Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-05-24
THE WAGNER MATINEE.
Spirited and Effected Orchestral Work-Mrs.
Herbert-Foerster's Opportunity-The
Spinning Scene-A Grand Duet
by Miss Juch and Mr..
Camunnari.

by Miss Juch and Mr..
Campanari.
Before taking up yesterdays concerts
some amends should be rendered for the un-
accountable oversight through which the
review of Wednesday evenings concert ap-
peared minus an intended important para
graph treating specifically of the orchestral
numbers. Mr.. Siedl and his players had
all to themselves number of the
richest selections in that overpower-
ing programme. There were the three
overtures-Mendelssohn Midsummer Nights
Dream,.' Weber's ''Oberon" and Wagner's
Tristan und Isolde"-delightful works, each
in its own fashion, and almost as representa-
tive of their department as were the three great
soprano scenas of theirs. The list further in
cluded the lovely "Siegfried Idyll" written by
Wagner to celebrate the birth of his son, Sieg-
fred an exceedingly brilliant Transcription of
Liszt's Polonaise in major and:Saint-Saens
musicianly and strikingly effective ballet
ord would be wofully incomplete without re-
ferring to the generally admirable performance
of these interesting pieces on Wednesday
evening.
THE WAGNER MATINEE
yesterday began with several selections from
"Tannhauser." The familiar overture-itself
complete music drama in miniature-was
given with great effect in the main, though
there was some raggedness in certain higher
passages for the vlolin's divisi, and the brasses
in carrying the triumphant pilgrims air toward
the close failed to note the marked change
from the triplet eighths to the quarter with
two eighths. These may serve as instances of
the species of criticism that might be made
upon much of the orchestral work: and yet it
is matter for highest praise that Mr.. Seidl has
CtT I,Ns1r
producing such spirited and effective work
throughout-and in covering so many delicate
details of execution, so many artistic niceties
of Interpretation. The same general remark
applies to the sparsiiai prelude st. the UWald-
marsch." A special word of praise was earned
by the thrilling effectiveness of the "Flying
Dutchman" overture, and by the admirably
smooth and soft Accomplishments to the Tam
hauser" solos.
The first of these was that noble salntatory
"Dich theure Halle" which gave Mrs. Her
bert.Foerster her first good opportunity to dis
play her strong, clear soprano organ. and her
energetic declamatory method. WoLrGm'S ex-
quisitey beautiful song to the evening star
was very well given by Mr.. Campanari. whose
admirable legato singing had only the fault of
a too frequent use of the slur. Miss Juch in
terpreted the
INEFFABLY TENDER PRAYER
of Elizabeth with pure and sympathetic tone
and rare spirit of devotionality.
Besides the overture, two important scenes
we're taken from the "F1ying Dutchman.',
The spinning scene-remarkable alike for lyric
charm and dramatic onstruction-brought out
some very fair singing from the women's
chorus and from Miss Helene Won Doenhoff,
the contralto, who took the lesser part of
Mary. Mrs. Herbert Foerster's delivery of
the strikingly original ballad was rather too
energetic and abrupt, though this same in
tensity lent much effect to her closing measures
with the chorus. The prime feature of the
vocal programme was the great duet from
act II between Sentd miss Juch) and The
Dtttchn,an (Mr. Campanari). This intensely
dramatic scene is an interesting specimen Of
Wagner's transition period, presenting re-
markable combination of the old with the new
style. 1t is, moreover. very long and terribly
trying to the voices. But both singers rose to
the occasion nobly, drawing most lavishly on
their vocal resources and singing with an
emotional intensity that made the performance
positively electrifying-a result that the
spirited assistance Of the orchestra materially
assisted. 9. WIS,