The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-01-25
HE orr Ra.
Revival of - Meistersinger' At the Met
ropolitan Last Night.

wagner's comic opera. die MeistersinRer."
had not been heard In New York since Feb.
X. 1893. until II was revived last night at
the Metropolitan Opera House BY q
collection Of singers that promised a notable
performance Of II. The Hans Sachs of Anton
Van Rooy, first revealed last summer AZ Bay
reuth. has been awaited with interest. and
Fritz Friedrichs. famous as Beckmesso'. was
heard for the first time in this country.
Mmo. Schumann-Hc ink and NJ. Bertram
were new to Metropolitan audiences
as Magdoiene and Iooner. while in
the distribution OF the other parts there was
sufficient novelty to give them especial inter-
est. NJ. DIPPED. aside from his appearance in
one act Of the opera last winter with Nine.
sembrich. had not been heard here In some
years and when Nine. Eames appeared last
as Era II was In an Italian version
OF the opera which until last night had never
been given In German under the present re-
gims or that which Immediately proceed ed 1t
at the Metropolitan. These features gave
especial importance in last nights
revival. It was known. moreover. that
for two weeks Emil Paur had been
rehearsing the chorus and orchestra
with a thoroughness unusual at the opera
house. The announcement that the restora-
ton Of the music usually omitted would make
It necessary TO begin the performance half an
hour earlier than usual was evidence OF the
serious spirit In which the production was I'M
dertaken.
To many persons fond Of Wagnerian opera II
must have been encouraging to reflect that
among all the Interpreters OF the important
roles only two were not Germans, and that one
OF these had begun his career on the German
operate stage. This seemed at least
an assurance OF the valued German
spirit" more I'm portant, probably,
10 the correct performance Of this opera than
any other Wagner wrote. II may be interest
ing to recall that the last PRECEDING representa-
Metropolitan at a benefit to Emil Fischer, who
first revealed the beauties Of the, part here.
He has set a standard by which all his success
sors will have 10 be judged.
II may be said at the. outset that the per-
Torrance was. as "A whole. one OF the best
that the opera has ever had here. IL was, 80
eral desire to realize the composers intent
went. a vast Improvement not only over
@recent representations OF Die Meister,
the ayerae, Wagnerian performance given by
the METROPOLITAN forces IN nearly every detail
OF its ensemble effect. The results OF Emil
an the performance passed of with u%naccus-
toned surety and completeness, except for q
slight mishap at the e!ose o. the first act.
Anton Van Rooy's Hans Sachs claims atten-
ton first In the ordinary course Of events,
%i s,'H : last It mhs G' R RS a %Hs'' vi ff' rs I}s'p nsPaI
beauty Of tone marT Tss only ny hii j., T X p,ic
TIys "' Of the character @"s That he he was Wsa" ieast
sat sfactory. The kindness, tenderness.
s Ss1. a HHl AMI ,II s5Sny hI %n@mIsnaSlslY of ani F1 we're s' CO.
nature. 1t was e, Fritz Friedsrtchs, who sang
Beekmesse,. that the horrors ofthe neriormancc
were not exaggerated. The broadly comic
side OF tho character, was never so fully
and anm11singIy dte ,p here e w ter2re bs ana
reared. He accumulated amusingly the malsv-
olenre and pettiness OF the role, and his en-
tire performance possessed a drama,,c com.
was admirably suited 10 the sentiment Of
the music. Herr Bertram made q cara.
mann, wers in better hands than usual. Herr
Dippel sang. Waltier. and proved moderately
satisfastory in a roe Of Of regent w YEAR, arsoci sish
s;STsely sunisien, Tor tho role yI:' and
bis style q c s'na'hhfi n, ms, mo, adf Ar 70
psny that "Die Meistersinser" was possible
at oil this season. and the audience had reason
il for no other. His Performance. however.
commanded respect on It's own account.
Nine. Schunann-Hein added delicious
voice. Nine. Eames as Era did not seem to be
in her hest condition. which may have been
due TO the fact that she was singing the role in
German for the first time. In the third act she
was In better voice.
Mr. Paur kept the orchestra well under con-
troll and the chorus showed the effect Of his
discipline. But in his rea ling OF the score
there was less cause for satisfaction. He took
the tempo frequently Mt a rate which
destroyed much Of the beauty Of the music an!
there was often noticeable a lack OF light and
shade. OF rubato and variety without which
die Meistersinge ger can never possess its
greatest charm.