New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-03-03
MUSIC.
DIE MEISTERcINGER' IN ITALIAN.


1t is quite possible that had a fellow townsman and
contemporary of Hans Sachs been at the Metropolitan
Opera House last night he would have been little
norplussed by the effort Of poyglot company Of
men and wcmcn TO picture some scenes from the artistic
life OF his times Careful students OF Wagner avorably
disposed toward his dramatic efforts have told that
judged by the relics and records OF the old guild OF
mastersngers which fourshed in Nuremberg in the
sixteenth century, the poetcompoSers comedy, Die
Meistersinger" is remarkably accurate delineaton;
1t has even been called Photographic in its fidelity 10
detail English and American critics. the contrary.
have denied that is comedy and failed to find In it
the humOr which they think inseparabc from play,
whether spoken sung, which a>piIcs 10 the title OF
comedy. The people New York have been taught by
number OF excellent representations within the last six
years that no work OF the WHO dominates the
lyric stage is uncOmpr0misngly 1eutOn.c
Wagners only comedy. With this conviction firmly
fixed IL is not TO be wondered that the announce
that Die Mestersinger" would DC performed by
the company of Abbey Glau provoked a great deal
f skepicism concerning a successful result. Perhaps
his circumstance had something to do with the fact
hat though fine audience in attendance last
night, the house was not crowded a dozen empty
boxes in the stockholders tiers and hundred
vacant seats In the orchestra doubtless be
planned by the fact ttat yesterday Ash Wednes
day, day which in former seasons was not included
In the operatc dates the performance falling upon
being regularly postponed TO the following night
All tncSe CONSIDERATIONS, however, While Interesting
far the externals OF the entertainment are con
cerned have nothing 10 do with the question touching
the degree Of success achieved by the daring venture
Of the managers. The standard Of judgment Is, OF
course, fixed by the work itself In large sense it
might be said keeping this standard in VIEW that the
representation the whole decidedly inadequate;
Yet 1t is only fair 10 say that IL was much better
than the make expect, and
that 1t the most instructive lesson given this
Of what can be done even In an unfamiliar,
and for the most part unSympathetc field by artists
when wisely guided. 1t also the occasion OF
another demonstration of the popular desire to hear
the Wagneran drama, for the audience Insisted upon
making Mr.. Sedl the star Of the evening, and calhhg
him before the curtain to receive expressions Of their
admiration and respect. Aside fIOm the honors paid
to him In his representative capacity, ne nchly ue
served the applause bestowed upon him for the
phenomenal work which lie did. lie had strengthened
the orchestra with some men of his own or
ganization and also recruited the chorus from
the chorsters OF the German organization Of last year
Nevertheless the drama given substantially by
the Abbey q Grtu troupe. This he had galvanized
into a new and TO 1t strange life. lie vitazed the
band and caused a marvellous cOmmouon among the
dry choral bones. There was something resembling
life and action the stage In every scene and II The
ensemble fell short OF what the comedy requires II was
simply because the artistic capacity Of so many Of the
actors in the play not commensurate with the
requirements OF the play. II was calculated TO Inspire
charitableness OF judgment. however, to note the
eamestness which marked the efforts Of nearly all
concerned and the easy mastery which Mr. seidl eX-
ercised the Intelligent and capable portion OF his
forces.
Italians Germans, an American. Trenchmen and
Poles were concerned in the representation. The
Walther was Jean de Reszkc. Pole the sachs NJ Las
sale Frenchman; the Eva, Madame AlbaIl, an
American: the Beckmesser, Sgnor Car1one an ltahah
the Magdalena, Miss Bauermester German; the
David NJ Montariol, again Frcnchman Concerning
the representatives of the mastesingcrs who make up
the secondary chorus of the work IT IS not necessary
TO speak for they best left without partlcuarim
ton or mention of any sort. VI. de Reszke NJ Las
sale, NJ Montarol and Madame Abani were the most
successful in their efforts TO realize the purposes OF The
poet composer. There Is little TO wonder at In this
Their artistic instincts French, not Italian The
tendency of the school If music which cXcca TIER
warmest sympathy IS toward ruthfulness of declaIoa-
ton rather than simple suavity Of musical utterance
II was evident, in the case Of each that the III
spring motive was something besides mere honesty OF
purpose. We should be much surprised 10 learn that
any one Of them had not entered upon last nights ex
tremely difficult task with sincere admiration or
even heartfelt affection for the opera The Wagnerfan
types we're not all reproduced. Walther was most |
easily recognized and was, indeed "A most gallant |
graceful and imprisoned knight. NJ de Reszke' trough
lie reserved his strength for the close OF the evening
and sang his music sentmentally than German
and rave great delight NJ Lassalle sang the music
OF his part even more freely and with better
defamation than VI. de Rc>zke, but In his bearing
there was too little of the amiable, yet drastic witty
Vet profound cobbcrpOet TO satisfy the admirers OF
Inc character. Madame Albanis was a most con
scientous, intelligent and sympathetic effort when
fell short of a high accomplishment only because OF
limitations beyond her control NJ Montarol made a
Tst occepohle David The conventional Italian buffo
was lost in >ignor CarbOnc's Beckmcsser-So CON
petely lost indeed. that the part has less uinor IN
than the inmlcal English and American critics have
been willing TO cOnccdc to N: Yet there were tunes
when II seemed rs il because OF this very fact ne
comes nearer 10 a realization Of the Bcckmcsser OF the
book Ii is scarcely to again That the
vulgar bu;foOn Of the general run o. German per
fOrnanccs is not the DechincSscr Of wagner. ana i
indeed utterly lrrecOnlsble with the satrca purposes
OF the drauatist. Die Meistcr-ngcr' Will be per
formed again Saturday afternoon.