New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-08-05
"LOHENGRIN" AT BAYREUTH
NINE. NORDIcAs PHENOMENAL TRIUMPH
ENTHUSIASM OF THE COMPOSERS wIDow-NEws
NOTES OF THE FESTIVAL


est artistic triumph. Notwithstanding the absence
Of Ernest Van Dyck from the cast week OF chill
ing winds and rain preceded the opening OF the tenth
Wagner festival. Van Dyck. the only tenor an
nounced for the title role in the opera caught cold
and was unable 10 sing at the first representation.
Tho keen disappointment OF the singer was shared
10y the people who had anticipated his Interpretation
and Who learned the theatre doors in the az
ternoon Of his illness and the substitution of Emil
Gerhalser of Carlsruhe The public knew almost as
little OF Cierhaiser Elsa Mad learned without I'M
portuning Of the identity OF the Swan Knight" His
career as set forth in the seventy-s page Bayreuth
Album Of this year all contained In nine lines
As first Knight Of the Grail in "Parsiiai' the pre-
vious day had passed unnoticed The audience
went into the house expressing concern The new
tenor would probably be mere rnakeshifi too snort
and rotund for ideality sympathy was felt for Nor
dca lest her Elsa should suffer from the unfortunate
change in the programme. n Jean de Reszke were
only available Vain wish. Unquestionably the popu-
lar Van Dyck was Ill., and Grining the next best
known tenor was being reserved for "Tannhauser.
However Conductor Mott. who was to conduct the
initial representation OF "Lohengra.' knew what
he about in putting forward the unheralaeH
singer OF twenty-six years of age. with only FOUR
years experience the boards. and wnen the
audience bcheld the handsome figure OF Gernauser
and heard his beautiful tones in the farewell 10 the
swan Mem licber Schwan,' all doubts vanished.
In figure the singer made ideal representation or
H.
voice was extremely sympathetic and clear in the
unner and lover notes. bat me middle tones were
n trlao lacking IN purity This imperfec'ion was
Offset by excellent vocal method. clear conception
Of the resolute demands o, the role and the ceies-
tai glamour which surrounded his work through
out II other tenors have made tho character TOO
human IN the bridal chamber scene with Elsa Ger
haussr did not. He impersonal ami beatihc to
the end
The most sansuine expectations were realized by
the faultless Elsa of Nordica. \ genuine surprise
was enjoyed alike by those who were acquainted
with her last winters portraiture. and others who
heard ner FOR the first time or her beauty, pres
cnce aud rich dressing In the role. made iamilar ny
the representations In America last season, there
VAS substantially no difference OF opinion, Out l.
wa objected that she was i'thargic ana wanting n
dramatic instinct and gesture. Thes" Deficiencies II
,b., exisfins have been wholly overcome r. earnest
study She he's acquired power and freedom or ac-
ton With perception. and her arms are employed
neither too frequently nor with mechanical ADJUST
,,.., ~ rho Time heats Nine Nordica's Elsa last
night approached the highest dramatic requirements
of III. siorv VocaMy II delightful From heT
ors, words "Ncin armer Bruder." TO the finale her
voice was heard 70 the greatest advantage Inc
china. ~ her triumph reached In the scenes
with Ioh,ngrln in the third act Her success was
,,-s,,rrr,afc Consider how much this means. Here
WIS M American-born singer. trained ana Bra'"-
ate1 i'm the Italian school Of Verdi. with reputation
az = rolortfeur artis, In preference over the best
ra,ivc impersonltors. singing the coveted roie Oh
Elsa In German at the first representation IN the
high temple OF Wagner. But Il was only attained
after more than year OF the closest an" MUS H.
J. Gustrious application.
No-dca.s voice has gained IN breadth since she
20, Nen-York Its corresponding increase Of sweet
ami purity was los' sight o. II the gGt'urais
or.r. tx. vale IL was not difficult 70 distinguish
between her pronunciation and That or ID" Germans
10 was urt,gita,.ng AMI excellent. charming Do'h
Horn res tent
...adnv f,r-cfm and Intelligent me fitness OF
great Wagrerian artist was maintained Her bel
cr,o days NAY justly be said 70 have reached tne.r
/ end. =
Gr,rcq o, Vienna. was the King; PopoVc| OF
i prague tie TelramunI. and Marie Brena. 81 Lon
/ a., .,e or,rud Of the frs; TWO only words OF
rraise may be written Miss Brema. however was
mot successful she has yet acquired kno"ie'Sc
OF Ortrul's character. This young Engishwomah
ma - her debut at London concert IN l>H ana the
f.lovsirg winter WAS engaged FOR IN" Covent Gar
Jon opora season. In tho interim she had been per-
..,a.l,I 20 adopt the dramatic profession ana had
Navel "Ndrlcnnc I.ecouyreur' In company Sc
i..,.l hy Henry Arthur Jones. but subsequently, re-
,,i-roI the profession OF music. AS an o'1'o''o
..u.ar she is well known in Eng and. Scotland and
lreAnI iIor Crtsgl la lei not IN voice. ou' WAS
rrl..,rccIvcl in action. This being her hrst Bay
ruth apuclrance she WIS doubtless affected by
tre,Ilito. which the nssi act. wiki almost noth-
ina, for her 20 do ll no; allay. Anxiety FOR herseN
absorbed her completely that she seemed TO take
10 interes, To- the tragic proceedings "nleh Cu'''''
ate In the disgrace OF her husband lelramuhn' anu
In tn. scene vita Elsa In the second act her MS
t,l,en perception showed the sorceress In petty
crinriny ugnt At variance with Vagner's expressed
ANALYSIS OF the character. particularly MS dTe''o"
+ 4, List 80 lttlcncss Of any kind must occur !"
/ This representation she must never appear simply
malicious or annoyed" Miss Brema wore auburn
hair an innovation Of Frau Wagner.
.bo .rd - no first act the audience, unmlnuIuI
~ Havreuih precedent broke out in storm OF APP
rlauso and shouting whlca lasted several minutes
tho only recognition permissible under the rules
Va sr1miTd 'n of 6 ot After the second and
thlrl acts similar ccmonarations or ,yt
achievement the principal cause FOR these IN
usual manifestations The enthusasHI, We raiasd hrr
spread II was genuine. fHTI oo 80, =, g IN.
Lew the "Parsifal conductor. SAID II VS. ."c
most perfect representation he had ever witnessed,
qbc nov costumes and scenery suited TO the tehth
century IN Antwerp gave suhduei coIor 10 M NJ
, enrct ana the contrasting glitter OF Isohelgrln
slvered girb ana Elsas whiie gowns, lrg cnns
of Elsa was properly simple in the carry S' s5
, and regally splendid in the church scene ana maj
proner,ies TO ut the time Of the action differed in
several particulars from hose usually enp'p ION
W. ,h chorus Of liz persons together with the prn'
cpals but compactness dd not ns,r",r LII he
rmcrhanical and electric light effects Nhen Elsa
appeared on the balcony in the second acr, ue Gus
t6mary strong shaft Of light was no. thrown upon
her All the light used was that when snohe leeiu
mately through the open door behind mex Inc US
ua Illumination did not stream thE9u t ti "I ,
rcer The couch where Iohengrln and Elsa are seated
/ "fiar The bridal procession. The changes or !Rht
were effected with remarkable simuaon ~ a,aer 81
ScrupuIoue regard was shown FOR every matter OF
,r' ,orr ~ the chorus admirable, and the
/ orchestra was IN perfect control under MottL Inc
+ ore't ruIar aplendor of the Paris productoo was
alF,aiiaI hut there was no glare, no maSnificence
OFT Of place no strainng in the direction OF real
ION When the dove drew the hero away toWari
.hc domains OF the Grail IL was not done with bus-
RE It's wings did not move exctedly as II nurrylhg
t al, 81
no least perceptibe nuter as the brd TOOK up its
nassage and sailed away sarerey VI q manner =, DE-
ntfin~ the ethereal messe niger. nus III, .ne'
/ glamour vas undsturbed 10 the very ehd- Many oi
l The pictorial elements were noN"l. .,., v,-,,o-
had not sanctioned Frau WagncrS deterininatlon
i reverontill LOYALTY TO her late husband raised
~ ~ r,d,,rion as near as possible under the err
cnmsanccs to The standard OF his IDEAS Sne sought
cor mo realization of his purpose, tiat the represen
~ ,,,iht amman be dominated by ms splrlt