New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-07-05
MUSICAL COMMENT.


AND THE CINCINNATI CHORUS
THE KNEIsEL oUARTET-sOME
LITERARY BLUNDERs.
In the current number OF 'sThe LOCKER On
william D. Moffat publishes Mote on Lohen-
grim" calling attention to a bunder in Jean
de Reszke's performance In the ttuar role, wnich
Mr. Moffat says has been accepted without protest
on the part OF the press He really does not mean
10 have his criticism Of the critics accepted liter
ally however for after he has finished his expo
sition OF the case he mentions the fact that on
the morning after VI. Maurel's first appearance as
Teramund at the Metropolitan Opera House. The
Tribune noted the fact that that gentleman had IN
a measure compelled Mr.. de Reszke to rectliy MS
error. The fact Is that The Tribune on that &C.
cason distinctly and vigorously condemned the
act OF Mr.. de Reezke, which Is the subject OF Mr.
Moffats note. The point in question Is this In the
battle between Lohengrin and Telramund the Tor
mer as impersonated by W. de Reszke. does not
strike down his opponent. but overwhe!ms MIN oy
mere glance while advancing upon him with MS
sword upheld as a symbol Of wrath. The act Is
picturesque when carried out by an actor OF peauu-
full and inspiring presence like Mr.. de Reszke. ana
carries with It a certain poetcal charm as enpha-
sizing the supernatural character OF the knignt OF
the Grail. but Mr.. Moffat is unques'ionaoiy nght
In condemning It as being contrary TO the intentions
of Wagner and the ethics Of the story. He seems
however, to have forgotten that 1t mas ceeh tra-
dition OF our stage for decade and more MT. oe
Reszke did not invent II and II is open to question
whether Mr. Moffat ever saw performance IN
New-York or Germany which omitted the nuance
II Is ono OF Nemann's conceits and has oeen coleo
by nearly all the Lohensrins here and abroad. MT
Moffats memory has played him false; he need only
recall the Lohengrins OF Schot and Alvary to ma
two Of Mr.. de Reszkes predecessors who follow inc
example set by Nienann
1t is a little amusing TO see Henry T. rlncK' VINO
writes the musical notes department Tor mo
1.oker On recurring TO the Cincinnati fes-
t,yal for the purpose OF rebukng the critics VINO
found fault with the singing OF the chorus IL
might az we'll be made as widely known as pos
sble that Mr.. Finck did not find fault with the
Cincinnati choir: in fact he thought It so admirable
that he set It down better than any OF the exist
ting singing societies OF New-York The only one
that he thought might bear comparison with 1t
was-who would have guessed it?-the defunct
Church Choral Society! The Oratorio Society re-
ceives no consideration at Mr.. Fnck's hands. al
though II is both larger and better than the Nih-
cinnat Festival Choir Singular. isn't II? 1t might
also be added for the sake of the verify and integ
rity Of history that the Cincinnati newspapers ana
public found out how deficient the chorus had been
Immediately the festival was over. and that the
did his best to bolster up the shaky institution by
quoting the opinions of Mr.. Finck In his annual
report was yet forced TO intimate that change OF
choirmasers would be made 1t was very good Oh
Mr. Finck TO come TO the rescue or the FESTIVAL
directors and Mr. Thomas In Cincinnati. where ne
wrote for home consumption and from the local
nont ~ view (Which has never been raised high
enough 10 enable the public 10 see over or around
the aureole on MI Thomas's head in Festival week.,
but TO reproduce such views In metropolitan pub
l,caton is not calculated TO add to the reputation
of the writer either for Judgment or candor neither
Mr. Thomas nor his Chicago orchestra. or Euro
pean opera singers drafted from the East. can give
the Cincinnati festivals National significance
That must be done by the chorus. and that chorus
and its friends including Mr.. Fnck must recognize
the fact that there many cho'rs IN the country
better than the Cincinnati choir-a Circumstance
which would be ntolerabe TO the festival manage
ment were It maintained for the greater glory OF
Cincinnati and music instead OF for the promotion
| OF Theodore Thomas whose blunder OF sixteen
years ago the president OF the association feels
bound 10 prove triumph In spite Of facts plain 10
| every honest observer
II might give the patrons Of the Metropolitan
| Opera House something to think about II they were
10 attend Of the performances at Covent Gar
| den In London. We are inclined 10 think that the
| rondon company Is the same the NewYork
and 50 II is interfnlttertIy 80 lar dS lHe
principal singers concerned But the De Reszkes
and Calva Nelha and Nordlcs fill out the
whole season across the water they DO here. but
| are engaged for only portion OF the time Mean
while shift is made with singers OF lighter weight,
| fgrratvely speaking Strange things happen every
| little while-thlngs calculated TO make one
think that subscription performances had got mixel
| I'D with our Saturday night "populars DE
Walkire" was given recently. The language used
| was French and Nine Manteli the Brtnn-
hide; Lola Beeth. the Siegnde: Mr. Alvarez the
| Segmund, and NJ Albers Wotan. Maneni az
| Brinnhilde! What CONSERVATION would follow such
| an announcement at the Metropolitan! But such
things are possible when The ST. Jamess Gazette"
can say of Lola Beeh that she Is one Of the chief
ornaments of the Imperial Opera House at Vienna.
"a decided acquisition to the Royal Opera Com
pany" and many parts in the Wagnerian roper
| tory might be named which no one could sing so
| WELL
The dispatches brought early word Of the success
| won by the Kneisel Quartet at its first concert in
| ST Jamcs's Hall The news Is completely con-
| 6rmed by the newspaper criticisms which have fol-
Lowell Mr. J. s. Shedlock. writing lin THE Acad-
| envy" says:
| We may have greater players at the Monday popu-
lar concerts. but. except on rare occasions they
| This excellent quality however would not suffice
explain the GENUINE hev pay IN addon Wits 1nS
marked intelligence. refinement and feeling; and II
| was a real treat TO listen TO them
THE Standard" says: "a finer ensemble could
| not be desired" 1.-THE Daily News: THE party
| may not possess a Joachim q Patti. but their
| performance OF quartets by Beethoven and Schu
mann must have afforded infinite pleasure TO every
| connosseur in the room" Tho Globe: Rarely
| has finer ensemble playing been heard here. and
the perfect balance Of tone and evenness Of exec,'
ton with which such work was given are entitled
| 10 the very highest praise THE Telegraph"
..raken Individually the performers though OF higt
| attainments may not be entitled to place In the
front rank Of soloists but that consideration Is no
| now much TO the purpose. We have to consider