Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-11-17
SONGS OF ALL SORTS.
Operas f Many kinds Invade the
Local Stage With Various Results.
JUCH SHINES In TlNNHAUSER.
De Wolf Hopper in Wang--Tight and Grand
Opera at the DuqueSne.
JANE AND LAUGHTER AT THE ALVIN

A 1awless performance Of grand opera is
something hardly to be expected, especially
where the company lis one that travels with
long and varied repertoire. 1t would,
therefore, have been an extraordinary oc-
currence had "Tannhauser" been given
without defect at the Grand Opera House
last night by the Juch Opera Company. 1t
is not to be denied that lately there has
been q cropping out of the old concert style
of doing opera, and there were signs OF
this in the performance last night.
The star system has always been as
inimical to the elevation of musical
and operatic art as it has proven
to the dramatic ever since it was introduced
into the realm of drama Germany recog'
nized this fact, and her advancement music
ally since so doing has been rapid. Wag-
ner's revolt against melody was probably
grounded in the temptation it offers to just
this sort of absurd thing Stung by the
sneers of his opponents he practically dis
carded melody. All his works show close
attention to minor roles, and in Germany
this is given to them as well as to the artis-
tic rendition of the music, rather than the
glorifcation of the individual. 'Tann-
hsuser," although one of Wagner's earlier
operas, contains more of melody, perhaps,
than his later compositions. Nevertheless
this should not be offered as an excuse for
neglecting to fill the minor roles as accept
ably as the more important. Miss Emma
Juch il a great artist, but she was the only
one on tke stage last night. 1t is true that
Franz Vetter has full, well-rounded basso,
but he was suffe.iEg from severe cold and
a hoarseness which in his "Greeting to the
Minstrels" was painfully evident.
Only Four in the Cast.
II is also true that the tenor, William
Stephens, has clear, pleasant voice. which
he handles well and sympathetically, but
there it stops Neither he nor the
others filled the roles as Wagner would
does not come up to the ideal, and in COM
psrison with Juch, he almost drops to in
significance. 1t is possible, very possible,
that in lighter opera he may be able to enter
more fully into the spirit of his role.
William Mertens, as Holfrom, carries out
the idea of the disappointed contestant for
Efizabeth's love better than he puts his words
to music. He seemed to have faculty of
fatting, and his song in the last act. when
Elisabeth retires to die, was spoiled. 1t is one
of the best, melodiously considered, in the
opera anu lbSItuultlOn Nds&
Outside of these four there really
was no one in the production. Even the
chorus was far from good. Particularly no
ticeable were invisible portions of the
Pilgrims chorus in the first act, when
the voices foundered about for q time as if
searching for the lost chord Later on,
however, the chorus sang very well, es-
pecially at the Contest" in the second act.
Juoh's Usual Triumph.
Hardly enough can be said in praise of
Jueh herself. As Elisabeth she was at her
best. There were thres distinct episodes in
her performance that were worthy of special
mention. In the second act, when she dis
covers 7drshdaser's sentiments on the SUBJ
iect of love and saves him from the multi
tude, she carried the audience with
her. and later on in the third act
when she is discovered at the
cross praying for the return of Tam
hd,sSer from his pilgrimsg. to Rome
whittier he has journeyed to be purged of
his sins she is Wagner's own creation.
The third incident is her unsteady, falter
ing walk to her home, where she is soon to
die. No accompaniment other than the Or
chestra marks this walk, but there were
words in her every motion.
The orchestra did its part well, and Signor
Bevignani conducted with great ability
In many cases it served to drown the de-
fects in the chorus, but il could not drown
the fact that the chorus in its last number
did not know the words. The house was
well filled except in the back, but the mu-
steal, the admirers of Wagner, were all
there.