Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-07-23
BETTER THAN EVER.
Herr Vogl's Singing at the Bayreuth
Festival a Revelation.
GREAT LACK OF FAMOUS NAMES
Among the Artists Who Gathered Up by
the Composers Widow.
A FIRM BELIEVER IN YOUNG VOICES
rRr CABLE TO THE DISPATCH. ]

tbI CABLE ~ 1hh OlNfAINh.l
BAYREUTH, July 22.-Were L asked to
designate in the fewest words the dis
tinguishing feature in this years festival,
should say "lack of famous names among
the singers" Van Dyck sings Parsfal proba-
bly, only four times; Malten, Kundey twice;
Sucher, Isolde four times, and Schudemantil
alternates in the baritone roles with Kasch-
mann and Gura Materna. who was sadly
missed at yesterdays performance, and
Winkelmann were both invited to partici-
pate, as heretofore, but the former declined,
and the latter who must be back at the
Vienna Opera House on August 1, could
not arrange his dates to suit Frau Cosima.
Richmann is reported to have had dis
pute with the directress about Wolfram and
ADlfortdS, he wishing to sing the former
part and she wishing him only for the lat
ter. Alvary was definitely counted upon
until quite recently for Iristaa but not
only did his London engagement prevent
his being in Bayreuth in time for re-
hearsals, but the condition made by him
that he was to sing Tdnsbaeuser was not
agreeable to Frau Wagner
Some of the Few Surprises
She must have been in sad straits when
she sent for Vogl (to Munieh) to do the
part, as the veteran Wagner tenor has never,
even during the Nibelungen performance of
1876, been persona grata at the Bayreuth
court
The engagement of Gura to sing Hans
Sachs in "Die Meister" has also surprised
not q few, for, although at one time the
best Interpreter of the role, not even ex-
cepting Scaria and Betz, he had lost his
voice to great extent, even as far back as
1889, when he sang hing HARRIS in Iris
tam at Bavreuth.
A new artist for Bayreuth is Herr
Antilles, from Dresden, who is to sing Walter
Stocking in "Die Meistersinger." He has
delightful tenor voice, and an excellent
stage presence, but, unfortunately, has not
much endurance.
The remaining artists are all either the
interpreters from former years of their
respective roles, now ENJOYING a continental
reputation. or else "of the young guard as
it is called. Frau Cosima, seeing the ever
increasing success of the festival plays, has
come to the conclusion that promising be-
ginners, well drilled, will prove as accept
able as the less malleable experienced
singers Of fame.
A Eye for Future Results,
Besides, she has an eve to the future,
when the present veterans will be by the
nature of things completely hors du combat,
and thinks it wiser to look around and pro-
vide their substitutes now than later. 1t
is an experiment that in single cases may
possibly be crowned with success, but that,
on the whole, it is injuring Bayreuth,
anybody comparing this festival with
former ones must acknowledge. In many
cases not even the younger members of the
most famous troops have been chosen, but
comparatively obscure singers from small
German cities have been engaged.
The effect of the innovations in question
was hardly apparent to-day, however, in
the performance of Tristan and Isolde"
for the names of Vogl and Sucher coniure
over Bayreuth audiences spell which OBJ
scures the significance of the rest of the
caste. Their work to-day left little to be
desired The Alvary worship of last year
had rendered the audience exceptionally
eXpectsnt, and many, including the Ameri- |
cans here, regarded with regret the return |
OF Nogl, of Munich, who created his Tristan |
here In 1886, and who must be considered |
the direct heir of Schnorr Won Carolsfeld.
Herr vogI at His Very Best.
To-day Vogl was superb His voice is |
in better condition than for many years.
One might even believe the current story
that during last winter be took lessons CT an |
Italian singing teacher. He had been on !
the stage but few minutes when he had |
the great house completely in his control, |
and the stiffness became so impressive as to |
be almost sitting. In the first act last wear |
Alvary showed considerable nervousness: |
Yogi grasped the part with the veterans |
tirmness and insight, while not losing an
iota of Always special His finest mo-
ments were in the death scene, which was |
accompanied by the half-stifed sobs of |
women in the audience.
in general, Vogl's Interpretation was the |
same one that New Workers have known at |
the Metropolitan Opera house, although it |
gained greatly IN power through the /
improved condition of his voice.
Sucher, as Isolde, was unchanged Her |
Interpretation undoubtedly takes the highest |
rank among the great achievements.
This is the verdict Of Bayreuth and Ger |
many, and her recent London triumph |
added further testimony to the correctness |
of the estimate which musical Germany has |
placed upon her. In the second act, to-day, |
her absorbing passion swayed the audience |
marvelously, and when the opera closed the
storm of brayos, the cheering and applause |
were mingled with long and loud shouts for |
her appearance.
Sucher Wants to Visit America.
SUcher expresses a strong wish to visit |
America, and all Americans who have seen |
her in Bavreuth as she was to-day could not |
desire more for musical New York than that |
it will not be long before her Isolde will be |
on the programme of the Metropolitan |
Opera House.
Naturally, No-l and Sucher wear the |
highest honOrs of the day. Gura, of Munich, |
gang King Mark with nobility OF style and |
expression. His voice, once deservedly |
famous, has lost much in power and reson- |
mace, but he is still fine artist Standigl, |
of Berlin, made an acceptable BrGngae,,e, |
and Planck, of Carlsruhe, was an admirable |
hbd1readL
Felix Mottl, of Carlsrhue, conducted with |
his wonted fire The whole performance
was exceptionally satisfactory. AEurmurs |
of admiration passed through the house re-
peatedly, and several times IN the second |
act the audience seemed to be on the point |
of violating the laws of Bayreuth by break
ing into applause. The weather has been
fine, and visitors have arrived to-day in
considerable numbers There is still, how.
ever, a notable lack of celebrated artists
and social lions. W. VoN SACHS.