The sun., 1900-12-20
rms OssaA.
''Tasskssssv" otvsa East Evsssns wssh spssss
and Win rnthssasm


Tuesday save ~ the opening nish of ths
season, but last night tho nft real opera was
sung II was "rannhauser." and the per
formance was easily on levsl With the high
average maintained by Mr. orsu's German
contingent The house vas far from crowd
ed. hut then n was an enthusiastic one. and
enthusiasm Al an opera covers nulthud"
90 sins. though not the box office. Tn" cast
WAS a strons one Ternlns, Van Dych. Plan-
con. Susan Strong. Ollttks and Bertram.
Mr. Walter Damro.oh conducted. after an
absence OF some years from tho regular com
pany
"TannhAuser" stlll wears we'll. IL 10 full
Of honest and stoutly fashioned tunes and
II II Ia oks the mystic subtlety OF -Lohengrin.'
II compensates on the purely human Side
Hero there are no swans. or visitors from the
far-away land OF the Grail Venus 10 the
only superhuman. and Wagner has made her
into something that nearly approaches the
image OF n loving, desperate and despa~'hg
woman That TannhAuser did not go back
to the Horselberg to this fascinating Dame
Holda Ia one OF the things that no one but
a dramatist c'n nunderstand-sett'n aside OF
course the elaborate ethical scheme devised
by the composer The most lovable legend
seems more credible though IL would XIII
a very effective death scene.
The old-fashioned and extremely italian
portions OF the work are TO be found In some
OF the concerted numbers. The duo In the
second act "0epriesen sci die stund. 10 quite
In the vein Of windy Italian lyricism; ana
what could be more theatrical than the climax
Of this same act' But Wagner was fui
OF abounding vigor when he wrote the opera:
every bar Is stamped with energy and hre'
And he had greater melodio how In those
days, even though these melodies DO Dear
II strong family resemblance.
Whatever were the defects OF last nights
performance. they were more than over
balanced by the splendid enthusiasm dis
played There were few slips from curtain
20 curtain. and Mr.. Damrosch must be cred
tied with holding the orchestra In the hollow
Of his hand. There are certain conventional
shortcomings In the singing Of "Tannhauser
that must be always looked for. The chorus
OF pilgrms will sing of pitch. the stage trum-
pets must break. tho female chorus always
fattens. The overture was carefully read
by Mr.. Damrosch. There were few slips
in the wood wind and his brass at times
crowded the strings: but 1t is an excellent
orchestra. one OF the best opera orchestras
we have had for some seasons
II IL both precise and brilliant and always
ready for cliinacteric efforts. As the orchestra
IL the body Of an operatio organization
the singers supposedly the soul-there was
little 10 fault In last nights instrumental
music. Ternina was In remarkable voice
and played and sang the Elizabeth with con-
summate art. Her delivery OF the impas-
stoned greeting was a trife hard In tone and
strenuous in accent. but the strong mentality
Of this Czech singer soon made itself felt
and she gave her part In the duo with sin
cerity and pathos. Her appeal at the close
OF the act was very convincing She stlli
dresses tho part In the Teutonic fashion.
Van Dyck was the personltcation OF viSor,
The execution Of the title role according
10 his lights precludes the finer poetic shad-
ings, the sounding Of the tender note. But
dramatic passion is his strong card. and he
acted from his first utterances TO the end
with genuine virtuosity The defamation
81 the Roman pilgrimage was various in
gesture and atten tion-compelllnG That ms
singing is stiil the singing OF IAN Dyck neea
athlete who attempts with tmpunity any
violation of the normal rules OF the vocn!
art That the result s euphonious would
be expecting too much NJ. Van Dyck IL
energy In forcing his tones IL somewhat
initiated by his fiery temperament
Oitzka sang the Shtpherd Bop well but
she had cSMpossd s ,ns an IN
freedom, and She sang her diNicult measures
with more authority than last season. Plan:
CON was admirable as the Londordre and
nant baritone with excellent art. though his
The Us osel PARIS we're yS well ed FRI
day night "Lohensrin- is to be given.