The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-01-20
THE OPERA.
An Excellent Performance OF '~'Tanuhauaer
by the Damrosch-E Ellis Troupe.

by the Damrosch- Ellis Troupe.
With tho opening chords of the glorious
"Tannhauser" overture last evening in the
Metropolitan anne an indefnable sense Of Sc
curity, n sort of prophecy OF good things to
come. And this forecast was amply borne out
by subsequent results. for the entire per-
Torrance was unusually perfect.
No more brilliant rendering of the prelude
has ever been given. Tempt were right, the
balance between the various choirs of instru-
ments was excellent, the rising and falling of cres-
cendo and diminuendo had proper size, weight
and proportion, while there was a certain dash
and crispness about the whole that won a pro-
longed round of Applause before the curtain rose.
Nor did the first act fall short of the rare
standard set by the overture. OF PcnuSes we
have had many. seldom, however. as
commendablo q one as Mime. Barna's
Interpretation offered us. She quickly
made apparent two facts-that she has
q brain that thinks kecnly. also that she
has dramatic instinct. To these were added
a voice OF considerable beauty guided by n
worthy method. She did not overact. her poses
were graceful. and in everything she kept the
exceedingly high standard that the other artists
of the cast held. The list OF singers follows:
Elizabeth .Gadski
Shepherd MattfeId
Tannh.user Fi kraas
LailbN 49, "
Wolfram Bisgham
Walter, e " a moTS1
Reinmar .,..,,. .',,,,..,'..' Rams
Heinrich .schein
Thus they stood upon tho handbills. The art
lists have all lost their first names and even their
middle names. But in these short, busy I'M de
steele DAYS one name Is enough either to hear or
to say. and, besides, there Is both q novelty and
style about this way that counts Tor s"mGtning;
conccde that no previous performance OF Tam
hnuser" has ever been so perfect, not only In
each mechanical detail but in the smoothness
with which things moved upon the stage and
in the deep feeling of sentiment which
posed well, every one made adequate by.play.
every one was on time, and no one was either in
attentive, awkward, or incompetent, A
last night, could not fail to receive the
best possible impression. Herr kraus yer,
chief songstcr all, those Gathering things
that enthusiasts had spoken OF him, but, which
He SUFFERED from continual hoarseness when no
evidences Of study NC for his t tonss n arc
duccd, and his dra nU,tie work has
more Of dignity than before. He Is very free in
lie evidently looks deeply into the character he
portrays. and realizes subtletics OF emotion as
t ho' 04 Then the his s's voico Is S''s so lS are "G so VI T.
brant and SO sympathetic In quality that 1t be-
comes a delight 10 listen from note TO note.
than this grasp upon his audience q singer can
hardly expect to accomplish.
both Herr Fischer's LdndgrGJ and Frau
Gadski's Elisabeth are well-known renditions.
but 1t is only fair to state that both are better
finished r0les than formerly Gadski has lost
greater suayity and is broader in defamation.
Much was expected from Mr.. Bispham's inter
and much was got. In appearance he was
quite the ideal knight and IN manner also. Il
figure upon the scene at all times and his In
fuence powerful in the drama, so that his out
lines should DO strong.
by using stronger forward resonance, and-an al
most unheard Of occurrence-ho was often q
shade. "a tribe, below pitch. Mr.. Damrosch and
the men of the orchestra, and indeed every soul
that took part In last nights performance, may
felicitate themselves upon O grand presentation
| Of one OF the most beautiful operas that was ever
or will ever DO written.