Omaha daily bee., 1895-05-01
NEW YORK MUSIC NOTES.

Impressions and Criticisms of the Season
by One of Omaha's Young Women.
NEW YORK, April 25, 1S95.-The musical
season was begun on November 10 by a fine
performance of Romeo and Juliet" with
Marie Melba and Jean De Reszke in the title
roles. and of "Othello" in which Tamagno's
immense dramatic power showed him at his
best as the Jealous Moor. These operas. to-
gether with LES Huguenots." Faust" and
Don Giovanni" with their ideal casts have
made this one of the most brilliant seasons
of Italian opera New York has ever had.
Some interesting modern works have also
been Produced among which werethree novel
ties, St. Saen's Samson ct Delila,'' Verdi's
"Falstaff," in which Maurel created great
furore in Paris, and Bemberg's dreanlike
Elaine" "Die Meistersinger," in which the
brothers De Reszke, Emma Eames and
PlanCOn sang, was superior to the German
production with Rothmuhl, Gadski and Emil
Fischer although no basso can rival Fischer.
1t is unfortunate that Sybil Sanderson could
not have been heard in her dainty opera
"Manon." in 4 smaller opera house The
Metropolitan puts even the greatest voices TO
a severe test and neither Miss Sandersons
style nor her beautiful voice are large enough
for its barn-like dimensions
There was good deal of conjecture
whether the German opera would be sue
cess, after this remarkable season of Italian
opera. But all doubt was settled by
the subscription list of $4,000 and the large
and enthusiastic houses, which, musically,
were superior to those of the preceding
season. This was the more remarkable, be-
cause, with three or four exceptions. the
singers at the Wagner festivals were
mediocre, and the stage settings in marked
contrast to the sumptuousness Of the Italian
season. The great performance was Tristan
and Isolde" in which Herr Alvary and Frau
Sucher sang with that tremendous dramatic
power and artistic finish that make Wagners
operas sung by German artists so overpower-
ing Herr Alvarys Tooth performance of
"Siegfrled," the part which he created for
America and in which he made his first great
success on the same stage. was the occasion
for a testimonial of the affectionate admira-
tion of New York for his wonderful voice and
art. Frau Sucher is a powerful actress and
the greatest living Isolde, but her voice shows
the wear Of years Of singing Wagner. Herr
Fischer repeated his former fine nterpreta-
tion Of Wotan, King Marks and Hans Sachs;
and Frauein Marie Brema made, many ad-
mirers with her superb mezzo soprano voice
and her enthusiastic acting. Fraulein
Johanna Gadski has beautiful voice and
sings the higher soprano roles. Elsa, Eliza
beth and Seigleunde, well, though without
much force.
The Philharmonic orchestra, lead by Anton
Sed and the Symphony society, led by
Walter Damrosch, have produced several new
works this winter; among them Tschdikow-
skis mournfully beautiful symphony Path
clique; Dvorak's symphony From the New
World" McKenzie's overture, based on the
old song. Rule Britain" the funeral music
composed by Wagner after melodies from
Euryanthe, for the burial of Won Weber
At the third symphony concerts parts of Mr.
Damrosch's new opera, The Scarlet Letter."
which was highly spoken of by musicians,
were given. The society assisted by
Nine. Nordica. Signor Campanari, Nine.
Buchnell and the oratorio society, which In
turn assisted the symphony society at the
sixth concert in giving 'Parsifal." It Is
said by those who have heard this opera at
Bayreuth that Mr.. Damrosch's leading of
the choruses and band has not been surpassed
there. Frauein Brema, who sang Kundry
at Bayreuth last summer, repeated her great
success on this occasion; and Mr.. Plunket
Greene's Gurnemanz and Amfortas were
much more satisfactory than Herr Rothmuhl's
Parsfal. The Oratorio society has given
three excellent concerts, beginning with the
Creation" in November, when the choruses
were finely done, and Herr Fischer's singing
OF the bass solos was as artistic every
thing he does. But Miss Lillian BIauvet's
style and voice were too small for the de-
mands Of the soprano part. S
The regular Christmas performances Of the
Messiah" were also fine. Nine. Nordica.
Miss Devriens, Mr.. David Henderson and
Mr.. Watkins Mills sang the solos. On April
49, Dach's Passion music was given ma gnif-
Gently by the chorus and band. but very
poorly by the sololsts. Mrs. Genevra Johns
stone Bishop. Mrs, Carl Alves and Arthur
Beresford. all of whom sang with very in
adequate style and no regard whatever for
key. Mr.. Albert Thies sang the difficult reel
tatlons Of the evangelist WELL and Mr.. Will
I liam A. Rowland had the minor bass parts
| which he sang with dignity and force.
| OF the smaller events of the winter, the
Musical Art society. a chorus of fifty pro-
| fessoual singers, led by Mr.. Frank Dam
rosch. deserves first mention. Although only
| IN It's second season, this chorus is already
| considered to do the finest ensemble singing
! in the country, and renders In the most
! finished and artistic manner, the severest
| motets and choruses Of classic music. from
! Palestrina, who was master Of the Vatican
choir In 1871, and the first great composer
OF church music. down to Peter Cornelius,
! the pupil and friend Of Lisst and Wagner.
| Al the last concert Mr.. Greene and Miss
| Brema sang soma Of the old German songs
and Mnnelieder, with the beautiful articula-
| tiOn and taste that made their song recitals
popular. They have sung also, many old
! English and Irish ballads specially arranged
| for them by Villars- Stanford most delight
fully. The assistance of the best accom-
| panist in the country, Mr.. Walter Damrosch,
| added not little to these recitals.
| The concerts OF the great Belgian viOlinist,
Ysaye, were well attended by most enthus-
astic audiences. He plays with startling bril-
! llancy Of technique, and with more feeling
! than Cesar Thomson, who Is also very popu-
! lar. OF the Infant phenomena," New York
| has had Its full share in Jean Gerardy,
| Juanito. Manen and Freda Simonson, about
| whom there have been the usual number OF
| superlatives, and who deserved them all.
| Mr.. McDowells made fine impression with
| his piano recitals, az which he has played
| many OF his own compositions, which, in
ME-. KrshbePs judgment place him In front
| rank OF American composers Mr. Bernhard
| Stavanhagen has also been most succss sssful.
and Is said 10 play with more power than
| Miss Szumoski, the young Polish pianist
I pupil OF Paderewski, who, nevertheless, has
| been wen spoken Of Mr. Bagbys musical
| mornings are hardly TO be taken seriously.
though the best artists OF the Italian opera
have sung for him, and YSaya, Thomson and