New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-13
MUSIC.
1t the Opera.


Mr.. Conried departed widely from the conventions
his predecessors at the Metropolitan opera House
esterday. Both performances were devoted to
irst productions for the season. ohengrin" in
he afternoon and La Traviata" in the evening.
N the first opera there were several features to
rritate curiosity and nterest-new costumes for
several Of the principal singers and all Of the
choristers, a new representation Of Ortrud, some
new bits Of scenery and a peculiarly telling i'm
personation Of TeIramund by Mr.. Van Rooy.
There was also a draft the Opera School for
the pages who have the few proclamatory measures
TO sing before the wedding procession in the second
act It, too. new and its varnish ought never
% be subjected 10 wear again. Any eight members
from the old church guard would sing the strain if
'alled upon; yesterday II not sung at all. and
having made mess of the music. the young aspi-
ANTS for operate honors took attitudes of con-
Scious misery the minister steps and prolonged
The wretched memory Of their vocal performance
iii the scene was over The additions to the stage
pictures were agreeable. and the touch Of archaism
IN the costumes was decidedly attractive, much
So indeed, to create a desire the
reform in the furniture of this opera institut-
ed by Herr Possart and Herr Iautenschlager
some ten years ago in Munich carried out in
us integrity. Nine. Gadski Who sang and
acted tellingly. disregarded the innovation in
the main, but Herr Van Rooy respected II, and his
representation Of the weaker Of the two vessels of
evil in the drama the most convincing and
thrilling performance that New-York has yet ex-
perienced- The costumes do not add TO the
brilliancy OF the old scenes but they do enhance
their characteristic pcturesqueness and satisfy the
desire for historical accuracy It is an easy mat
ter to fix the date of the incidents OF Wagner's
drama. The king is Henry the Fowler. In MS ad-
oress to the mobiles in the first act he speaks OF
expedition against the Huns. Henry being an his
torica character and the trouble with the Huns an
historical fact, the time Of the action is not at
all speculative The year is A. D. $3.50. Tenth
century costumes and customs may. therefore be
assumed as essential in representation Of 'Lohen-
grin, and the rude forcefuness and barbaric ap-
pearance Of Herr Van ROoy's Telramund yester-
Gay were justified, though they appeared in rather
Grass contrast with their surroundings at times
II would make an interesting study to follow the
evolution Of the American representations of 10
hengrin" since IT became a regular feature of the
repertory here Year by year it has grown away
from the old operate lines and become more of
drama, taking in steadily more and more of an
infusion OF red blood, losing occasionally some Of
the unqualified melodic charm which seemed so
potent in the days of Nilsson. Cary. Campanini
and their companions, but gaining steadily in
virility and dramatic force Some day we may
hope to it reach its perfect state as it looed
up in the Imagination of its composer.
Miss Walkers conception of the character Of
Ortrud is conventional throughout and her action
stlted. But she has the range Of voice required
by the music, abundant skill in it's use and COM
mand Of the technicalities Of the stage. For the
expressive potenualttes Of the Tristan sorceress
vibrant a vehicle of feeling nor capable
Of varied colorings. II is simply beautiful and
mechanically capable. Her exclamation. "Gott!"
in the first scene Of the second act yester-
day a fine musical tone, but did not at
all convey the composers intention and left
Teramund's comment its fearfuluess without a
shred of appositeness meaning No one could
have guessed that it the cynical Shrek of
devotee of the old religion Of her people. Yet
though it did not compare favoraby with the i'm
presentations TO which Mines. Brandt Brema and
Schumann-Hein have accustomed Us. 1t helped the
musical features Of the performance. which, under
the firm direction Of Herr AIottl were frequently
inspiring. Herr Kraus was the Lohengrin, con-
sistently tuneful and inspiriting; Herr Blass an
orotund-voiced King and Herr Muhlmann in
diligently declamatory Herald.
The exhibition of popular interest in La
TIaviata" in the evening was small the audience
being the least numerous of the season. Nine
Sembrich was a brilliant Violetta singing with
that sympathe appreciation OF Verdi's music
which has heretofore called out wondering com
nent in these columns. Strange how these meas
ures vitalize her voice, and how potent ex-
preston they became when they issue from her
golden lips, Her gifts ennObIe them and they re-
quite the Office by lifting both her voice and art
into high relief Mr.. DIPPED the Alfredo Of the
occasion, Signor Campanari the GermOn. and SignOr
Vigna conducted
The announcement Of next Fridays opera,
printed in another place, must be amended. Nine.
Gadsk will sing not Miss Marion Weed.