Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-05-16
A NIGHT OF WAGNER
Last but Two of the Brilliant
May Music Festival
Concerts for 1891.
SUCCESSFUL TO THE END.
A Magnificent Audience Appreciates
Masterpieces of
BAVARIA'S WONDERFUL COMPOSER.
Two Splendid Programmes to Close the
Festival To-Day.
SUCCESSFUL TO THE END.
BAVARIA'S WONDERFUL COMPOSER.
Two Splendid Programmes to Close the
Festival To-Day.
POPULAR MUSIC AT THE LAST MATINEE


Wagner night at the Festival brought out
much the largest paying audience of the
week 1t numbered about the same, 8, $780,
as on the opening night, but several hun.
dred more persons paid their way to
hear the unpopular" Wagner music
than to be present at the Inauguration of the
big event. Still more noteMorthy-since
curiosity might draw the crowds the
pregnant fact mat the great duo from
''Siegfried," f" the most intensely and aggres,
sively ''Wagnerian" ofali the numbers thus
far on the programmes, received the
hcsrtiest and most prolonged applause yet
heard in that hall
The programme was short, lasting but an
hour and three-quarters, and leaving the
listeners eager for more, as evidenced by
many expressions to that effect heard by the
writer as the people reluctantly rose and
passed out 1t is regretable that necessary
change in the assignments of the soloists
made it necessary last week to aban-
don the important and extended ex-
ce1pts that had been chosen for
this programme from ''Parsifal," the
last and least known of the masters works.
In their stead was inserted at that late mo-
ment what is called in the programme book
the wedding Music from 'tLohengrin,"
and wrongly described as the music ac-
companying Elsa and her traia as they pass
into the Minister for the wedding ceremony.
What was actually played last evening is
more commonly called-as in the English
edition of the opera-the introduction to
the third act, though entitled wedding
Music" in the German score.
Spirit and Force of the Rendition.
The familiar, joyous measure, in which
the festive trombone melody is so striking,
were given with the utmost spirit and force
by Mr. Seidl's body of players.
The Interpretation of the ''Meistec-
singer" prelude reproduced the admirable
number on Tuesday evening. A wierdly
realistic tone-picture Was the 'Ride Of the
Walkvries," as warmly interpreted by Mr..
Seidl. though the absence of the warrior
maidens with their shrill vocal cries was ac-
centuated by the relative weakness of the
strings to which figures built on the same
motive are entrusted.
From "Lohengrin" was also extracted the
first finale, commencing with Hing HearyS
noble prayer that justice may result from
the wage of battle between Lo1epgrin and
Telramund These solemn strains were
nobly delivered by Mr. Fischer and, later,
ElSa'S exulting praise of the victorious |
knight of the Swan was fervidly sung by |
Mrs. Mielke, her ringing tones quite
dominating the entire performing force.
Mrs. Wyman, Mr.. Dippel and Mr.. Reich
man sustained we'll the less important parts.
In the more familiar, but far more easy,
music of this finale, the chorus made
further considerable advance over any of
its previous efforts. The tenors and
bases availed themselves of their separate |
passages to display a body of tone and |
a spirit that could heretofore be only |
suspected of possessing; while the women's |
voices improved upon the relatively higher
standards they had already set for them
selves The total result, with the valiant
orchestra added, was a really thrilling per-
formance OF the tremendously powerful
climax that brings the act to a close.
A Famously Beautiful Quintette.
"Die Meistersinger" was represented, in
addition to the prelude. by the famously
beautiful quintette and the greater part of
the last finale, beginning with the noble
Sachs choraIe, "Awakel" The quintette,
which is one of the loveliest mazes of lyric
melody ever penned by any composed, was
sung reasonably well by Mrs. Walker, Mrs.
Wyman, Mr.. Dippel, Mrs. Fischer
and Mr.. Brockett. Further rehearsal
would have improved the ensemble con-
siderably. Mr.. Dirpel improved upon
his former condition of the beauteous
prize song, making it glowing point in the
finale. while Mr. Fisher important (though
somewhat abbreviated) passages, as Hans
Sachs, were dignifed and impressive The
chorus, Will. not quite so accurate and
prompt as in the 'Lohengoin' music, made |
much effect with the grandby massed voices
1f he chorale
Mrs Mielke and Mr.. Dippcl found their
yreaU opportunity in that wondorohsly con-
'eived love-duo between SjegtTied and the
lewly-awakeneG BIue7u1AilcJe-an intense ex-
preston Of frenetic love that has never been
The sublime apostrophe to the
un, the first manifestations of womanlv
ceiling by the deposed' divinity
md the burning passion of her fully
roused nature were all depicted with the
Utmost sincerity and zeal by Mrs Miel1e,
Who, with Mrs. Seidl, deserves the greater
hare of the credit for the suderb per-
ormance. Mr.. Dippel sang most ardently
md accurately, but his voice, good as it |
s. could not quite hold its own with the
powerful soprano Mr. Seidl's enthusiastic
of this great orchestral score
ould not be surpassed. Small wonder was
+ that Such a Derformance of euob ,o,,.;o | J
hould have aroused very storm OF an
,lause that ought forever to settle The {
question of Wagner's popularity in Pitts I
urg. c. W. S.
LAST TWO CONCEPTS