New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-09
THE GERMAN OPERA SEASON.

Mr. Walter Damrosch's seAson Of German opera
began last night in the Metropolitan opera house'
Wagners die Walkire'' was the Work presented.
and in the cast were two dramatic singers who car
ried the memories Of many in the audience BACK %
some Of the most inspiritng moments OF ther IVES
They were Nine Lehman and Herr Fischer 70
whom dozen years ago fell the privilege oil create
ing the ideals which hundreds OF American opera
lovers will cherish all their lives OF Brunhhiide ana
Wotan. Exactly what this means ought to be I'M
derstood by all who wish 10 read the current history
of onera Alright II Is In complete accord with nat
ural laws that in the lyric drama the education OF
large proportion of the music lovers Oh Qua! -
proceeding backward from chrohoiogica' poin' '"
view There doubtless many IN the auuiehce
last night TO whom the strains Of Die Waikure
eourded moro natural and familiar than those OF
half a dozen Of the operas which made up the hrst
list in the history Of the Metropolitan opera Houss
would have sounded The delight wh'ch 'he! eA'
d. rienced was Of course inensined many 'oiu "
the familiar figures OF the old Germahic sou az"
his heroic daughter. Did they make com.
narisons between the performances then ana
now? They could little avoid that do
they could escape welling up ot "'.
which must have prompted leniency OF 'uosm.uf
had IL been called for. In the case OF NINE .ot
mann LET II be said at once that kindly CONSUMERS
ton was not asked. except. perhaps Tor momsus
n, the beginning Of the second act, wnen the c''@s
OF the Valkyria seemed to be uttered Win PaI
taking care instead of being hurled out WIN ne
VI
ence afame with enthusiasm. That erect VA
achieved again last night, and 1t required al tnS
devotion and decorum of a characteristically 0ers
man opera audience TO prevent an interruption "
the performance the moment the curtain was WINS
drawn on the second and disclosed the statue
osar,e figure Brtinnhide the rocks and W otau
looking ND 10 her from the level below. After
each iubilant outburst IL threatened interruption
again but the German traditions prevailed ana the
great singers delighted admirers were constrained
TO wait till the end of the act before bringing tne
tributes which hundreds OF glowing hearts were
eager 10 pay her. Richly deserved were they ALL
not so much by what she did in the first exciting
moments as in the queter moments OF great ora'
matte intensity in which the Nalkyr.a pleaded WIN
the god or with marvellous dignity and tenderness
combined proclaimed the fate OF the il-starE.o
Vosung In the scenes of this character. which
found their elimination in the farewell meeting be-
tween father and daughter the magnificent art VI
Nine Lehman, as actress and singer, shows az
radantly OF yore. and al lovers Of the Was'
merriam drama thanked the desperation which had
returned her to them TO yivlfy again its best ua'
ditions.
Herr Erauss the tenor who effected his metro.
politan debut as Siegmund. appeared under IN.
fortunate circumstances, for he was 80 hoarse tAss
Till late in the afternoon 1t thought by the
management that he would be unable TO sing. Ills
voice was badly affected. so much so that 1t would
be unfair discuss either its quality or his man
ner of emitting IT; but his appearance-a stalwar
and handsome igure-won him much sympathy
and yielded him a success which would indubitaoy
have been noteworthy in the annals OF opera had
circumstances been kinder TO him. Herr Fischers
voice neither as fresh nor as resonant as for'
merly but he bodied forth the familiar dramaco
conception and his work WAS received with graft
itude. Nine. Lehman found faithful and eTn'
Gent coadjutor in Nine. Gadsl<i. who sang beauti'
fully and acted sympatheticay as Sicgnde "
the others in the cast-that is, Frdulein Eioen'
schitz (Fricka) and Heinrich Hobbing iiundins)
the chorus of Vakyror. and the stage setting
and manag cement. little praise can be spoken. lhs
audience was numerous very attentive ana u.s.
criminatingy appreciatiye.