The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-02-21
OPERA SEASON 4 SUCCESS.
The Leniont PubIic Very Liberal in Its
Patronage.

The season of opera at the Metropolitan Opera
House closed on Saturday afternoon with a per-
formance of "G6tterdammerung," and the
scantily attended concert last night can scarcely
be regarded as u part of that successful five
weeks which commenced on Jan. II. Messrs.
Damrosch s. Ellis must have been in a measure
surprised at the financial success Of their season,
which counted in the twenty-one performances
given but few houses that were really poor.
As O rule tho audiences were very large. The
attendance was about equally divided between
the widely different classes of music which the
company sang. "G0tterdammerung" was sung
at the matinee before q largo audience. So was
lies Huguenots' on Wednesday night. Nine.
Melba sang Rostna to . large house. and Mime.
Nordica in die Walknre" was listened to by
as many persons.
hand and the Wagner works on the other could
be determined only BY an accurate knowledge
In the absence of them. something may be
learned from the frequency with which the
different operas were sung; The season opened
and the other operas Of the repertoire were
N"Tannhaaser.., three times; pie M@elster:
three times; Der FlieEende Hoilander.i' once;
once; "sieEfried." once; "Die Gotterdammer
ung." twice; Les Hugnenots. once.
On0 performance OF IAnn0auBer was given
at a popular performance on Saturday night
and die Meistersinger' was sung on a Tues
day evening for tho benefit of Emil Fischer. On
sung. The composers represented were: Wag-
ner By twelve performances. Verdi by two. Ros-
" ons. -Four Sunday night concerts were given.
Those at which lime Media sung were attended
by large audiences. but the other two were
The performances were not up to the level
established by the recent seasons at the Metro
ering OF eminent singers. as the Metropolitan
S%G%Psn dSa hare NorS,d recently snd yM% s9n kIaSsI Fi Mibss.
usual standard. NJ. Kraus. who has Q great
reputation in his owp country, has failed after
fsH sS sisSoss x m IN o1s any p sgfornaS4ts5 Of ,%P GSttsr.
dammerung" he was more highly praised than
Nine. Media in two now roles. aida and Ro;
sfna, and Mime. Nordica as the Brunnh itde Of
"Gotterdkmmerung.' and Die Waiktire"
Aida gained little praise. and she did not repeat
the attempt, The opera was announced Tor a
%Ss,t to the e neW rSie promptly "apt tHf brought ought " a Change
In the programme and I" Romeo ct Juliette''
was substituted. Nine. Nordica's new Wagneri.
yet to what she has hitherto accomplished In
this same direction; AT the Saturday matinee
has not been in good vocal condition at any time
The Damrosch s. Ellis Company hired some
- Wv WV az hnS D'b Soat 80
its own costumes. In this last respect the pro.
auctions were least satisfactory. II could, not
BIO expected that a travelling company. would be
as well supplied with costumes as the Metro
politan, which Is not particularly strong in that
direction. But the costuming OF this company
was unnecessarily poor. For. operas such as
"G6tterdammerung," that have not been
done at the Metropolitan by the regular COM
pany. the scenery WAS woefully inadequate.
There was no particular compensation for this
deficiency, either, in the way the stage manager
made use of his scant materials.
The orchestra was the individual feature of the
performance most praised and most deserving
Of 1t. The performances were reviewed with
great consideration and clemency by the press.
which realized, as the public did, that opera
even with some disadvantages was much better
than no opera at all. The season proved that New
York viii. not, go through a season without
operate diversion of some kind, and everybody
Is glad that Messrs. Damrosch & Ellis reaped
the reward OF their enterprise and met with
financial success.
The company opens its Boston engagement
tonight. After visiting several other cities the
Company, will be divided; Mime; Melba and Mr.,
number Of cities. and Walter Damrosch will
lead the. WaRnerian contingent through the
New York towns. The company will not sing al
the Metropolitan Opera House next winter.