New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-03
Mp naMROscHs OPERA SEASON

,he norson nor 1t is to be hoped, the temperament
MIR. DAMROSCHS OPERA SEASON.
Tho season of opera which Mr.. Walter Damrosch
hogan in TIE Academy Of Music last night mas pee"
looked forward to with mixed ieehnss Wy @
friends OF the German art II Is perhaps iie'ia
,s,nco 90 much depends upon the ZEAL intelligence
devotion and skill OF the conductor In operauc rep
resaptattons based on German conceptions that
great deal of personal equation should nave Gu
tered into the efforts which have been maze spo's
ically to rehabiltate German opera since '"e S'o'"
holders OF the Metropolitan opera House turhea
their establishment over TO Messrs ABBEY ec"oei-
FOL G. Crau Two years ago the FRIENDS OF MI
pamrosch resolved that there should be German
comnany with him at the head Of It, In the inter-
est OF Mr. Seldl similar conclusion was a'i'e1
q, nv his friends. Some friends or 'he a'e'.9
Cause thereupon conceived the idea or uniting 'h'
two schemes believing that. when 1t came 10 'h'
case OF German opera. which would nave u Gun
tend at the best with the Metropolitan representa-.
,,ors tho old axiom as to the benefaction bestowed
on mankind by him who made two blades OF grass
grow where only one had grown oetore was "o
longer operative. Their plan, wnch was a"''"oe
even II sentimental and quxotic made ship"reoM
on the rock Of personal equation MI. Da"' ISL
demonstrated his right to assume the position
which he assumed (beng willing TO challenge arts
,,c cri,icism) by carrying out his enterprise 10
conclusion which won great admiration 'or m
enterprise and pluck. Even those VINO were u
70 see any gain in the achievement for the ari'uo
principles for which German opera IS SUPPOSE. ~
stand were forced TO give him the respect com
manded by his courage and energy Al least No
scanned 10 have done one thing which was 10 open
the eyes OF Messrs. Abbey and Grau 10 '"e A"'
that German opera was not dead
,.,or this demonstration there came anothe's
which seemed for time 10 have carr'ed 'o"-
,,c,,on TO the soul of Abbey and Grau. IL was q
fVO
49,, .,ot German representations be Included IN tho
,to.r,,ol,,an scheme under the direction Oh MI
se,d Here again the personal equa'ion WINCH 90.
ters the question came sharply into hoHce o"' '
could easily have been overlooked had Aooey a"d
Crau acted generously or even fairly oy 'he eau'e
which their petitioners represented. Inc history -
the regular Metropolitan season has oeen e"'se.
,rd us lessons have been drawn. Had Abbey ana
Gran deliberately planned to strengthen the Gauss
OF the young man whose commence III nii'i'
;errnan opera had made him their riVa' the! 0ou,O
-, hays acted more effectively than they did In
all respects the representation OIL iHS.A" Ga.
Isolde in which Nine Nordica ana NJ. Jean Us
p.s1ks anpeared and the reading by Mr. Seidi OF
tho scores of the works given in the extra suoscr'p
ton season, the German feature OF the MetIoi
saa son was a failure. 1t might have sent MI n"
rosch out OF the local field entirety seeih"e'' :,
drove all the lovers OF German OPERA even '"'s'
who questioned Mr.. Damroschs ability to MS sup'
port a., o,,
II Is too early to foreteil what will be the sou-
ton OF the problem 1t might be well II 'he re-
suit were to remove what are mere persona''eS
from the question OF operate representation -
New-York City, for this is much greater .han ',"
OF men or the choice Of tongue MI Se'oi "as
nrovod his value to the Metropolitan management
nv most admirable work In other departments tnan
the specifically German. Mr.. Damroscn mas us
covered extraordinary capacity as man vi "'i"
in operate management. What 10 to De thousn.
OF his abilities In other respeSs snaIi DC 'o'~
later In view OF all the circumstances he de-
ssrv,s well at the hands OF the lovers OF Herman
opera 1t does not appear from all that can %
learned OF his season thus far, that he has duph-
Gated the success Of last year from hnahciaA
point OF view in his provincial tour. TO speak IN
the manner OF the London newspapers here ne
will be handicapped by the fact that an operatio
season OF thirteen weeks. In which performances
were intermtted only on Tuesday evenings has
but recently come TO an end. and by the circum-
stance that he is trying to rehabilitate the Acad-
envy OF Music the home OF fashionable repre-
sensations 1t is to be feared that too many years
have elapsed to make this feat possible. The Acad-
envy Of Music and its environment have undergone
a great change during the last twelve years. and
the prejudice OF locality is in nothing potent az
In popular entertainments This fact many cap.
talists and managers can attest
1t would be q pity, however. II prejudice against
the place should prevent the lovers of dramatic
artists. Nine. Kafsky. who sang and acted last
night In the principal part Of Beethoven's III.
delio" is a dramatic artist Of quite extraordinary
gifts and attachments. Somewhat conventional and
theatrical In her movements and poses she is splen-
ddly spontaneous and eloquent In her singing and
defamation. Her vocal wealth seems boundesa
She pours out her voice in tremendous gushes. yet
without once suggesting that the limit OF volume
has been neared II Is a voice Of fine texture
withal and musically true to be delight
Her conception of Fidelio is 'ull OF warm blood.
and though the means Of dramatic expression at
her command do not always sunice to give It the
fullest and most finished embodiment, her per.
Torrance Ia OF splendid energy and vigor. Frau
Kafsky was greeted last evening most heartily
But her singing OF the great "Abscheulcher air she
aroused the greatest enthusiasm. 1t was not such
as to efface the most treasured memories OF TINS
public, but II had conviction and passion and the
victorious sweep OF a rare achievement and these
qualities were again and again revealed In what
came later
The other newcomers were Wilhelm Gruening. IN
the part Of Florestan and Demeter Popovtci. Both
showed themselves TO be artists OF high Ideals ana
admirable equipment. Herr Popovci. especially. has
skill and with keen sense OF dramatic fitness. His
acting too. so far as the character Of Beethovene
baefui and melodramatic villain permitted its
qualities to be revealed. forcible and sincere.
Herr Gruenngs voice IL strong and vibrant tenor
not always beautiful In quality nor always usec
with perfect art. as was disclosed last evening",
but capable Of intense and potent expreegop ~