New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-02-13
no vii, get LETT whom tho angel Gabriel blows ~
horn-lH0tel Mall. -, Y
MUSIOLTHE DRAMA.
GERMAN OPERA.

Tho last week Of tho German opera season has beeq
reached, and those who havo boon bstanty pro-
claiming that Wagner spoiled ruin can contemplats
tho record Of tho last two weeks, during which, b
safe to say, moro money was taken in than In any
four weeks Of tho season, yet at all the evening pos-
formancos tho NIblung lyric dramas OF wagner alons
wero given stranger visiting tho Metropolitan
Opera House recently would have found It difficult to
beeye that four weeks ago tho stockholders were do
batting the ACCESSIBILITY Of closing the opera house next
year, and that few enemies OF tho German insttu-
ton, some financially Interested In the metropolitan
enterprise, wore loudly proclam,ng that the elemcns
in the stockholders favorable to German opera was so
small as scarcely to be worthy Of notice formal
expression OF opinion at meeting Of the stockholders
disclosed that these gentlemen had simply got tho fig
reversed 1t was the opposition TO German opera
that had magnitude As Is usual in such cases.
however, what II lacked In real strength It made up
In vigor and iDconslderateness OF expression The
crisis Is past and II IT were possible for those
who sought to overthrow the German Institution 70
look ct any other than the financial aspect OF the case,
they ought to have derived Instructive lesson from
tho experience OF tho last two weeks. They would
have discovered that tho public upon whom they de-
pend for support, have very different tastes In music
than have been attributed to them, and that their
claim that there IS general demand for the hutdy-
gurdy list OF italian operas IS not only false so far a
the patrons of opera concerned, but s an tntma
ton that the abors Of such Bergmann Thomas.
Dr. Damrosch, Van der Stricken and Seidl, extending
over generation OF time, have been utterly wthoun
fruit They have been confounded by the facts, ~
this journal has always maintained they would Do
and tho wtsdam OF tho business ana mlsoa are es
ing forward of Wagners dramas Is concerned al east
hac been indicated. When the balance Is strnck
will be found that the operas that have been least
profitable have been those that were introduced fof
the purpose of exhibiting ballot and lghtening tho
Tbs regular sequence Of representations IS dis
turbod this week by the facts that "Wednesday Is Ash
daemmorung" has great that an extra matinee
performance Thursday afternoon had TO be arrange
TO accommodate II. All the tickets for last FIday's
representation were sold FIVE days before the per:
formance and the ticket spectators were complies
tearully decline telegraphc and mall offers OF FLO
seat. The drama Will be repeated 10 night Thus
day afternoon and Friday evening The second opera
given, and siegfriods will close the st tho
matinee on Saturday afternoon
SOME SATURDAY NIGHT MUSIC.
Tho Knesel Quartette composed OF members ot
the Boston Symphony Orchestra, gave concert on
Saturday night In Steinway Hall. The reputation @
tho zatlon to which the quarete belongs readily
secured for this combination a large audience much
larger than is generally seen at chamber concerts
here But the quartette deserved the large attend
ance on It's merits. for IL gave fine concert.
Its members are Mr. Franz KneIscl first violin; Mr.
Otto Roth, second violin Mr.. Louis Svecensh viola,
and Mr. Fritz Gese, cello. Tho programme set
high standard, its numbers will show. They werei
schubert's posthumous quaItette in ID minor; Rubin
STEMS trio In B fat for violin. cello and plano, and
schumann's Quartette In A major Op. Al, No. 3. Mr.
Conrad Ansorge played tho plano part In the Rubin.
stein number and his work added to the ENJOY he1
Of the evening. One seldom hears an insirnmenlS
cuartette whose members preserve better DaialN
than This organ zatton The numbers all pl1yoc
with decacy and refinement too much so al unes
perhaps and one could not help wishing for the ina
to rs performances. Mr. Kncsel's splendid playine
vaa much enioyed by the audience.