The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-03-24
-AT ST. pAul.--
T II E AT RES

Grand opera in English was exploit
ed at the Metropolitan opera house
last night with a degree of excellence
meriting the most liberal patronage of
community protesting an apprecia-
ton Of the works of the master. That
the theater was not packed to the very
doors must be attributed to the dis
agreeable weather. Nothing else can
excuse even the few empty seats no
ticeable.
The Castle Square Opera company
chose to inaugurate its st. Paul season
with a production of '.Lohengrin," an
ambitious undertaking at the hands
of any organization. 1t is no eXagger-
alton to say that the achievement fair
ly surprised the seasoned opera-goer
who witnessed 1t. i
Such a smooth, we'll balanced, and
one might add reverent Interpretation
Of this great musical drama, local
audiepces, and, for that matter audi
enceS of many other cities, are rarely
privileged to behold. True, the orcheS-
ira did not number seventy-five pieces;
the chorus was not a hundred strong,
and not one of the principals receives
as much as 81, 500 a night, but never
thelesS this opera company gave a
most worthy and highly creditable
presentation of Wagner's immortal
work. That the performance gave SUI
preme satisfaction was repeatedly dem
onstrated by the frequent applause of
an exceptionally discriminating and
apprectatye audience-an audience
evidently familiar with the opera.
When the breadth and grandeur of
this great creation, with it's wealth of
divine music, are remembered, it is diff
ficult to speak in terms of modera-
ton of the triumph achieved by the
Castle Square company last night The
spirit of the illustrious composer
seemed to pervade the actors, for it
requires actors as we'll as vocalists to
interpret Wagner. The music was sung
with fine fervor and appreciative ex-
preston, and the principals for the
most part displayed an unusual clarity
of enunciatiOn, without sacrificing
tonal quality
The individual members of the cast
seemed admirably fitted in personality
to the characters of the opera. Miss
Rennyson embodied the essence of
gentleness, refinement and maiden in
uOCeIlCe IudI are Gne ulSllIlS
attributes of Elsa. These visible
graces of person and temperament she
supplements with a pure and sympa-
thetic soprano, which she has under
excellent controlg and which she en-
plOys with the expression of an artist.
Her song in the balcony in the second
act was an exquisite gem, so sweetly
was it's modest love sentiment eX-
pressed.
That Miss Rennyson Is destined to
attain wider distinction than has thus
far been her lot seems certain. Her
voice possesses much volume, as well
as exceptional sweetness of tone, her
method is admirable, her features eX-
presSive and her entire personality at
tractive, distinguished and magnetic.
Mr.. Sheehan's Lohengrin is highly
satisfying vocally, If somewhat phleg
matte, dramatically-n in the
earlier scenes. 1t improves as the OPP
era progresses. Mr.. Sheehans best
vocal effort was reserved by him until
the last act, in which his singing of
Lohengrin'S narrative, eclipSed in point
of artistic finish his previous achieve
ments His tenor, which is not new to
the operate stage, seems to have
gained in volume and sweetness. He
was in excellent voice last night, and
so reStful in tenors, too many of whom
betray the strain that the high notes
cost them.
Two noteworthy representations
were contributed by Miss Du Ere and
Mr.. Golf in the roles of Ortrud and
Telramund. Both of these artists in
vested the conspiring characters with
unusual intensity. Both possess dra-
matte voices. The combination proved
very effective.
Miss Du Ere merited the outburst Of
applause accorded her delivery of the
dramatic recitation in the scene with
Telramund in the second act Mr..
GOff'S baritone is resonant, true and
musical at all times. His enunciation
is rarely distinct, his acting vigorous
and intelligent and his vocal method
free from suspicion of affectation.
Dramatically, he was perhaps the most
impressive figure on the stage.
Mr.. Boyle, to whom was allotted the
role of King Henry, likewise proved
very satisfactory. Mr.. Boyle has a
commanding figure and a bass voice
in proportion, which he handled with
discretion in the. dignified passages al
lotted to the monarch.
An excellent baritone is that of MI.
Coombs, who sang the Herald. His
undign1fied walk fnarred a performance
that was vocally admirable.
The orchestra under the direction of
N. B. Emanuel. merits emphatic COM
mendation for it's efficient effort Mind
full of the fact that is is necessarily
too limited in number to give adequate
expression to a work that needs at
least three score of pieces it's achieve
ment was noteworthy. 1t was ably di-
rected, a fact which contributed much
to the enjoyment of what may Justly
be set down as an honest and worthy
presentation of q masterpiece.
Fred G. Hunt.
To those who are at all partial to
melodrama, "A Ragged Hero" which
is holding the boards at the Grand