San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-01-21
TANNHAUSER.
Grand Production of Wagnerian
Opera Last Night

Opera Last Night.
The Juch opera company delight5C
their largest audience at the Grand, anC
covered themselves with glory by their
;splendid presentation of Wagner's TO.
mantle opera of Tannhauser, which was
sung for the first time in San Antonio.
| The cast was the same as published in
yesterdays LIGHT. The librettos are so
carefully prepared that it is scarcely
necessary 10 go into very much eXplana-
| ton.
1t will suffice to say briefly that the
| hel o, wearied of earth. has become eH-
| tangled in sempiternal revels and orgiC s
presided over by the heather goddess
Venus, holding her court of pleasure in
the Thuringian Hoeselberg. 1t may here
he explained that. in early Christian le-
gend, the gods of Rome, Greece, Phoenicia
and ocand navia, are by no means treat
ed as fabulous or imaginary beings, but
are looked upon as still preserving very
real, and highly Objectionable, existence
as demons, antagonistic to the new faith
and Its professors.
Unlimited indulgence resulting, as it
usually does, no matter what the partic-
ular propensity INDUCED, in tiresome sa-
tcty, Tannhauser (Mr. VIM. Stephens),
with some difficulty breaks the silken
bond, and, regaining his liberty, returns
to Earth and to respectable society. Here
he forms more correct and legitimate
attachment to the Landgraf's niece, Eli
sabeth miss Juch). Unable to preserve a
iudicious reticence, he gets into trouble (as
many men-wOmen are wiSer-have done
before and since), by indiscreet revela-
tions and boastin Of his questionable an
JecedentS and then starts Off to Rome in
unsuccessful quest of Papal dissolution
Elisabeth, untouched by the exalted de-
votion of another sutton, Wolfram (Mr.
VIM. Mertens), embraces the religious
life: while TapnhauSer, despairing, de-
cides on returning, like the Scriptural
''sow that was washed" to "wallowing in
the mire'' of the Hill of Venus: meets
Elisabeth's funeral procession, is charit-
ably taken in hand by the generous Wolf
ram, and finally obtains assurance OF the
desired absolution: too late, however, for
the hope of happiness on this planet.
Miss Juch'S representation vocally and
dramatically, was quite triumph. She
delighted her audience with the solo.
20 Hall of Song" at beginning of act III
and was very graceful in all her actions.
Miss Gertrude May Stems vocaliZatiOn
of the role of Venus" was so good that
the cutting out of her temperance at
the close of the opera was disappoint-
ment. Mr.. Broderirk, as the Landgraf.
was magnificent. Mr.. Mertens as WOl-
fran, sang in full, rich baritone, and tho
song Gazing around this fair assembly"
was well delivered. The entire male
Soloists were well up to their roles IL
voice and action, and MeSsrs Kaminski,
Pache, Gould and Moore did some pleas
ing work. The choral work, too, was
massive and very effective.
Tonight "Lohengrin' will be the bill
and this will close the engagement here.
The cast is as follows:
''LoHENGRIN''
Grand romantic opera, in three acts, by
r. Wagner.
Lohengrin. ............W William Stephens
King Henry. WIN. Broderick
Royal Herald ........ Herman Kaminski
Telremund. ............. William Mertens
Elsa, of Brabant:. ......... Emma Juch