The times., 1899-01-06
AT THE GRAND OPERA.

The second Of the series of four PERFORM
anecs being given at the Lafayette this
week by the Ellis Grand Opera Company
occurred last night and with the same at
tending circumstances that had marked thu
earlier presentation. There were more peo-
pie present than there had been on Tues
day evening. and perhaps greater popular
enthusiasm. but these were the only pota-
Bile differences between the audience which
| heard Romeo and Juliet and that which
| listened to "Fannhauser" Outside Of the
theatre the same long line of carriages
| waited and inside the boxes were filled
aith the same array of welI-dressed women
and soberly attired men. And the applaus.,
that had greeted Melba and BoBnard on one
occasion was on the other contributed With
rs much readiness to Gadski and Dippel
| There is at least one plain opportunity
| Tor comparison between the two works 50
| far sung in this city by the organization
/ managed By AIR. Ellis. Romeo and Juliet
was Gounod's most pretentious effort and
! "TannhaUser is the least assuming of all
| Wagner's compositions At once his great
! est and his simplest opera. the musical set
! ting given the old German legend possesses
| more OF the element OF popularity than
anything that preceded or succeeded it. The
/ score is dignified and lofty-as are all those
| that have come from the mind and pen or
| the most independent master of his cen
I tuTy-but 1t nevertheless bears marks of
| concessions and compromises that are lack
! ing in "Parsifais and in eRheingoldt''-
even in "LOhengrin and The FLYING
Dutchman. The sort OF melody for which
Bach was so largely responsible and to
| which musicians of all ages have become
| used is more prevalent in this effort than
! in any Of the quartette just named and the
result is that while .'Tannhauser is not
inferior as a tone poem or for a single one
| of the characteristics which distinguished
| Wagner's work it appeals more to the gen.
| eral ear than is usual with his operas.
| Perhaps the most notable thing about
| last nights production was the excellent
| form Of the orchestra. which for the even
| ing was under the baton CT Walter Dam
rosch. The men were kept under perfect
| control and played with musicianly spirit
! and eloquence- Beth in the glorious
| overture which is so large a part OF
Taanhauser' and in the accompaniments
| following the organization proved itself
to be an individually talented and collect
I lively skilled body. The wild, impetuous
! harmony OF the overture has rarely found
better Interpretation in this city, while in
| the succeeding portions the orchestra dis
| tinguished without giving itself undue
| prominence.
The principals in the cast were. in the
main- deserving of the highest praise.
Gadski sang the role of Elizabeth with
ability and distinction Her tones are re-
markedly pure and clear, her method is
faultless and her enunciation delightful.
| She phrases with skill possessed by very
| few prima dCnnas on the contemporary
| stage and still displays in her renderfngs
| feeling and animation that SHOW the un-
| derstanding OF a true artist. She portrays
toe, with some degree of intelligence. her
work in the second act having been nearly
as commendable frem a histrionic point OF
! view as from q vocal one Andreas Dip
pei deserves almost equal compliment for
his delineation Of the title role. His voice
! is rich and resonant. Of fine timbre and
possesses power and vigcr Dippel is to-
tally without the harshness that mars SO
! many tencrs otherwise perfect Gerard
Stehmann was heard as Wolfram taking
the place Of Max Stury. who is credited
with the assumption on the programme.
Stehmann has robust baritone Of great
power and sweetness ard made a consid-
cradle impression by his earnest and faith
full singing. His rendering of the
glorious 20 du mein holder Abend-
/ stern was marked with tender
ness and passion and was most
heartily dpplduded \ Mr. Prfngie. OF New
| York, who is practically unknown in local
musical circles. tcCk the part originally
assigned Stehmann and dfd well with Il.
while Brandes was heard to advantage as
| Venus and Van Hocse. Rains. Cass and
! Lehman were east fer the roles of Walter.
! Biterclf. Reinmar and Heinrich Marie
, Mattield was the Shepherd
TaRnhaUssT" abounds in ensemble num-
bers, all Of which were admirably sung
[ by the chorus and particularly the male
| portion of that body. The men were in
fine voice and sang in perfect unison. dis
| playing spirit and emphasis. The Pill
grim's Chorus and The Mourner's
/ Chorus were both well given The pro-
| 1uction was adequately if not Iavishly
staged and costumed.
triple bill will be rendered tonight. in
/ which viii be included one act each Of
Wagner's Flying Dutchman, Bizet's
| Carmen, and Mascagni's "Cayalleria
Rusticara. The first will be sung in
German the second in French and rhe
third in Italian. In the casts are Gadski
Stury Stehmann. De Lussan, Pandolfiui,
Chalia and Bensaude