiastically greeted on his hrs'
entrance, and whose subsequent work
was followed with sympathetic interest
till the final fall Of the curtain. Another OF the
singers was known in York, but only shghuy'
Three seasons ago. Mile Alma Fohstroem was d
member Of Mr.. Mapleson's Italian company al inc
Ehn AZ
great disadvantage, but created decidedly gooo
impression Last night she showed herself entitled
TO high praise. Like most OF her colleagues she
was oppressed by incubus OF nervousness WINCH
n Is easily believed, partly owing TO the iac'
that she was suffering from wound IN the race
received only a short time before the opera oesanD'
but the voice which seemed light in the Academy
three years ago rang out with surprising pfiinahcy
IN the vast audience room Of the new opera'house
1t is voice of peculiarly telling tmbre ana OF me
musical quality; flexible and faultess In lntohauoh'
Her pronunciation Of German is not perfect tiiio
rohstroem is native of Finland but In the operas
of her list this is not likely 10
=, co, down as serious defect. The dramatic singer,
ne Valentine of the opera Madame Moran
oldcn for several years a favorte at the municipal
npcra AT Leipsic. She has won high plaoo among
the singers Of Germany by her performances IN
Wagners operas and night she demonstrated that
her talents are not one sided. Her valentine was
-, ro,,,dod s,d forcef,u Characterization Her
voice IS powerful her instincts genuinely dramatic
The tenor, Pero.ti is the happy possessor of voice
with that very desirable quality in a teDor-a VIDE
range. In the matter Of muscularty or Vrlhty ms
heads one 10 expect but sings expressvely and acts
fairly well, though cOnventlonaiy. Inc cOhuaito,
koschoska sang herself straight into the favor OF the
mi &C. her triumph being the first of those celebrated
Gy the newcomers Good work IS also TO be credited
as well as the principal dancers the chorus
and the orchestra. The conductor was Mr. seidi'