New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-01-12
MUS[C-THE DRAMA.
"DIE MEIsTERsNGER.,

The frcsh winds Of Wagnerian comedy blew nrougA
the Metropolitan Opera House last night and dssipaed
Me tragic gloom which had prevailed there ever since
the season began Die Meistersfnger" had its nrse
representation and right heartily was 1t enjoyed
To some In the audience It brought with 1t remnis-
cences of last summers pilgrimage to Bayrcuth, nos
only because the opera given at the last festival
there, but also because one Of the singers In the
Bayreuth cast also among the local performers
This was FraeueIn Katt BettaQue, who shared the
role of Eva with sucher in the representations OF
the wagnerian Mecca. Delightful reports, calculated
to arouse expectations not easy to flh!, had pro-
cedcd the young artist the water ana 1t has
been felt that spite generally good impression
which she has made, definite judgment on her gifts and
attachments could not be pronounced until she had
been seen and heard In " Die Mestersinger." All
reasonable expectations realized In Fraeuein
Bettaque's impersonation, which was marked oy
tender grace and sweet simplicity Of manner truly
delightful Her conception Of the part is exquiseY
poetic and she has ample means at her command Tor
fits execution. She charms sense with her pnys-
cal loneliness and the graoefulness Of her movements
and poses Her fngenuousness is heightened BY .
dainty piquancy which consorts admirably with her
appearance In such scenes that between Eva ana
Sachs in the second act and all these attributes ma
their perfect compliments In her treatment OF inc
verbal and musical text Her success was SO COM
plete that frequent repetons Of the charming WORK
SEASON. The public ought to be ready BY this time
to enjoy to the full the intellectual and emotional r-
freshment which wagners most ingenious comedy
with its vivid pictures Of medieval life In the quaint
est Of German cities, brings to thoss
who know how to appreciate It. Tho numper
Is steadily growing larger. That could be seen Ass
night, when the vast audienceroom was crowded ana
every word Of the text and note Of the music wers
'0o Die Mestersingers has always been of the
hect aebfa NJ
ranr 10 observe that the REPRESENTATIONS this
year viii not fall short OF the standard SCI IN tne past
Saving Herr Alvary and Herr Fischer who - sumo
the parts Of WaItner and sachs. the roles were IN
sary for the sake Of the record and this Is done in
Surisn fei on Herr Moedllnecr, who was the Beck
messer OF the occasion His nelastc vocal style ana
D0SS have nSssd a. nss ~
Wheh wssner crestsd for the purpose Of ssarsin3
Seem a ali the failures Of the past His farcical
acting was very. amusing without being SO eatravE
CANT as % render wagncrs cacstu altogether sdicg
ioi rot some of HIS generally sound Judgment when
he created the character Of the malicious town clerh
beauty having given place to Characteristic beauty),
10 DO not look. and so Herr Moedhngers dstint
slsuo citation Of the text and dramatic defamation
could be- held 30 work pardon for the harshness ol hb
The parts were in the following hands:
s s sssns eS eodsmh @ Bess
kSar ycsslsessns; furEicr: Albert MitisiAaqssr
ssius Ssihss sow Manss
irit, kcth1 9. baker ,,a Gre pssss
p plSs E. Sing s's Goses
iiaas sehyarti Stocking weaver Herr Essrbsck
Wafer VAN row s s9Sisias young t, franz ;
pakd aSp,encc to Hans Sachs " ssd Ass
Eva Po9ner's daughter. Katti Bettaqus