The times., 1898-01-30

tile artists have given uniformly mer-
| itorious performances. Their reper-
! toire for the past two weeks has been
| extensive. From 'Trayiata" TO "'Meis-
| tersinger" is a far cry. but the distance
was safely trayersed. Mr.. Damrosch
| is holding the heavier Wagner operas
| in reserve until the success of the sea
| son becomes assured. He viii later
| produce the ''TriIogy" at least once in
/ the regular order. and also Tristan
| On Monday Mime. Melba essayed for
| the second time, the first being in
| Philadelphia a few weeks ago, to sing
Aida" the opera marking the divid-
| ing line between VerdfS earlier melO-
dious attempts and his later music
| dramas. A criticism of Melba's dra-
| matte creations may be summed up in
a few words VocaIly she is perfect;
dramatically. she is lacking. 1t is the
same old story. and one is tired Of re-
peating it, Melba is such a supreme
vocalist--is charming. so perfect-that
even the rather insipid roles of Ro-
sina and ViOletta become interesting
when she sings them; but she should
be satisfied with these triumphs. with
out assuming a dramatic intensity she
does not feel.
NJ hos was the Radames. and NJ
BoudOureSque the RamfiS- AS on Sat
| urday, their singing and acting was
| impressive. Nine. Stella BrazZi. an
i American singer, was the Amneris.
/ Nine. Brazil has sung in Convent Gar
! den for a number of years. and has
| also appeared on the continent. She is
an actress of merit, and has an agreea-
/ bic voice of large compass SignOr
\ Campanari as AmonasrO was the real
/ ly central figure of the performance
| Thanks to the prestige Of the Gerry
/ Society. the children's dance was
| omitted. Signor BimbOni conducted in
| his usual mastery style. In his hands
/ the orchestra. without being blatant or
| intrusive. takes prominent part in
| the rendition of the opera.
On Wednesday night Nicholas Roth
| muehl made his first appearance this
| season, in Lohengrin. This artist, who
! was we'll received when here before.
| has grown broader and more finished.
| His voice, pure tenor, has gained
strength, and he has rid himself of
| the self-cOnsciousness hitherto al
| ways apparent in his acting. The Op-
era-the east of which was Madame
Gadski and Standigl, and Messrs.
Fischer Bispham and Standigl-was
probably the best production thus far
presented The soloists. chorus and
orchestra were at their best. and un-
der the inspiring baton Of Mr.. Dam
rosch, they gave a rendition of Wag-
ner's most lyric opera which has sell
dom been equaled in this city.
New York has had the uncommon
pleasure within a week OF listening to
two remarkable pianists, both Of them
playing TscaikowskIs cOncertOs. Jo-
seffy. who played TschaikOwskis first
concerto at the third concert Of the
New York symphony. is so well known
as scarcely to need comment. This in
comparable artist fifteen years ago de-
IL k7sr- 4 L.
his technical miracles; then he was
fairy-like in his renditions. The Josef
fy Of today is a giant He has lost
none Of his marvellous qUickness and
surepeSs of technique. none Of his deli
cacy and poetry, but he has grown
grand and powerful Withal He handled
the concerto as if he had been endowed
with the fire Of TschaikOwski himself.
and his tOne-always round. full and
singinS-was Paderewski-like in its
passion. As the brilliant, versatile, pro-
found master of the pianOforte. Josef
fy stands without rival.
On Tuesday evening Alexander. ST.
lotl. the Russian Pianist, appeared for
the first time before an American au-
dience in the Waldorf-Astoria concert
hall The pianist selected for his debut
the second concerto of Tschaikowski
a work he is said TO have studied with
the composer, who was his intimate
friend. Although an artists work is
not to be finally judged at these con-
certs, which partake more or less Of
the air OF a social gatheriuE-yet. un-
less all signs fail Siloti will be a sue
cess In personal appearance he *
very prepOssessing, without any Of the
eccentricities OF person or dress which
have served to advertise some of his
European predecessors. His under
standing Of the pianOforte is thorough.
hrsae a .sv,r II
and technique which even the sensa-
tiOnal Rosenthal might envy. are his
characteristics. His playing however.
seemed to lack that dash and vigor
Whlcn are so essentially part of the
Russian character, and OF which the
ponderous Rubinstsiu was so true an
Illustration. Slot so easily mastered
the enormous difficulties of the CON
certo-played the complicated chords
and passages with such an absolute
lack OF effort, that he gives the i'm
preston OF being without temperament
The public viii eagerly await his ap-
pearance on other Occa aSiOns and in bst-
ter-known compositions
The only novelty offered by the thea
terS during the past week was the pro-
ductlon of TIE Tree of knowledge
at the Lyceum. Opinions vary as tn
the merits of the play. which is now
making successful run in London
1ne Tribune critic. whose arraignmpDt
IS caustic in the last degree, is a little.
unfair 10 The Tree of knowledge
The main point of the play is that
there seems to be no reason for it's ex-
iStence- Ii is without morals ana
neither teaches nor amuseS
Rumor has it that Miss Lillian BIsu-
welt, the charming soprano who sail
ed on the steamer Fuerst last week
TO study for opera in Paris. was Sc
cretly married to William F. PendIeton.
a Chicago broker. Miss Blauvelt. or
Mrs Pendleton, whichever il may BE-.
possesses light soprano voice of ex-
eeedinS beauty and careful cultiva-
ton. She has won for herself quite
name as concert singer, and now in
tends to go on the operatic stage Her
voice, beauty and dramatic tempera-
ment are eminently suited to the light
er Italian and French operas of the
modern school
Another young American soprano,
whose excellent work has attracted at
tention is Miss Alice Nelson who will
be remembered among the leading So
pranos in THE Serenade." Miss Neil
son is to star next year in an opera
which is now being written for her by
Herbert and Smith She is pretty
diStractingly So-has a sweet voice. and
knows how to use it, a virtue not al
ways found among comic opera sing
ers. She is above the average as an
actress. and in the new opera her abil-
ity will have fun chance for display.
The opera will be given its first produc-
ti0n in New YOrk-DFObabIY ar ttE