Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-15
ADJUSTMENTS.

| 'LOHENGRIN.''-Wag carly opera
"Lohengrin.' which marked the beginning
| of his departure from the accepted school
of music, from the melodious arias and
concerted work of the Italian composers,
was presented last night at the Lafayette
Square Opera House by the Damrosch- Ellis
Company. 1t was Damrosch night, and
| the young conductor added new laurels to
the wreath that belongs to him as the
| apostle and exponent of the great German
| composer. The whole performance bore the
impress of his Interpretation, and it's great
| excellence was tribute to his indefatiga-
hie work in behalf of wagnerian opera 1t
| was rather surprise that the audience
| was not larger, although the rain was in
Ia large degree accountable for the absence
| of many, but "Lohengrin'' is very popular
| here, and never has it been Civ en- in a more
| thoroughly satisfactory manner than was
the case last night All the principal roles
| were in competent hands Ernest Krauss
| was easily the hero of the occasion, as he
| IN the same part last season were prepared
for excellent work, but he seems to have
| developed since then, and his voice was
| even stronger, fuller and more resonant
| 1t is the most satisfying tenor that has
| been heard In German opera in many years.
| IT'S resources seem to be inexhaustible, its
tone Is rich. vfrile and vibrant, and in it's
| upper register 1t has lyric quality He sings
| with perfect ease and phrases with true
muslcianly intelligence. Mr.. Krauss' phy-
steal endowments made him an ideal Lo-
nengrin. Tall and splendidly proportioned.
| it was easy to imagine him the knight of
| the Holy Grail, the embodiment of all that
| was noble and true
| Nine. Gadsky was equally effective as
Elsa, ana invested the part with a SIM
| plicity and delicacy that was remark ably
| attractive. She has been seen in the same
| role before and the anticipations of those
VINO mad heard her were fully realized.
while those who heard her for the first
| Tune We're charmed, not only by her sing
| ing, but by her graceful acting
David Bispam was the Frederic, and gave
to the part all the dramatic power that
II demanded, while he sang with force
and effect, his rich baritone voice being
| heard to good advantage. He was ably
| seconded in his work by Nine. Staudgl
who gave fine Interpretation of Ortrud.
| IN the duet in the second act these two
fully deserved the applause that followed
| their efforts. Emil Fischer made a maies-
| tic and impressive King Henry, his noble
bass voice being heard with great pleas
| ure, and Mr.. Staudigl was unusually good
| as the Herald. The chorus sang with good
| volume, but at times was rather wobbly
| Too much praise cannot be given Mr.
| Damrosch for the exquisite work of his
orchestra. He had his large force well in
| hand ard seemed to infuse into all the
| members a portion of his own enthusia sm
| Not only in the preludes to the acts, but
| also through all the mastery accompani-
/ ~
! ion, an intelligence of phrasng and a
| finish that was delightful and worthy of
the highest commentator. Tomorrow
Carmen will be given, with Seygard in
| the title role.
| BOSTON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
The second of this seasons concerts of tn.
Boston Symphony Orchestra drew to the
| Lafayette Square Opera House yesterday
afternoon a good-sized audience, who lis
| tened with every demonstration of pleasure
| to the marvellous playing of this splendid
| organization. 1t is a question that has not
| yet been determined whether matinees are
| as profitable investments as night perform
| ances, but 1t was a case of HobsonS choice
for Mr.. Gomez this season. as he could not
break into any theater for his series at
| night. The rule that has obtained ever
| since this orchestra first came to Washing
ton of closing the doors the moment Mr..
Paur raises his baton, and not admitting
any one until that number on the pro-
gram is completed, is still adhered to, and
| those who desire to listen to the whole
| program should be in their seats on time
| crowd in the lobby waiting for the finish
| of the first movement of Dvorak'S SYM
l.hony, and, while a few grumbled, the
| large majority of those who came late ad-
mitted that it was their own fault and
quietly abided by the custom. The pro-
| gram selected by Mr.. Paur contained moth
| ing that had not been heard before, but
\ there is not a selection that has been play
ed by this admirable organization that can
| not be heard with pleasure more than
| once The first number was Dvorak' $
| American Symphony" wrongly named, for
| it is founded not on American themes. but
| upon African melodies of the voodoo char
acter In the development of these Dvorak
| has shown his great ability as a composer
and a master of harmony and orchestral
| effects. The Interpretation Of the SYM
phony by the orchestra brought out its
capabilities both as to delicacy Of treat
ment and exquisite finish as in the Largo.
and as to its ability to do rapid and furious
work, as in the final movement. The other
orchestral numbers were the Peer Gynt
Suite, by Greig, which was undoubtedly
the popular success Of the program. with
it's beautiful and weird melodies, and Beet
| hoven's overture to "Egmont," which was
played with majestic effect. The soloist
| was Mr.. Staudigl, who sang Polyphemus'
| aria from "Acis and Galatea," and an aria
from Spohr's Faust" both in good style.
THE LINDSAY CoURsE.-The opening
entertainment of the LINDSAY course oc-
ours next Monday evening at Central Hall,
when the famous novelist. F. Marion Craw-
| ford, will deliver his new lecture. entitled
Leo XIII in the Vatican" and there will
probably be as much interest in the person
| ality of the lecturer as in the subject, for
Mr.. Crawford is considered one of the
most interesting personages among the lit
erary men of the present day. On the lee
| tEre platform he has an unusually distin-
| guished appearance for he stands fully six
feet tall, and his features, while cast in
| an Intellectual mold, are strong and manly.
| His voice is full and well modulated, but
| his delivery is almost wholly devoid of
dramatic or Evolutionary effect and unac-
| companied by gestures. He simply talks in
| a pleasant, conversational way. Mr.. Craw-
| ford has lived in sunny Italy, in torrid In
| dia, in rural England, among the Alban-
ian mountains and the Calabrian vine
yards, and he has lived much in America.
! which, after all, he considers his home. He
says he Is fond of Americans and he re-
marks that every time he visits America
| he can note marked progress in art. Gull
| ture and literature. He is universally
proficient as a linguist, and among the Ian
| guages in which he has perfected himself
are sanscrit, Russian and Danish Mr..
Crawford will preface his address with a
| sketch Of the Vatican in the time of Pope
Plus TX. In speaking of Leo he says "he
Is of the same type of man as Lincoln and
| Gladstone. 1t is a common saying in Rome
| that those who were received by Pope Plus
came forth from the audience in tears,
and that those who come forth from an au-
dience with Leo wish to go straight into
battle" Season tickets may still be had at
Droops. The sale for the Crawford lecture
opens Friday morning.
|