New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-07
MUSIC.
MIR. pAMHoscH.s OPERA.

MR. DAMHOSCHS OPERA.
Several things stand in the way OF a serious and
adequate consideration Of Walter Damrosch's opera
and It's performance at the Academy Of Music last
night In the first place. 1t happens sometimes that
a reviewer finds 1t necessary to walt till the end Of
a representation before undertaking to pronounce
even q modest Judgment upon 1t. Yet II he does SO
he is also sometimes robbed Of the time within
which to write AS things so in this decade, such
a circumstance attendance all evening might b
set down as In itself hattering. One does not need
to be a professional reviewer for the press to dis.
cover within the course of hour that he Is not
likely to benefit by sitting three hours and half
at a performance. whether 1t be dramatic merely or
dramatic and musical combined. The man who
did not need to eat the whole OF bad egg in order
to testify to Its condition has companions in
other departments of activity outside the gusatory
II one does persist determination to hear all Of
a work there might be said to be bit OF commen-
dalton In the fact alone. In the case OF The Tribune
II became necessary to treat Mr.. Damroschs opera
with special consideration, because, when a large
norton of 1t was given last year In concert form,
this journal devoted much space and time to It,
Would the Impressions created by the confessedly
Inadequate performance year ago be confirmed
by the stage representations? Would they be mod.
fed by the music not produced then? The ques-
tons were significant for there was no doubt at all
that Mr. Damroschs opera was work OF serious
ness and dignity. 1t required some patience 70
come into position In which one could speak with
intelligence, but that was made possible by hear
ing of the entire work as an opera In music.
especially in dramatic music. 1t is only hearing
that is believing, and If any one depended last
n,ob, unon the sumptuous pianoforte score Of the
opera which Breitkopf and Harriet have printed
and a perusal of the libretto which Mr.. Lathrop
has published he got only an incomplete iaea OK
the work. Yet it must be said that the judgment
of last year was confirmed on the whole.
In spite of the efforts OF Messrs Lathrop ana
Damrosch, and notwithstanding MI fia"'horhes
conviction that his marvellous romance might be
u,orked into an OPERA this new Scarlet Letter 10
NOT n dramatic work In the best sense AS the
first creation Of young composer III the 'a's0
forms IL is marvellous enough. but IL is sadiy de-
fc,ent In vital movement, in drama'c variety 10
color, In characterization. The persohages all sing
alike and the fact that Mr.. Damrosch mas en-
Moved system of typical phrases, and employed 1t
,au Nigh, even be overlooked II attention was
NOT particularly directed to 1t by an occaSional IN
strumental intermezzo Want OF pronounced char-
acter In the melodc symbols, absence OF SUSTAINED
and effective melody. lack OF variety III ieehhs'
can scarcely be atoned for by ingenuity OF orcnes'
tration and luxuriant indulgence IN harmons
vagaries
The record OF last nights performance Is orieny
summed no in the words of the playful: The nrat
production In New-York OF the new American opera
in three acts The Scarlet Letter.. In English ny
Waite. Damrosch libretto by George PARSONS
Lathrop after Hawthorne's romance. Inc cast
included Johanna Gadski as Hester Prynne' barron
Berthald as Arthur Dimmesdale Conrad BenrenS
as Governor Bellineham. Gerhard Stelemann as the
Rev John Wilson, and Wilhelm Mertens as Roger
Chingworth Mr.. Damrosch has FOR MS compose
ton an attentive and respectful hearing from
large audience, and one OF uncommon intelligence
and understanding. 1t was a friendly audience 100
evidently willing ard anxious TO listen closely, and
to put into the sca.e OF judgment all that coua W
put 10 weigh In the composers favor ~ was no.
after the third and last when its tokens OF friendly
favor could contribute nothing more 20 iur,mer va
success of the performance, II showed prohouhce"
There was after the second act scene upon the
several large wreaths had been bestowed upon him.
a representative OF the Wagner Society came Tor.
society presented him copy OF Hawthornes ro-
nance. upon which the opera Is based IN making
statements which compressed into brief compass as
many errors of fact as the FRENCH Academieians
saId was The first American 10 compose a grand
opera upon American subject tina; mad been pub
wished to do him special honor with the GIT afore;
said AS the Wagner Society has been @ req
TO know that In years past Max Maretzek~with as
good title 70 the name American as Mr. IN
this city with continued success, an opera or ms
hiatt s sasd F.
had brought out in Niblos Garden. his opera OF
'Rip Van Wrinkle" than both which. surely, no
more thoroughly and characteristically American
subjects could be imagined
Mr. Damrosch. OF course. was not so ungrac.ou ~
as 10 point out at that time and place errors or 50
much moment to the integrity OF musical history IN
America. but contented himself with accepting mo
honcrs assigned TO him In speech or HANKS, IN
which he called TO mind the struggles he had unde,.
gone i'm the last twelve years TO win an honoraos
place in the musical life OF this metropolis ana re-
gretted that his collaboration. Mr.. George parsons
Lathrop could not stand upon the stage with MIN "
share in the applause and honor.