The sun., 1898-02-03
! rnn ornnA.
Psrfsrnance ef "The EIytnr putehuaun al
the naeerspoittnp.

There are perhaps but few people In the world
who would be Rlad or even willing to plead
guilty to the charge OF possessing too little
imagination or too small an nmount OF poetic
feeling. However. if such there be, who having
confessed, would enlarge the boundaries of these
endowments lot him quickly study the llbretto
OF Der Fliegende HollHnder," and forthwith
hasten to witness a performance of this opera.
In fact, any one Of WaRner's mystical mythical
musical legends would in time accomplish
this feat. no matter how difficult the
pupil might prove, and Wagner to the inculca-
ton OF fancy in the next generation is as
potent an influence as the bicycle Is
to the physical wcllbeing Of tho COM
ing man and woman. There is q dreamy
beauty ana q subtle ovasive charm about tho
Flying Dutchman that, like some of the love.
Hest wild flowers of tho woodland, must
bo sought out with care and patience in
solitude and In silence. Those who study
Wagner from literary standpoint In his
character of poet. as one would study
Shakespeare, will discover how. in his per-
sonaRes and the events that occur In their lives
he typiHes the great laws or the chicf crises Of
human life. For instance, both Elsa and Settd
dream prophetic visions of their coming low
era. "Absufd." unlikely" impossible" +"
says the matter.of-fact man who ought
to 60 to the opera and doesn't. But
no, dear sir-cvery young girl, yes. and some
The coming Of their ideal hero, as these two
that young men could sometimes therefore
model themselves upon the pattern Of Lohen-
to low spirits upon slight diseoMragement. No
signal crisis OF life exists which Wagner has not
described or illustrated. As q poet alone he
stands among the foremost in All the world.
- Among other admirable qualities MIR. Walter
m nnQ INV md in
tion for the purely romantic in art. From his
leading Of the opera IL would seem that Der
our Soans eondastor Ts true Re allowed
tho bass drum to boom like a large.sized
every purpose. and been far better in regard Of
consistency and proportion. But 1t was Just
such little bursts Of enthusiasm that led us to
The entrance of the red-sailed ship was splen-
that made the blood tingle or curdle. according
TO the degree of nervous prostration OF the lis.
s. SS ss or s
under the spell Of "Amerlcanitis." At all
this was Of the telling points Of last
rattling storm, fierce thunder and natural
lightning all combined most perfectly to create
the Senta. 1t is difficult to find fault with Nine.
Gadski. for she is an artist Of strong and steady
outlines Of a role with correctness always,
but one could often wish for moro detail
well as for paSiIay Sso .Sa
stern monotony to which she compels attention.
iSentds music Is dramatic, and it seemed to tax
Gadskis powers even more than either Elsa or
Elisabeth.
Bispham sang the part of the Dutchn,dn with
much expression, but the music is too low for
his voice in some portions of the score. His
costume. wig, and makeup were. how.
ever. extremely unbecoming. and detracted
his Interpretation. Herr Breuer's Eric was
not q pleasing or satisfactory rendering. His
voice Is cultural and be is by no means compe.
tent to fall part which. though not o long one.
ought to be sung by flrst-cass tenor. Van
Hoose as the Steersnidn showed o vastly supe-
rior voice-one of real beauty.
Tho performance was good on tho whole,
showing care in preparation and earnestness Of
effort from all concerned