New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-03-13

AZ 10 the financial outcome OF the season we are IN.
able make any exact statement. Judging by APP
pcarances only, It might be said that disaster was on
the heels Of the enterprise during its first six weeks
and that since then fair degree OF success has TO
warded the managers. The first and most obvious
lesson Of the season. far it has been an index
OF popular TASTE IS taught by glance at the above
list. beginning made on the old lines. Inc
familiar operas Of the Italian list were brought ous
with great rapdity but not one OF them drew pay
ing audience The turning point came with the ar
rival Of NJ Lassae on January 10. The management
then recognized that salvation for their Undertaking
ay in one course only-to give works OF large dimen-
SONS and In each case employ the three popular men
singers, the brothers De Reszke and VI. Lassae. How
consistently they acted on that conviction Is shown
by the circumstance that though seventeen operas had
been brought out between December IL and January
H. only six were added 10 them in the remaining
two months The success OF Faust which
given six times I'm the regular list and twice on ex
ira occasions, success which may be attributed
equally the popularity Of the work and the excel
lence Of the ensemble. II furnished the one sensar
tom 81 the season. and - entitled TO large share
Of the credit for having persuaded Messrs-
Grau d Abbey to forget the shrinking SEN
stveness to cruel criticism which caused them
much suffering few weeks ago, when
they announced that though they were satisfied with
the financial and artistic outcome of the season, they
would give no opera next year.
IL has not been STAR season In the old sense.
The most popular artists 10 the company have been
the men already mentioned, but II required them all
to DC enlisted with Miss Eamcs and Madame scalchI
In Faust 10 make unquestioned success. of tho
women singers the greatest measure OF popularity was
tory prevented her from helping the season to the
triumphant close which il might have had II the com
pany had been engaged on The lines of policy adopted
when tie season was half over. There have been
NJ .srs Abbey q Grau. Madame lehman immeas-
uHbly the greatest artist In the wOmens department.
o the troupe who was engaged In the hope that theFey
fha TERI horn "A lD misty
pointed at the return made to them by the directors
Tor the generous support which they gave the enter
prise while Il In the hands OF the st)ckhodersb
would be appeased. found little scope her powers
I'm the operas presented The Germans too. refused
be rcconciled By the offer of their admired pnma
donna in II TrovatorT and Norma" and turred out
Giovanni were given. To a great extent their apathy
during the may be attributed b. Il feeling u
Resentment created by the change Of policy and devotion
to the principles OF art eXemplited In the
wer, encoHaged By the increased prices and BY The
abuse bestowed upon everything German BY the cham
planation for 7e failure Of the Enterprise Miss Van
iandt art is not adapted to The surroundings n which
Nbani has always commanded the respect Of the
knowing but never won the admiration OF the many.
question Of the dfercnG, between the ideals and
methods represented by Italian and German organiza
s0iia Eav0elis and rettican in the company Mcssrs
Abbey a t;rau had no soprano 10 take the part Of
selika In "L'Afrcalne.' At first they engaged Nor
d for the part se SnS Oh and 1 nay
Madam Lehman had 10 learn the role in Italian in
order that the opera might be given Unfortunately
the effort combined with other Influences caused tho
breaking down Of Madame Lehman, and she was lo'e
To the rest OF the season. The nights In which there
eXhlbi-Is Of popular enthusiasm were those de-
voted to Faust" and Il Maestri Cantor.' In tho
latter applause bestowed equally on the work
the singers and Mr.. seid the latter being recalled
over and over again by people who wished 10 show
their honor for him and the which he reprsent,.
The performances have been Of all sorts from SLOW
enly siipshod affairs which would have disgraoed "a
small Italian town, to representations worthy Of being
Rayreuth festivals The exceedingly high plane
reached with the representations of Die Meisersngers
f. sign of what be done by capable company OF
artists with intelligence and feeling enough to lift them
ont OF the Of routine fooshness under the direc-
ton an able and earnest conductor. The transfer.
nation the orchestra under the baton of Mr.. seu
amounted a miracle.