The age-herald., 1901-11-01


 remember Damrosch as assistant director of the German opera in New York, in the eighties, when his conducting was not satisfactory. But be is a different musl- clan now, He Is great, and Wednesday night he was as reposeful and masterfdl l thought, as Theodore Thomas. The per- sonnel of the orchestra was fine. I do not believe there was a second-rate player in 1t. I have. often heard orehestras at the Metropolitan Opera House that were nothing like so good. I never heard an orchestra anywhere in New York that was better.
 'As Grau Is succeeding financially well in his tour through the South, It is hoped We will have him again next season. Birmingham will certainly have Wagner ian performances from time to time. The start has been made and interest in Wagner grows right along. The opera goers of this city should bear in mind then and there Is no place for applause in work by Wagner. This fact was one of the great masters art principles Wagner rolled in his grave, know, when the audience applauded open scenes in Lohengrin. By this applause some of the most beautiful orchestral effects were en- tirely lost"
 Criticism Met His Views.
 Benjamin Guelenberger: "The Age Herald's criticism of the Lohengrin per- formance met my views in the main. It praised where praise was duo and pointed out certain defects. It overlooked one or two cuts, however, which I would have mentioned had been writing about the opera. For instance the Fred erick accusation incident, in the fifth scene of the second act. was cut out en- tircly. And before that scene the beauti- full trumpet calls were omitted. Why, cannot imagine
 Coming to the principals, Miss Bride well, considering 1t was her firsts appear anoe as Ortrud did fine work She has glorious voice and when she learns to act. she will do with more experience she is sure to rank with the worlds most famous stars.
 Tt was a surprise to, me that Sem brich, the greatest colorature soprano in the world perhaps, should haev consented to. sing Elsa. a role that does not suit her and which she wisely does not count in her repertoire. As The Age-Herald said she rose at times to great heights, and her acting was always strong and artist-like; but she should sing. only in such operas as the Barber of Seville "Fraviatas' Lucia" etc. In those operas she is supreme.
 SembrIch Mistake.
 Whoever insisted on having Sembrich cast for Lohengrin, when we could have had Flames or GadslSi could not have been versed in the operatic business. Then again Sembrich has neither the 1.-the figure to look the part nor the Wag- nerian quality of voice to cope with heavy Wagnerian orchestration. The orchestra Wednesday night drowned her voice at times. I thought of the immortal Rosa Sucher. whom I used to hear in the role of Elsa No orchestra could be too heavy for her. s4s
 ''I enjoyed Dippel very much. and as for Muhlmann he was magnificent. He came unheralded but he revealed himself Wagnerian artist of the highest type. He not only has a rich baritone voice and all the education that goes to make up great singer but his enunciation was beautiful Those of us who understood German heard every word just as dis tinctly as If 1t had been spoken instead of sung This was as it should be and just as Wagner intended"
 ''The Age-Herald did not say too much in favor of Damrosch and his orchestra That orchestra was rare treat and Demrosch proved himself a master mu- sician. He has picked players. The strings, wood-winds. brass and percusr sions were all of the finest.
 '"The chorus was not up to the Metro- politan Opera House standard. The male section was very poor. #
 T have been overrun with people who called at the Conservatory to know my opinion of the performance and to express theirs. I am astonished to find that so many people go to these big musical events and do so little thinking; and when who makes art study they immediately venture a bold criticism, just as If they had listened to the music seriously.
 Most of the people I met today who were capable of giving an intelligent opinion-and I met many sueh-endorsed The Age-Herald's criticism But I heard some persons who had no musical prepa- ration. theoretical or practical give vent to even severer criticism than The Age Herald.
 'tNow I am truly thankful for the rare opportunity of hearing this grand opera company, even with It's shortcomings.
 "It Is indeed a healthy sign for. Bir- mingham and it's musical future that so many people not only attended the opera but attended classes for the critical analysis of Lohengrin In advance of the performance. have been asked to start a permanent Wagner class for the sys- tematic study of the masters work I will probably do something of the sort
 'I was going to say something in the way of protest against the mistake that was made Wednesday night in applaud ing during the performance. There is no place for applause on wegner night until the act Is finished. The orchestra is an integral part of the work and there should be no demonstration to drown it's symphonic beauty. But enough for the