New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-12-02
THE OPERA

The sixth season OF grand opera in German at ~
Metropolitan has opened auspcously than Of
It's predecessors. So far the three representations
of last week suflced furnish a standard Of juds
ment, the company is the best that Mr. stanton b.
yet succeeded getting together. The policy which
was foreshadowed last year, Of engaging young sing
ers has been followed with most gratifying results
Fraeulein Wiesner and Fraeulein HUM young and
have fresh unspoiled voices. Both seem to be novfces
30 far as the actors art IL concernd but both have
exhibited commendable adaptability. and both are
evidently much In the presence OF tho art
works which they are helping TO interpret, they arc
modest behavior in this respect forming pretty
strong to that Of the majority OF wouin'De
operate singers who breathe the afr Of the French
and Italian opera-houses. The German system VIZ
orous as II may be, is sound In the principle
that the singers duty is primarily to the dramatic
and musical composition and only sooho&riV
TO self. Fraeulein wiesner, despite the, EVIL
dences of her novitIae, has an extremely
engaging manner. Her Senta in The Flying Du'eh
man.. viewed as a first effort in the part. was very
successful 1t begot sympathy at the outset and bed
IT TO the end To present a complete picture OF Wsg-
ners heroine singer must have much greater freedom
of movement and utterance than this young womsn
has as yet but II gratifying 10 observe mat "H
she tries to disclose the dreamy and morbid siae VI
senas character she shows no disposition to maNe "
mawkishly sentimental Hers Is a sweet and healthy
conception of the role, and Its eAempnhod"oiN
will one day We believe be profoundly poetcai anu
pathetic Fraeulein Wiesncrs mezzosoprano mas MOI
the steadiness and even beauty of Fraeulein mum
contralto, but IL has the sympathetic QuanV, " a.,
is the thing most needfll latter correct inpn""0" "
dramatic singing and It is ample IN po"o. =,
should curb her tendency to force H. no -,
not It to be feared that the trennr,e into that
occasionally seZes 1t now VIII desIs,es No other
very dstressfuI vocal vice whlch uos0' az ~
than the Z" wObble" ,t,, aouinment Of men
The company has admlraOIe GU, rpI,n,,ns y" Herr
singers especially of BASES anu a ~ a. charms
Reicbmann's merits have been the theiho vi 'V 80
~ nraiSe without dssonant note ever since
last "Wednesday night. II anoGer oP-ra COMPANY
in existence contains two such nOoc, MANY? IT, 90
s1,1ars os Reicbmann and Fischer. we should Ike 10
Lnow its bahitation It IS not alone that they hsNo
cXcentionally beautiful voices. their ART IS equally eA
80. inaI The admirers of singing. pure anu
simple, will have an opportunity ~ nan ~. viii
On Wednesday evening, when Mozart mas'erplee0 M
he sung Herr Behrens il also the pOssessor on
Sne Musical voice and excellent style ana we nav
homes even for Herr Schl0emanI, thoiRh nls ~.
formances in " The Queen of SheOa were no, w "
The level OF those of his companions In the cast,
The vulnerable parts of the company are le sSinb
and ballet This is singular and we shouu LIZ hn,h
unnecessary for IL ought to be possible 10 .nI
bodIcs here al home. In the hands OF csp@us
cYnerIenced chorus master the chorus, as az H, its
constituted, might become capable you,' much ID
,ncapacy In The Queen OF Sheba,' Wno ss mo an
asked of IT, helped to plunge the anule" sy,gng %
snathv from which even the thrflnne %. Trid.y
Madame Lehman could not rouse IL Ia ,s manage
night A word Of praise is due TO tne a., scene %
ment for the beauty OF the tableau IN tnc ~ y
| the second act of " The Flying Du'chn'S"'