The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-09-28

young Ejnar Forchhammer. marvellous
young tenor from DRESDEN; and Heinrich
Knote who is now regarded in Germany
as the very first Wagnerian tenor.
Forchhammer's Tristran has been mark
ed by splendid strength. and his voice
is very beautiful, although not yet quite
full. Knote's voice is a pure tenor
with a good range and an equal quality
about every note. SO far as its power
and sweetness is concerned. he mas
sung the roles of Walther, Tannhauser
and Lohengin, his acting In Tannhau-
ser being characterized by more fire and
passion than remember to have seen In
any other tenor who has taken the part,
while his Lohengrin is very beautiful.
He tells an interesting story, by the
way. of the first time he sang Lon
engrin in London.
"The swan which draws me IN my
skiff is most cratic swan in London.
he said, has been little Or ever
since the time when his head suddenly
came off during the voyage But the
time I am speaking of. he kept turning
his long neck around and staring me
in the face as If to ask. who are you.
pray tell. to be back there in Jean de
Reskes place
Herr Knote did not add, but have
swan never repeated this discomfortlns
inspection OF the tenor, having. evidently,
become satisfied that he was worthy OF
de Reske's great role.
DISCOVERY OF HIS VOICE.
Herr Knote tells a most interesting
fact about his discovery that he had
voice It seems that he had never sung
a note until he was twenty-one; and
then, one day. he CHANGED to be walk
ing in the woods with his brother when
he heard the note of a ORD, and, IKE
Siegfred. tried to Initiate 1t. He real
lied at once that he could sing. and he
began his studies without further delay.
It is probable that Herr Knote will be
made the leading Wagner tenor at the
metropolitan opera house in New York
this winter, as arrangements are now
pending for his joining the Grau Com
many. NorGica has also been engaged
by Mr.. Grau again, for two years. and
will take the leading soprano parts In
Wagnerian opera. Ternina, however,
will not be heard in New York this
year.
The singing here, while it has, been 50
magnificent, has by no means oee1 1v aie
ner opera in a model theatre is Won
derful experience for deaf man. Inc
Prinz- Regenten theatre is owned IN COM
mon Win Two Oillei ltil SO oPoiE
by the Bavaran government, whicn
makes it a point to give its subjects the
very best opera and drama, ana no eA-
pense Is spared. The chorus at the opera
this season has been made up OF singers
any one Of whom. in any other country
but Germany, would be considered a SOLO
artist The same can be said OF the
ability of each musician In tne oTciies-
ira The costumes have been all es-
pecially designed in Paris and the scenery
has been painted by great artists. WaS-
ner opera is a combination OF all the arts.
There is music and poetry. OF course, IN
painting in the scenery; and architec-
ture In the buildings which are repre-
scented. In the tableaux there are the
effects of statuary, while in the develop
ment OF the opera, there is singing, act
ing and pantomime. It is because 1t is
so very difficult and so extremely eX-
pensive to mount Wagner opera as 1t
should be mounted that 1t needs to pc
given. if one desire to see model perform
ances in theatres especially designed FOR
NO NEED OF JEALOUSY.
The theatre here and the one at Bay,
reuth are the only ones In the world
where it can be given in this model way;
and there is the greatest jealousy be-
tween the two places Now that FRAU
Cosima has antagonized so many OF the
great singers, they are turning toward
the Prinz- Regenten theatre, and 1t seems
as if this might grow to have greater
reputation than that which Bayreuth en-
Joys The only thing which the theatre
here cannot give to lovers of Wagner is
Parisfal. the copyright of which will not
expire for eleven years yet petition
has just been made to the German Reich
stag to have this extended stlll another
eleven years. but 1t is not sure that
such an unprecedented request will be
granted. 1t is curious fact that the
entire scenic arrangements for giving
Parisfal have been made for this thea
ire. so that the moment the copyright
expires or the moment it could be pur-
chased. it could be given here. sort OF
skeleton performance of the forbid
den opera has already been gwen on this
stag.
But there is no need for any Jealousy
to exist between the two places. For
years it has been a. musicians greatest
boast to say II have been to Bay
reuth" and it will continue to be, for
no place can ever hope to rival the at
mosphere Of that most fascinating OF
places in the rolling Bavarian hills, the
place where Wagner and List worked
and died. and the place where the operas
can be given as ideally. as one need wish
even if the singing be better here.
To show how little the Germans allow
the spirit of commercialism to enter into
their art, nothing serves better than
the fact that. although the two audito-
RUINS are Of the same size. there are
800 seats less in the Prinz-R egenten thea
ter than in that at Bayreuth. the reduc-
ton having been made to enable the spec
tators to be more comfortable during the
operas. Over the imposing entrance to
the theatre letters are cut In the marble,
spelling the words ITO German Art"
RICHMOND PEOPLE.
The attendance at the operas here this
season has not been so large as at Bay
reath, but there have been a very large
number of Americans mere. mostly from
new York and THE northern States. Eng
lish has been heard in the foyers as mich
as German. Among Richmond people
here during the festival Mrs T. NJ.
Rutherford and Marie L. Masters were
noticed no members Of the audience have
been more enthusiastic than the Ameri-
cans. no applause is permitted, Of course,
until the act is concluded. but 1t has been
noticed that the Americans have remain
ed as long in the auditorium to clap
their hands and cry. .Brayo!' as any
of the enthusiastic Germans
Can it not be expected that the many
Americans coming here and to Bay
reuth every ye~r- will take home with
them ideals. which will make our own
tinsel limitations of opera. and Of the
drama as we'll, no longer possible? Ger
many is to-day the center of the most
active as well as the healthier art of
the world just the kind of art that
America also wants to possess and let us
hope that the day will come not so many