Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-05-26
THE MUSIC WORLD.
Obstacles In the Way of Approaching
Wngner-EIheIbert Nevin on Nibel-
ungen Myltis-A Testimonial


Concert.
When the National Opera Company last
season gave Pittsburg its first complete per.
formances of any of Richard Wagner's
operate works, a vast deal of discussion was
started among the people; did they like it oI
did they not? 1t is safe to say that the
great majority were then in the affirmative.
And the reasons are not far to seek: First, the
music was SO coupled with dramatic action and
stage effect as to be vastly more intelligible to
the unlearned auditor; and, second, the two
operas given we're "Tannhauser" and "Logen-
grin" In both of which remain very many
characteristics of the older school of opera.
with which the general public has long been
perfectly familiar.
What is the popular impression of wagner's
music now, after hearing so much of it at the
May Festival? 1t is certainly much less
strongly for Wagner than before, if indeed,
1t be not rather against him. Nor are
the reasons of this hard to find; they
are just the converse of those that oper-
ated before. In concert performance only the
music is present-onlya single one of the varied
elements that Wagner so tenaciously insisted
upon as being each indispensable to the ideas
and effects be purposed This inseparable
union of music with the other arts has been
achieved by no other composer SO successfully
as by Wagner-nor in any of his earlier works
is that equal union of all these elements so es-
sential as in those written after "I,ohepprin I"
Tristan und Isolde" the four parts of the
"NibelungenRing' 'and"Parsifal''a examples
therefore, OF Kind of dramatic composition
tnat is IN large part entirely strange and unfa-
miliar to all but few of tie people present at
the festival performances. Further. though
tne Leading soloists were eminent sing
ers, they sang language that the
people do not understand; and. though
Seldl is among the greatest Of Wagnerian con-
auctors and had an exceptionally large and ef-
nclent roll OF players, even he and they could
not possibly attain in a few hurried rehearsals
halan0a nf nd ? r1a 6uie ehod hraei inn
in all the instruments which is necessary to
make Wagner's elaborate scores clear and
comprehensive.
1t is small wonder that so many auditors re-
ceived an unfavorable impression.
The chief of these obstacles in the way of an.
preciating Wagners later works is, of course,
the general lack of knowledge both of the le-
gendary subject-matter and of the completely
novel mode of treatment. The same thing
ton in connection with the perform
ances Of the great German Opera Company,
whose conductor and several leading soloists
we have just been hearing. The consequence
has been the rise of Wagnerian lecturers,
among whom Mr.. Walter Damrosch, the young
and talented assistant conductor of the Gez-
man Opera, has been the most conspicuously
successful. His lectures on Wagner and hts
works have been extraordinarily fashionable
and-what is much hbetter-exceedingly useful,
from musical standpoint.
1t is pleasure to announce that Mr.. Ethel
bert Nevin, now home on two weeks visit,
has undertaken to repeat here the series of
four ''Nibelungen" lectures that he recently
gave in Boston with such success that a repeti-
ton there has already been arranged. During
the present.week he will give the series at the
residence of his father. Colonel R. P. Nevin, in
Sewickley; next week he will repeat the lec-
lures in this city.
The scope of these talks includes general
view of the Nibelungen myths and Waguer's
literary treatment of them, together with
detailed account of the manner in which
Wagner has woven his wonderful web of lett
niottUen, each characteristic of a single
parsonage or idea and continuously ac-
companying that person or idea through
ont the entire series of music-dramas.
Mr.. Nevin's competence to handle the subject,
just now agitating so many people. and his per-
sonal popularity IN his native town should
combine to make this new venture as sue
cessful and useful in Pittsburg as it has been
elsewhere.
The testimonial concert, rendered Mr.. Will
lam Guenther next Friday evening at Old City
Hall, offers an exceptionally rich and varied
programme. Mrs. ]. Sharp Mcdonald and Mr..
Harry B. Brockett (his first appearance since
returning from his German studies) will sing
attractive solos; Mr.. Guenther and his
daughter, Miss Augusta Guenther, will con-
score voices, led by Mr.. ]. P. McCollum, and
professional orchestra of the same number,
led by Mr.. John Gernert, will occupy the re-
mainder of the evening with interesting corn
misunderstanding a new orchestral march
by Mr.. Guenther himself. Messrs. Charles
Gernert and John Pritchard will be the accom-
panists. CIV. S.