The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-01-30
OUR FIRST WAGNERITE.
-gr rARLrPERFoRMANcEs OF THE
UIGYER OPERAS IN NEW FORK.

Tho Production or .. LohonGrinn In the Far
ye.,-Unsuccessru Outcome OF the Venture
-.Don Cnrios, Fails when Sung Here First
Tho musical world has lost a very much es-
..ored gentleman in Adolph Eeuendorf, who
diod several weeks ago at the ago of 90. He
mos , distinguished musician. a successful com.
noscr, and one of tho best instruments and
nncrntic conductors. His untimely death re-
minds mo Of tho Wagner festivals which were
EVEN here and in Boston in March, 1s77-at
bis suggestion. Until that time only spasmodic
attempts had been made to introduce examples
~ Wagncr's genius and illustrate u upon the
American stage. But ali endeavors had failed
IN do Justice to the great art embodied in the
,,ructurc OF his music dramas until my friend,
Mr., J. c. Fryer, at great risk. organized an eN.
ce,lcnt company. In this were comprised
many fine artists of the German lyric stage,
and Mr.. Fryer engaged as the star of tho com.
many Nine. Eugenia Pappenheim, who was
then the representative prlma donna Of the
Wagner school. and was fortunate in engaging
the most valuable services of:Mr. Adolph Neuon-
dortY. the first eminent Wagner conductor in
America, who enjoyed the advantage not only
nj having assisted at waRner's late festival at
Rsvrcuth. when his chief work, "The Ring
of the Nibelungs,'' was produced with such
memorable effect, but was also honorcd
with copies of the score. together with special
instructions from the composer concerning its
reproductions in the United States. Since
the extraordinary success Of the test production
Of Tagner's crowning work at Bayreuth in the
summer OF 1876. In no part Of the world had
the Wagner theories Of lyric art in the new
form Of opera found more enthusiastic accept
ance than in this country, Notwithstanding
the defective manner in which they had pre-.
viously been presented to the public. There
fore the manager as well rs the musical direc.
tor, with an immense degree of confidence. re-
lied for the costly and difficult enterprise on
The liberal cncouragementsof the musical public,
whose advanced taste at that time 1t was their
ambition to crafty through a'meritorious pres
~entatioa Of the following operas, then given
for the first time in a complete form, and with
adequate scenic effects and accessories. The
operas were "Dic Walkure'' from the Ring of
the Nibelungs, THE Flying Dutchman." Tam
hauser,' and "Lohengrin." Thus it will be
seen that the credit and honor Of intro
ducing the first Wagner works in this country
belong to the bold enterprise of Manager ]. G.
Fryer and that vel. Unknown and most versatile
conductor, the late Adolph Nouendorff.
The large company Of trained artists was
indispensable to the Interpretation Of the Wag-
ner operas, and they were fortunate in being
able to engage q valuable array Of artists. The
most prominent among them was the dramatic
prima donna Mime. Pappenheim. She had
sung the role Of Sentd in THE Flying. Dutch.
man in 1879 in Mannheim, when Richard
Wagner attended the performance The COM
poser was so impressed with her impersonation
that he complimented her through the press in
the following terms: Tho fair-haired Senta
Of Nine. Pappenheim was delightful. She was
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