The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-03-24
TIE SEIDL TESTIMONIAL.
Proceeds About o18 ,BO0-Mme. sembrich's
Eva q Notable Eentnre.

The size Of the audience at the Metropolitan
Opera House last night was q great tribute to
the place which Anton Seidl occupied In tho
affections Of New York music lovers. II was.
moreover, "A splendid recognition of all
that Seidl had lone for the music "
Wagner In New York. The audience
was one of the largest that had assembled this
season, 1t was not made up OF the customary
patrons OF the opera. That 1t had come to
honor the memory Of the late conductor was
plain from its character. 1t was largely
German for one thing. and It was
musical in a sense that few OF the
Metropolitan great crowds are. The
performance OF Wagner's works under such
circumstances Is rarely OF u nature to satisfy
the most exacting artistic demands. Engaged
in the performance last night were some Of The
singers who had figured most gloriously with
MIR. Seidl in his career here. Foremost among
these was Nine. Iilli Lehman; and NJ.
Jean de Reszke. who began his career
as a great Wagner singer under Anton Seidls
direction. was another participant in the
operas. 80 was Nine. Marcella Sembrich an
Incompatible singer in another sphere Of lyric
art who had graciously dedicated her services
to the honor of the dead conductor and con-
sented to appear in one scene from Die Mcls-
trrsinger.' and who made her debut as Il Wagner
singer In the German language under the in
formal circumstance which the performance
demanded. Nine. Nordica was another in the
programme who was closely associated with
the later days of Mr.. Scidl's career at the Met
ropolitan. A portrait OF Mr.. Seidl hung ovcrthe
stage and another was in the lobby facing
the audience as il entered last might. The
proceeds OF til" performance. about Sl1.5m.
will h" invested in such q way that Scidls
%T Tiif%T TV viii fi9 no for W" II. 'Ef "%mGat i%r Of 5t's a sch1 no
arship Tor musical study in Columbia tniNer-
The first act Of ".~Lohengrin.' sung by. NM.
jean de Rcs2ke. rringle. Alhers. and MulI:
mann. and Mines. Nordica and Brema,, orened
]i"rm,aHss are too we'll Known IN their ex'Srl-
lsn,% e. rtImire prnisc now IN" same is tTn ~
%%ailEHSSrn'n.'' 'F who we're ., '"S n. '" Van az iso os and and
Mines Lehman. ,Brcma, Roudez, Bauermeis-
TER. Mriss,ngTr. Bach, pevny, MantelIi. krl;
funeral march. Mines, Lahmann and Peyny
The novel interest OF the evening was the
"IDDi"" M"ist"rsirgcr"' This marked not only
her first aprearance in this role but
I m"r?s mnsia her to as this s aI,Tt H H1 W onfy
other ,WaNnerian role is Eissa. which she
has hitherto sung only in Italian. although
man. The portion OF Die .Neistcrsing"r,,
given was taken from the third act. Edonard
J]acGucs Bars and ny M%e, Mi%issIinrer' sang
the other roles. Jean de Reszke has already
shown what the greatest art, OF singing can aG.
complish when applied to Wagncr'S music. II
remained for Nine Semhrich, as the consum-
mate mistress OF bel capto OF her day, t0eXhibit
what her lovely arr, and voic" would do, in the
music OF Era. The audience heard such
beauty of tone and finish Of vocal skill as the
part has never revealed at previous perform
ances. Nine. Sembrich may at some future
time be heard in the whole of the
opera. 1t would be difficult for. her
to make the whole imporsonation Of Era
more perfect vocally and more charming
in action than was the episode Inst night. 1t
WAS a triumph In a role which revealed a, new
phase of her talents in the same brilliant light
IN which thew have been exhibited in her pre-
vious performances.