The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-01-02
NEWS OF THE OPERA IN EUROPE.
New York FavorIt~s Abroad-New PRODUCE
tions-The Late VI. Cnrvnlho.

The Mozart cyclus, which ended recently in
Berlin, brought out in the latest performances
two singers who are well known in New York.
One of these was Lilli Lehman, who returned
temporarily to the operate stage to sing Donna
Anna in Don Giovanni" and this she did with
her customary success. 1t was only at the end
of the Nibolungen tetralogy. sung last fall at
the same theatre, that Frau Lehman announced
that her future appearances would DO only
in concert. Since that time she has given
several ~rocitals. One thing that induced her
to take part In tho performance of Don
Giovanni was tho desire of the directors to
have the opera sung in Italian. The company
at the Royal Opera House in Berlin is immense
ly admired by local critics and Berliners. But
its strength to outsiders Is not SO evident. For
this "Dun Giovanni performance an Italian
baritone named DAndrade. who Is very popular
in Germany, had been engaged to sing the title
role. In order to make the production harInoni.
Gus, it was resolved to give the work throughout
In Italian. Our good-looking friend. Cremonini,
who has been singing this winter in Milan, was
engaged for Don Ottapio, q role which he has
sung several times in New York. But at the
last moment a succession of accidents
compelled the director to have the opera sung
in polyglot fashion. Signnr Cremonini was
taken i'll MS soon as he arrived in Berlin. One OF
tIlc Slbl i' 'hS ANbui phlphH llhA " Z
place him, and the text was sung in German
and Italian. Cremonini appeared at a later per-
Torrance and was very harshly criticised. 1t
was said that the local company contained
singers who would have been better In the role.
and anybody who knows tho personnel of the
Berlin opera can realize tho severity of this
opinion. Signor CremOnini's looks. however.
made their impression even on n German audi
ence. which was somewhat surprised at tho
atFhI nt nm (lfnlIn m n Nun A GIlt
One of the stories told of Herr POllini robs his
marriage with Blanca Binnchi Of some OF its
uunintance with her, of their subsequent friend
ship, and of the lawsuit which was suddenly
%onough;, but the peculiar circumstances that
About a year ago Pollini, through a series
to Very serious financial cmbarrassments.
Nine. Blanehi had made, some money
up son. AT that time she was not
nyerse TO taking a husband to herself who
presented himself at this juncture, and was &C.
cepted. The lawsuit pending between them
was, of course, brought TO an end. Mime. Bianchi
tho Stadt Theatre in Hamburg added a third
son to the two he already possessed. There has
Pollini killed himself. but such "a rumor is
likely TO start in Germany after anybody's
Otto Lohse, the composer and the husband of
the late Katharine Klafsky. has written a three
act COMIC opera called "A Prince in Spite Of
In Cologne and, other German cities. Leonca-
yallo has recently been in Buddpest to super-
intend the first performance there of his "BO-
heme," and his plans to secure the success of
the performance arc said to be remarkably thor
ough. II is said that he has gone over the mu-
sic on the piano, with every one OF the princi-
pals and with the chorus singers as well, in
order TO make clear to the singers his
own ideas OF tho tempt of the score.
Another story that comes out OF Buda-
pest asserts the right OF an opera singer
would injure his voice. A tenor who had sung
four heavy roles In succession was called upon 70
appear as LODe In "Das Rheingold." He pro-
duced a physiolRn's certificate TO the effect that
" would inture his voice. but hlA protests were