The age-herald., 1901-08-11
Grand Opera is an Interesting Topic at Present
MISS SCHOLAR SUGGESTS
4 That sembrIch Sing Mad Scene from Lucia at Close of Lohengrln-Mlss fq McLester's Wedding to MT.
 Meade to Occur In England.
BY ANNIE KENpRIck WALKER.

BY ANNIE kENDhlOH WAINEn'
 That Birmingham is to have at least one night of grand opera Is still the one topic of conversation in society-a topic fhat is being discussed now not so much from the brilliant view point of society, but from that of the critic, the music s lover, who finds it difficult to decide upon one of the two operas that MT. Grau will present on the Southern tour. f Even those who have heard both To hengrin" and Faust" when asked to give an opinion regarding the opera they would prefer. hesitate before making , .eecision "Lohengrin" and Schumann- Heink on one hand, and on the other .Faust' and Sembrich. An opportunity of hearing Wagnerian opera, with one or the greatest artists of the world and the opportunity gone of hearing Semoricn This latter suggestion to those who nave i, never heard Sembrich or Schumann- Heink provokes discussion not from the classical point of view, but as to which of the two supreme idols one prefers, since Sembrich will not appear in "Lo- hengrin' or will Schumann-H -Heink sing in Faust, and we cannot have two nights of grand opera
 They Favor "Lohengrin."
 One would suppose that the decision would vary from the point of view of the musician and that of the person who would be able to voice the sentiment Of the society woman who presumably goes to the opera because 1t is a part of her life to be fashionable But several of Birminghams best known women musi- clans were asked for an opinion as to
 al,ar1rr .ftlf or Faust" and for artistic reasons they unhesitatingly decided in favor of "Lohengrin.
 Those women recognized as leaders In Birminghams social world expressed too their preference for the Wagnerian op- era, and it is notable that in the several interviews preference was invariably given to "Lohengrin" over Gounods mas terpiece.
 It is only when Sembrich and Schu- mann Heink are mentioned in the same breath that causes a hesitancy on the part of both artist and the patron of art. s If "Lohepgrin" is given 1t will afford us an opportunity of hearing schumann. Heink and Flames, while with Faust H.Me shall have Sembrich and Bridewell. Jean De Rezke Is not coming, but we shall have Eduard De Rezke, Plancon and Alvarez.
 .. Mrs. Sinnige's Opinion.
 Mrs H. H. Sinnige. when asked for an opinion, unhesitatingly declared that we must have 'Lohengrin." N ,r. 'If Munich' she said, "can support ' the most difficult of Wagnerian operas, Tristan and Isolde' Birmingham should display sufficient culture as to de- mand Iohengrin' instead of well-worn Faust We are so familiar with Gou- mods opera. It has really been done to death, while here we have heard only excerpts from Lohengrin. and 1t Is not only the more beautiful but 1t Is the most popular of Wagnerian operas. With Schumann-Heink as Ortrund we should be contented for even a single night of grand opera, for as far as dramatic power alone is concerned Schumann- Heink is the greatest artist of the world But Sembrich, vocally, Is pre- eminently the greatest woman artist of the day.
 s.Eames is the most beautiful piece of Ice known, Calve the most beautiful wo- man in the world.
 .sWe should like to have Faust be- cause 1t would give us an opportunity of hearing Carrie Bridewell in the role of Siebel and few of us have seen Miss Bridewell in grand opera. Unless Faust is presented we cannot have Madame Sembrich But from every other point of view the historical beauty of Lohen- grin the beautiful orchestration and the opportunity of hearing Schumann-H Heink I should say that Birmingham must de- mand Lohengrin.' We have grown weary of Faust. It reminds me of Cardinal Richelieu's Toujours Per drix.'"
 t Misses Scholar and Mccoy.
 Miss Norma Schoolar and Miss Belle Mccoy discussed the opera very inter estingy, for while they each expressed the same opinion in their preference for 'Lohengrin," Miss Scholar suggested that If this opera should be presented 1t might be possible to induce Madame Sem- brich to sing solo after the opera. and thus give Birmingham the opportunity of at least hearing her.
 This arrangement" continued Miss