New-York tribune., 1899-01-10
MUSIC-THE DRAMA.
A NEW ORTRUD IN "LOHENGRlN.'

The Ingenious plan which Mr.. Grau is following
this season OF putting element OF interest
into each repetition bore splendid fruits last night
when "Lohengrin'' was given, with Nine Schu-
mann Henk as Ortrud. Associated with her was
Nine. NordIca who sang the part OF Elsa for inc
first time this season. Jean de Reszke as the hero
Edouar1 de Reszke the King and Mr.. Bispham
Telramund. II rs fortunate circumstances
that such n cast was not precipltated wholly new
upon the New-York public II IT had been II wonid
have threatened to create standard OF Judgment
which even a dozen Graus with al their pieni-
tude OF enterprise and generosity would have touho
it difficult TO live up to hereafter As II was. the
exquisite work OF Nine. Nordica land none OF our
Elsas have sung the dream-recitai and the balcony
song as she sings them with such opulence OF tonaI
beauty such swee: simplicity. such unders'aho
ing OF the nature to which Wagner gave voice IN
his creation). the chivalresque manness ana mu
sical perfection Of Jean de Reszke the sorority ana
dignity OF " Edouard's King. and the nne decia-
nation and marvellous enunciation OF Mr. Bispham
can all be passed over as things which the thou
sands who enjoyed them last night could accept as
a matter OF course and without an expression oi
special wonder. Fortunate public. destined to De
tho envy OF future generations.
The particular interest in the occasion centred
In Nine Schumann- Henks .mpersonation or
Ortrud. the character which Wagrer said hc nae
designed az the type OF loveess woman. IL that
feature OF Ortrud's nature has It's strongest exem-
pl:acation In its pagansm then Nine. Schumanh'
Henk realized It as It has seldom been realized IN
her Invocation OF the old Teutonc deites IN the
second act Candidates who ask for the adnira-
tion OF New-York in the character OF Ortrud 10
not walk upon path Of roses. To connne the
record 70 the performances at the metropolitan
Opera House memories are still alive OF Nine.
Fursch- Nad Fraulien Brandt and Nine. LilIi Len
mann In the part. and they are memories wncn
arc no. easily clbowed out OF the way. The ex-
celIences OF those impersonations need not be
either deprecated or ignored In paying tribute 10
Nine schumann-TIeink. reputation calculated
TO set high tho pegs OF expectation had preceded
her from Germany and more especially from bon-
DON and that expectation was not disappointed;
vet we can easily believe that she was not either
at her best or in her best role last night Ortrud
4. as cruelty difficult part sing as II is 10 act
Wagner gave no heed 10 the natural limitations OK
the human voice when he wrote It: 1t was an ex-
traordinary character in his dramatic scheme, ana
he dema nded that she be also an extraordinary ons
In his musical Voices capable OF reaching lis
depths and It's heights and remaining true ana
beautiful as well as dramatically expressive. are
rare Nine Schumann- Heinks may he said 70
belong in that category but It's high register ~ oy
no means as beautiful as her low (Which Is ex-
ouislte in IL. union Of volume and quality, ana
when she wins admiration for the passages IN
which Wagner thought neither OF contralto nor
soprano but only OF his Tristan creation. half
woman half witch and all wickedness personihed.
she comp,ls ~ by virtue OF her thrilling use or
tonal color her giving out OF Wagner's ideal which
she has absorbed completely. Her work last night
kept the corridors buzzing with enthusiastic ejacu-
lations between the acts.