New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-01-20
MUSIC.
THE FIRST GERMAN OPERA.

There were reminders OF a decade ago thah
OF last Monday night in the performance al the
Metropolitan Opera House last evening. The opera
was 'TSnnhauser" and II sung In German
There is no occasion 10 discuss the intrinsic or the
comparative value OF opera or tongue just now
the significant fact was that without the attractive
or compulsive influence OF either a FIRST night OF
world-famous prima donna. the audience was not
only numerous that OF last Monday 'meas-
urea by the office standard. we should say
more numerous). but immeasurably more enthusi-
astlc Wagners opera was listened 20 with an at
tenton almost reverential It's moments OF su-
preme vitality awakened n quick response IN inc
hearers which made itself irdubitably fet no'"l'h
standing that no efforts made TO Interrupt me
flow OF the music the progress OF the drama III
order 10 publish the emotions felt. Instead there
were demonstrations after each act compared 10
which the concentrated applause or last Mohu"y
like a lazy zephyr. Let the TACT De recoIue'
without further comment, lest Souls whose "'ieO
lions are too strong to tolerate hoeraIlty oe NJ
frighted The bearing Of the circumstance on the
probable outcome OF the season may be speculatea
on IKE closet communions
The representation In its externals was lhe Co'-
ventional one-the to which we are only 100
familiar But little was attempted with the nrst
act for which those who know Wagners intentions
and have suffered from the absurd attempts when
have occasionally been made TO realize them were
inclined TO gratitude Muscally. however Iauu-
able effort made 10 meet the requirements SCI
German
stead OF one superemnently good vocalist. there
were several very good singers and honest zeal was
manifest in the effort OF the humblest factor IN the
performance The orchestra, under the direction or
Mr. Damrosch was peculiarly eloquent. and II
one were to yield to impulse to laud every ono
whose artistic work commanded praise. the nrst
oboe and the horn choir would have 10 be remem-
bered. along with Nine. Gadski. Herr Krauss MI
Bspham Herr Fischer and Mr. Damrosch as the
chief contributors TO the pleasures OF the
evening Nine Gadskrs Elizabeth was an i'm
PRESERVATION full OF dramatic blood. in which
action and song systematically blended.
She embodied a poetical idea beautifully and
convinclngly AT once stimulating the fancy. warm
Ing the emotions and deghtlng the ear. Herr
Krauss's achievement strongest on Its vocal
side. He has yet to acquire variety. spontaneity'
Heterogeneous. grace Of action and until he does
he Will fall short Of the Wagnerian conception OF
a singing actor. That conception approaches close
to realization in Mr.. Bspham and Herr Fischer
newcomer on the metropolitan stage was Miss
Barna who essayed the extremely difficult role or
Venus She has not OWNED its meaning as yet nor
is her artistic stature commensurate with 1t IN any
OF its aspects: but she has vocal material WhlCn
capable OF development and Justnes more IMAM
ordinary expectations. BAD ntonation Is the pc
setting sin Of the operate stage the world over AZ
present, so let word OF COMMUNICATION De spohe"
also for the minor members OF the cast. Messr9
Van Hoose Siandlgl. Rains and Scheln. ana De
Miss hatfield remembered for an admrdnIe PleG1e
of work in the shepherds song 10 Dame foIua III
the first act Tomorrow evening there VIII De n
performance Of Die Meistersnser.