The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-01-12
THE WAGNER SEASON
DAMRosCH's GRAND OPERA COM
PAxE COMING THURSDAY.
The Productions to he Assisted by the
Damrosch Orchestra OF Seventy
Five Instruments.

al EngliSnS opera House. The engagement
win consist OF three evening performances.
and II the initial visit of Mr.. Damrosch's
company proves the success anticipated. 1t
will no doubt lead to a longer season next
year. There is no occasion to feel alarmed
over the artistic success OF the engagement,
as nothing but enthusiastic reports have
been received from the cities where the
company has appeared. The tour was be-
gun In Cincinnati on Nov. IL, and the prog
ress OF the organization about the country
since then has been In the nature of a tri-
umphal march. Mr.. Damrosch tested the
popular feeling regarding the wagnerian
mGsic-drama last spring. when he organized
company for a short tour OF the principal
cities. and the success of the undertaking
was 50 very remarkable that he at once be-
gan TO lay plans for the present great tour,
with the intention OF covering all the large
cities OF the United States and giving Ger
man opera on a scale never before attempt
ed en- tour. 1t is conceded that in the selec-
ton Of his principal singers Mr.. Damrosch
exercised excellent judgment. This fact is
further proven by the intense rivalry which
was carried on between him and a certain
other firm OF theatrical managers who were
bidding for the services OF Frau Klafsky
Max Alvary. Herr Popovici and other CT
the leading Wagnerian artists whom Dam
rosch was fortunate enough TO secure.
Other artists of prominence that belong to
the company are Fri. Louise Mulder, Fri.
Reiza Eibenschutz, Fri Gisela Stoll. Fri.
Johanna Gadski, Fri. Nina SchilIing, Bar
ron Berthald, Wilhelm Gruening, julius
Won Pulitz. Conrad Behrens. Gerhard Steh-
mann. Paul LANCE, Edward Bromberg, WI
helm Mertens and several others of inter-
national reputation.
Mr.. Damrosch has been most liberal in
surrounding these with a large and COM
petent chorus and in furnishing orches-
justice TO the music. Then too he has
expended vast sum for the stage settings
and cOstuming, armor and properties, a
great deal OF the latter as well as all of
the scenery having been butt in Vienna
One or the distinct features of the Wag-
purchased season tickets will be admitted
free, will be the lecture on the Wagner
operas. which Walter Damrosch will de-
liver at the Propylaeum next Thursday
and Friday afternoons on die Walkure''
and Die Meistersinger," under the aus
pices OF the Matinee, Musicale. Mr.. Dam
sic-dramas is very thorough and will tend
10 improve the notably artistic culture of
munio:i with the story OF each onera 1 tbat
they viii be able to go to the performance
with a better and clearer understanding OF
the subject Mr.. Damrosch follows closely
the lines and music of the operas showing
the tender, pathetic relations which exist
between the leading characters and follow
ing out their romantic features to the end.
He will also illustrate a great deal of the
scores OF each opera the piano, which
win enable his listeners to go fresh from
his Interpretation OF the dramas to their
performance by his company. Those who
did not purchase season tickets will be
admitted to the lectures on payment of a
nominal admission fee
II Is an important fact, of which pros
pective patrons of the opera should take
gin promptly at 7:45 o'clock. and after the
orchestra begins, no one will be admitted
until the end OF the first act. This early
beginning Is made necessary by the length
OF the works to the given.
That there will be large audiences at the
Damrosch performances now admits of no
doubt There was good sale OF season
tickets all last week. and when the sale
for single performances began yesterday,
there was such demand as TO justify the
belief that the theater viii be filled The
DamrOSch company, which Is composed of
$50 people. win arrive here by special train
from Milwaukee next Thursday morning.
The Stories OF the Operas.
The stories of the operas to be given dur
ing the Damrosch season are as follows:
The plot OF "Tannhauser' is taken from
an old German tradition which centers
about the "Wartburg" In the Thuringian
valley. where the landgraves of the thir-
teenth century instituted peaceful contests
between the Minnesingers and knightly
poets. The venusberg. near the wartburg
Is the domicile of Holda. the goddess of
spring. The sirens OF her court lure her
victims TO her cavern. Tannhauser is one
of them but he tears himself away from
poets. The Venusberg, near the Wartburg
There Elizabeth. the daughter of Hermann,
the Landgrave. is in love with him. Tam
hauser enters the contest of the Mime
Of r1Ia IT,
knights thereupon determine to kill him. but
Elizabeth saves his life. Tannhauser re-
penis and comes back from pilgrimage to
Rome detected and hopeless. Again the
sirens of the Venusberg lure him to the
stronghold OF their mistress, but before the
name OF Elizabeth the DANES depart From
the distance funeral procession an
proaehes- 1t is that of the sanity Elizabeth.
Tannhauser sinks down upon her coffin and
dies As his spirit passes away, his pill
grim's staff miracllously bursts out with
lear and blossom. symbol that his sins
have been forgiven
Die Walkure" is the first CHAPTER in the
great triol0gy OF the King of the NibeIunr
Brunnhilde, the heroine, is a daughter of
Wotan, supreme god OF the northern my
tnoicsy- she is one OF the nine Walkuren or
Valkyries whose duty il is to convey human
heroes. slain in battle, TO Walhalla, the
abode of the gods
iude depicts growing OF thunder, and rain
beating on Hundings hut. Into this rude
CABIN enters Slegmund. son of Wotan by a
mortal woman, and sinks down exhausted
Having lost his sword in combat ne flies
from MS enemies. and unwittingly seeks
shelter IN the home Of their allv Hunding's
VIE, Sieglinde, enters and gives the tired
guest refreshments. Hunding returns stern
" asks his guests name. recognizes him as
MS enemy, challenges him TO mortal combat
next day, but offers him hospitality for the
night SleSiinde, irresistiDly fascinated nv
the stranger, puts a sleeping potion into he-
nusOandS cup. and joins Siegmund who
soon discovers she is his twin sister AMI
At the same time his love. she has been car
tured IN battle and married against her viii
10 funding. She shows Siegnund the maeic
sword. Nothing. plunged by Wotan on bar
weociaS day into a large tree Siegmund
cape. ~ -o'e'S Co
In act second Wotan meets the wild Val
kyrie, Brunnhiide. and bids her preside over
ouel between Hunding and Sigmund and
give victory TO the latter. Fricka Wotan's
jealous wife, demands the death of the
guilty Siegmund, and Wotan sadly revolxes
tne order Just given TO Brunnhiide She
protests, but he threatens her with his
wrath Amid wonderful agitated music
SlesmCnd and Siegiinde appear pursued by
ttundlng. whose ror1 as heard Brunnhilde
comes and tells Segmund he must die ana
go 10 WalnGsla- he refuses to be uarfed
from his love. and Brunnhilde moved NV
ply, promises to protect him. despite Wo-