New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-11-21
A PARIS "MEISTERSINGER.'
IMPRESSIONS OF THE FIRST PERFORM
ANCE OF WAGNER'S GREAT COMIC
OPERA IN THE FRENCH CAPITAL.
Paris. NoYemher u.

Paris. November r.
The production for the first time in Paris Of Was-
ner's comedy The MeistcTsnSer Of Nuremberg
NAV no regarded as landmark in French operati,
annals ard has been the signal on the one mana
for q genuine outburst of enthusiasm on the part
of the French admirers of Wagners music anu
has also famed the pickering flame OF hostile CRUZ
ctsm which is avowedly Influenced by the com
posers nationality for OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES anu III
ability TO place appropriations OF entirely above
INV geographical or political considerations sun
unfortunately characterize 4 portion or the runs
fan musical public Taken a whole, however
the verdict OF Paris now concurs win 'he J"us
ment long since pronounced by the rest VI Wv
world that the "MesteTsnger' is A masterpiece Ut
modern musical composition. The earnest hde-
fatigabe devotion which the managers sile0l'
musicians and mechsnicians of the PARIS ui"l ..
Opera manifested in the eminently success1u' way
an which Wagner's great comic opera WAS oi0"s'''
out last Wednesday is admitted by ever!
Those familiar with Wagnerian prOductoh9 d. 'N'
reuth Ncw-York, London Berlin Nlt""' GU
Munich say that the 'MeisersinGer mas HcNe
been Interpreted and staged VIII" si'0
than or Wednesday night , -
Herr Won Gross the official repreSenta'Ve u
Wagner's heirs, was present AT 'ne pei -,
and at the clio Sc OF the second act salu' II 10 ~,
possible for TO express my oohip'V'o
ment and delight. i never supposed Il "o'.u -
possible TO produce the Mestersnger AT fdliS
,,,,h sncb SKIN and truthfulness," and. turning 10
NJ Cailha-d the senior manager OF the frelch
Academy of Music he added: ALLOW me- III pehai'
of Nine Wagner, to congratulate you host mean NY
upon the admirable manner in which you nave III
troduced the Mestersnger' 70 the trench PuoH'
II is impossible to conceive how scenes OF almost
insurmountable difficulty can be given Will SUI"
precision power and exube.ant life.
NJ Gailhard has certainly spared no pains ior' III
view Of his task, no visited during the las' 'hie'
years every important theatre in Europe Where 'ie
from each tho good points which appealed TO his
excent,onal gifts as a master of stage setting ana
choral masses and 20 his knowledge or orche''ra-
ton and operate effect. 1t may be rememoered
that shortly after the original productioa Oh t"e
"Meistersinger" ut the Cour; Theatre OF iunic"
in June 1865, Wagner. losing patience with the ueI
man Beckmessers IN real life Their quite numerous
took by the hand NJ victorin Jorcieres-one Of the
FOR the occasi0nHand exclaimed in French, "Je
cros bien que jo sera jamais vralement colhpIis
GU en- France This paradox. however, Low SHOWS
signs of some day becoming truth. -,our,a,oo
most remarkable Beckinesser ana tne sia aho
Sachs of Delmas in every way worthy OF xt Ille
lent Walther. but at times he did MOI NAMES n eS
sonihed a character which Eve. compares to DAVID
Staying Goliath Mile BTeyai w 5o an birb does not
eut her massive physique so well as that OF Bru ~
these performances been increased by eighty
voices. and twenty mustiapS hSff DeTs dpecton
is said by some critics 10 lack somewhat IN HEM
bility and litheness. The audience was apprte-
eiative and enthusiasc and on the occasion OF ins
first performance the writer happened 10 pc seated
near NJ. vic;orien sardou. who t appls s most
vigorously and was outspoken in his PRAISE nj,
Those anti Wagnerites who stu exist IN Ialis
re ready TO admit the excellence or the execution
and stage setting but complain that three-IouTlns
Of the Parlsians who pretend to admire Aghe.
do 40 merely because IL happens 10 be the lash!Vn,
or out of pure 'snobbism." a critic Writing IN the
"Figaro' SAYS that he noticed nvs persons asieSp
within a radius OF six yards of his seat An arscle
in io-days "Gaulois entitled "Profane Renee
lions" SAYS that formerly a musician was Simply
n poet with two ears and heart. Now, however
he must be provided with bra In OF arthcia ue-
Velopment which gives rise to the new ana iash
ionable disease called 'meloceph nus, con.alhlns
eernos Of philosophy mathematics ana chemistry
As philosopher, the modern musician mas osi
"a music an aggressive personality ana esot,sm'
as a mathematician he has evolved the uiSohp pls
ctry Of the double quaver. and as cheHisl ne nts
puverized the chord OF major IN me Wnhar
,nnrtari IL is now a crime 70 speak OF Neoti,
Auber or BoIeideu! Bayreuth has BECOME NE 1nr
Mecca of these meoma macs. ana ftlcharu eSi,ci
is their demigod and is this partly because
he once wore a Teutonic tip TO his helmet?
Such criticism speaks for Itself. ana Is la' SA
annie OF most Of the hostile expressions caIieo
forth by the undoubtedly brilliant success OF the
nrodnctjor in Paris OF Wagners great comic opera
The immortal qualities of which we're on ednes-
day night for the first time proclaimed D! the en-
iiohtened public opinion of France.