The sun., 1903-01-11
A DAYS MUSICAL DOINGS.
"LOHENGRIN" AND "RIGOLETTO"
AT THE OPERA HOUSE.

Nine. Nordica Reappears ~ the Heroine
OF the wagner Opera-Ed. Dc Resxke
and Mme. sembrich 70 Sing for Charity.
The musical doings Of yesterday are not
such asto demand extensive consideration.
Frank Damrosch gave the third Of his
symphony concerts for young people at
Carnegie Hall and there we're two perform
ances at the Metropolitan Opera House.
The orchestral numbers on Mr.. DamToech's .
programme were Grieg's Peer 0ynt' suite.
volkmanns serenade In d minor for strings
and SO iermann's s Swedish Wedding March.
After the suite Susan Metcalfe sang Sol
vejg's Lied" lie Cygne' and -Primavern.
After the serenade she sang Caccini's
~Amarilli, 'an old French song and ahms's
sta ldchen.' Leo Schulz. 'oellist, played
Schu.nann's .1taumerei" and Peppers
.Elfentanz." Mr.. Damrosch made the
usual explanatory remarks. The audience
was large one and 1t plainly demonstrated
its approval Of the proceedings.
The matinee performance at the Metro
poitan Opera House was devoted to repe-
tition Of wagner's 'Lohengrin. This Is
one of the works on which the passionate
matinee girl dotes. and therefore the audi
ence was a large one. The standing epace
which erstwhile gave the Fire Commissioner
palpitation Of the heart and set him at log
gerhends with that amiable friend Of the
people, Maurice Grau. was all In use, but
lest Mr. Sturgis again be brought to the
verge of nervous prostration. let 1t be re-
corded that there was the full legal amount
of passageway behind the long-sunering
-standees.
The cast yesterday was In some respects
different from that assembled for the last
performance OF -Lohengrin.' Nine. Gadski
did not sing Elsa. but sat at her ease in her
loge and observed Nine. Nordica az the
doubling lady Of Brabant Nine. Nordica's
interpret alton Of the young woman who
objected 40 strenuously to being Mrs
Blank Is familiar to this public. We have
had opportunities to study It when 1t was
Italian in text and manner. We have seen
and heard 1t when II transformed itself
into German. We have met It when 1t had
been to Bayreuth. received the blessing OF
the august widow and come back 70 us
with the Festspiel label on Il.
1t was always q careful and conscientious
performance. but In many respects II -
better now than II has ever been before.
1t is instinct with intelligence. II u re-
plete with significant and Interesting stage
business. Nine. Nordica's methods, how
ev,r, 60 not lend themselves readily to
and such an atmosphere ought to surround
Eisd. The soprano was in good voice
Yesterday and gave full satisfaction to
those who seek only for the sensuous beauty
OF the melodies in this poetic work.
Mr.. Autnes repeated Ills impersonstion
Of Lohengr.n. 1t was, as heretofore, calm
matter fact, unromantic piece OF acting
Well paired with II WAS tic heavy,iooted
and generally phlesmstic Xii OF Robert {
Blass A king in opera Qua, AT at best TO
lave some dignity about him. The other
members of tie cast we're Nine. Schumo mn
Heink as Ortrud. Mr.. Bispham as re- a.
mund and Mr.. Muhlmann as the H.rdId.
MIR Hertz conducted and commanded
Last night .RiRoletto' was sung and
there was q large and enthusiastic audi
ence. Nine. Sembrio b appeared once mole
portunities for full display Of her b 8,
powers, yet which retains its place In the
contemporaneous operate repertory
largely because Of her beautiful delivery
Of the music. She achieved her customary
success, especially with Caro- nome and
T'ooietto capably as he always does. Mr..
rrni was again gentle and good-looking
Duke and Nine. Homer was the Mddddleno
very curious incident occurred just
before the close Of the afternoon per-
formance Of 'Lohengrin.' 1t might have
been serious, but sometimes tenor knows
how to IKE care Of himseh. When Mr.
Anthe as the knight Of the Grail stepped In.
to the swan boat to take mis- departure from
his too inquisitive bride, he leaned back
too far and his weight capsixed the fragile
craft. Thus the unusual spectacle Of the
sudden disappearance OF LoAsnerin In the
River Scheldt was presented: Mr.. Antilles
was not hurt, but the farewell Of Lohengrin
was deprived Of it's dignity and It's pathos.