The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-07-25
TANNHAEUSER AT BAYREUTH
THE OPERA HAS BEEN BETTER PER-
FORMED IN THIS CITT.

a
tb. Leading Pnrts-Lehmann Unable 10 |
Accept the Invitation TO Appear As VEINS
An the seat, sold and tho Festival
sure 10 be = Great Financial success. |
n,yrrurH. July 24.-The performance OF
"Tannhauser" remains the least satisfactory
mart Of Frau Cosima Wagner's work at tho
tos,iynl, The scenery and mechanical access
,ories arc unsurpassed. tho effects are mag
,cal In their smoothness and the maRnin-
cerc, with which they nre produced: in
.h.rt, the whole staging Is as sumptuous
and harmonious as art and money can mako
them Last year the presence OF Suchcr as
Venus, Winkclmann as Idnnhuuser. and Reich
mann as Wolfram. was supposed to be guar
.ntee that tho musical and dramatic depths Of
oe oncra would be touched as never before.
Nevertheless. the whole performance was dis
amounting. and in many respects was little
mar, than amateurish. Suchor showed
WEAKNESS from her efforts In Tristan and
Isolde" Winkelmann was conventional and
lacked spirit. and only lteichmann seemed
equal to tho full requirements OF his part
The performance to-day. although showing
decided improvements over the work OF last
wear, still was far below the Bayreuth stand
ard. Despite the managements expenditure
q, $50 900 marks to bring "Tnnnhauser" up to
ner's operas. as distinguished from his music
dramas seems doomed to suffer by contrast
with tho rest Of Frau Cosimas work. This,
,,rhops. has been due partly to tho
fact that it is hardly suited to Its frame.
nuttIy to tho lack Of effort on tho
rnrt OF the singers to rise. rs in
parsifal." to its highest intcrpreta-
tom This year undoubtedly its defects may
rarity g attributed to the popularity OF Frau
Wagner. to which referred in my last letter.
Of allowing the veteran interpreters to so and
Hn. their places with members OF tho
Young guard. Certainly. Mt all events. tho
names OF Grueuin. and Nailhac In the cast
to-day d. not suggest the carefulness and
understanding in Interpretation guaranteed
by tho names OF Winkclmnnn and Sucher.
while to most persons the name OF Wiborg.
who sang Elizabeth last year ns wei! as to-
day. suggests nothing ut all.
Contrary to expectation. the titular part was
given to.day better than last year. Although not
a great Tnnnhiuser. Grucning OF Hanover was
conscientious and painstaking. and altogether
more in touch with the spirit OF the composer
than was Winkelmann. Hclackod spirit. how
ever aud there were no murmurs Of admirn-
tinn when he sang the familiar Dir toent.
Lob" &c III the third net hc appeared to bet
,gt aHa anIieI"e durns the star song Showed
that he had Won tnei, hiGh arnIoSal. r.,;,,,.,
WAS less a!nateuriSh than she was one year
ago Then her voice was quite insufficient.
her method aud sction were anna IRISH. and.
seemed to Lc her youth, and sriritu;lls m;
pea unce To-day she showed that she had
E !"az.d r is but at
tho expense Of some OF it's qualities.
Mailhac Of tarlsrnhe' as Lrnns. vast, was ut her
and true dramatic instinct. still. persons who
have seen Liii Lehman in the role missed
Hi iii. S it. aDO ''A''''" wa" CIV
As H?,h.Gn schehemantel OF D! Dresden
AT Of h his sasd o MILAN
t" sing ths part hut nr t sn tners n"f tn
Ime inrei Snnse." sreIibound the house. and
from that to tho clos" OF tho nnrrn he held the
times the audience was upon tho point oi
cheering him. and when the last words had
been sung the muildinr rang with cries OF
Dcering Of Mannhshjm as thG hGIgrars
UenrirI,. were fairly satisfactory. The chorus
was well drilled ap the ,lst was ;r~ worhy OF
self to lie one OF the foremost contractors of
ms or the w"% n{o2Hy Or Ih% ass
need feel no regret that lie was absent from
til. festival to-day
wnhnfrci. it was dis.imnr from former
sores in thu Iarisu'ar ttat formal F1 Spgpayed
invitations 20 II were sent 'ut. IIhu woe h''i
Was assisted in reccivin. by her son nnh -four
daughters. There was n Tremendous crush
mole ihun 2CO persons being crowded into the
narrow narlors Nine Jnuchim entertaine
the guests by singing delightfully."- several o.
Schuhert's songs ~
there can be- no no siLls doubt. as not only
were ali the performances sold out weeks an.
worxs. "Fnrsifal.' Tristan" "Mrister
singer" and "TnnnhGuser.' which were seer
In former years. the great EXPENSE which tho
mounting hitherto incurred has been entire'
oiviateh. The receipts will practically bt
clear gain rs there WI be nothing but tn;
1t is said. these are ALL or nearly ALL merely
nominal That the management. which means
0fcourse. in,p,.nus Frau Wagner. and then Her
Adolf Won Gross. the banker, her faithful
friend and adviser were willing in exceptions
case. t, pay comparatively large sums fo
artists worth big salaries. may be Gatherr'
from the fac; that they mn'lo AN effort t. sccur.
for tho parts OF Knm1y and lr"MEas hiGf
priced II singer as Lilli Lehman. who: how
ever. is not yet sufficiently restored to healtl
to undertake. so onerous atask. and who there
foe declined what is still regarded In German!
as u signal honor the cal to Bayreuth.
N(REI,S N1RI:OW ESCAPE.