Los Angeles herald., 1892-03-22
ADJUSTMENTS.

Comparisons are odorous, as some
Mrs. Malaprop said. If the Juch COM
pany of last year was compared with
the one which opened at the opera
house in Tannhauser last evening, the
difference would be 80 strong as to per-
haps give offense to some of the COM
pared.
Miss Juch il virtually the company.
She is more charming, even, in appear
ance than ever, and her clear, crystal
toned notes are wonderfully musical and
evidence the very highest culture. Her
singing merits the highest praise, and
her powers as an actress are hardly Sec
ond to her vocal ability. Her every
motion is grace itself, her face wonder
fully mobile, her eyes eloquent, and all
in ali she is surely, if not Patti in
voice, wonderfully fine singer and a
most accomplished, attractive woman.
The presentation of Tannhauser, how
ever, last night reminded one of
Frederick Warde's Richard III played
a week or so ago, in that it was great
work poorly given. The costumes
were worn and tawdry; one OF the min
strel knights had the lining of his robe
ripped from one edge to the other, the
appointments were in no case up to the
requirements of Wagner opera, and
while the scenery was in some particu-
lars good, it was far from being what it
should be. There was a carelessness
about details in make up, also; the
presence of sidewhiskers and shingled
and pompadour hair cuts on some OF
| the men of the chorus was marked
incongruity. The male chorus is excel
lent in training and quite strong in
voice, but the female chorus is decidedly
weak and in its entirety does not dis.
| play the certainty that it should.
Mr.. Martin Pache, the tenor. who
essayed the role OF Tannhauser is very
earnest singer, and showed so much
zeal as to arouse sentiment of good
will among the audience. He has not
the fulness of tone, nor the vocal cul.
ture, nor the physical presence, how
ever, required by the part, which is de-
cidedly too exigent for him.
Mr.. Joseph Rubo, whose splendid
voice is well known in this city, sang
the part of Hermann with most pleas
ing effect. His rich bass has virility
about it which makes it particularly
pleasing in the heavy, ponderous tones
Of the opera.
Mr.. Mertins and Mr.. Stephens sang
well and were heartily applaused.
Miss Stein, as Venus, looked we'll and
sang very sweetly. Her white satin
slippers with Louis Quatorze heels
would not be approved by Master
Wagner, but it is true they were very
small errors of judgement.
A pretty girl, Sofia Romani, with {
fresh, sympathetic voice sang the
shepherds solo in the commencement o.
| the second act
The company is not exactly an
English opera company, as but four o.
the members spoke understandable
English, and several sang in German.
The orchestra vas led with great skill,
and is as a whole an excellent organiza
ton, excepting weakness in the
string section.
The audience comprised all the fash.
ionables of the city, but was by nc
means brilliant. The Lenten season
probably had much to do with the so
berness of the attire of the women, tht
majority of whom wore street costumes
The house was crowded throughout, s,
that financially the engagement is prob
ably great success. The cast was:
Hermann. Landgrave of Thuringia. ...