New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-01-04
MUSIC.
" Tristan und Isolde. +"

To Judge by the size of the audience and its
demonstrations Of feeling at the opera yesterday
afternoon. the production of Tristan und Isolde
and the Remittance of Madame Nordica acted like
tonic upon the operate That seemed TO
be sinking into a somnolency which IT was not
easy to explain The singers and the same
operas have aroused enthusiasm heretofore-the
singers when they have not SO well;
the same operas when they have received muen
less satisfactory representation No one has been
able to give convincing for the condition
of affairs; everyone has been waiting for some sort
of a shock which should arouse the audiences out
of their lethargy. To all appearances the longeo-
for shock came yesterday. Tristan ind Isolde
is the kind Of lyric drama that would ordi-
narily be chosen for first production at matinee
But the laws of the opera house and or prlrna
donnas are as memorable they seem mysterious.
and it was written that the beginning of the
larger Wagneran list had to be made with
Madame Nordfca in Tristan und Isolde
The reasons were not far to seek after the repre-
sentation well under way Nine. Nordlca
challenged and the admiration of the public
by her achievements In Wagners drama long ago.
When first she essayed IL the udicious marvelled at
her ambition. wondered at her zeal and re1oiced in
her triumph yesterday they had occasion TO learn
that their measure of satisfaction was not hers
In the interval her study of the part must nave
been eager and incessant. She brought score OF
details to notice yesterday where she presented
two years ago. in song as well as action ana
though she never once achieved the elemental Ell
feet which lies within the horizon Of the part, she
succeeded In presenting a picture Of the tragic
heroine which impressed itself deeply and con-
vincingly upon the imagination Of all who saw
and heard her.
with her, as newcomers to the New-York public
in the characters that they impersonated, were
Herr Antilles as Tristan and Nine. Homer. as
Brargane. The former had never essayed his
part in public before the latter hers only once IN
the Far West. The world has so long been accus-
toned to look to Germany for its ideals in the
wagnerian drama that the assertion may sound
strange that some Of the finest realizations of
those ideals have grown up under New-fork IN
fuences. New-York offered the genius of Lili
Lehman opportunity for development; 1t saw
Herr Niemann's essay In the part of siegfried; it
gracious promise that lies IN Nine. Cad
ski; it witnessed yesterday the influence
which its taste and judgment are exercis-
ing on the natural gifts of Herr Antilles
He came a disappointing Lohengrin; pugnacous
individual of bad breeding and asthulatic vocal
manner; he appeared yesterday as a Tristan OF
anything but heroic bearing and appearance; nut
he sang better than ever before and disclosed
capacitv which justifes the finest expectations for
the demonstrations that are to come. Nine. Homer
filed the harmonies lusciously but what she said
must remain a mystery to all who were unprovided
with q book of words. Shall quarrel with her
on that account? How many understand the
French sung in the French operas or the Italian
in the Italian? It is to the credit of Mime. Homer
that she helped so much toward the musical erect
Also M Edouard de Reszke King Mark. The
drama is TO be repeated next Wednesday ana then
there will be better occasion to say o1her thlhss
that ought TO be said