New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-02-07
MUSIC.
Doings at the Opera.

BeethoTen's only opera. "TIdelio." which was
brought forward at the Metropolitan Opera House
last night, has had a strange and unaccountable
history In New-York- When German opera sup
planted italian at the great theatre in upper Broad
way, the thought OF MANAGEMENT and artists turned
toward IL with reverent affection. Care and labor
were bestowed upon its preparation and perform
ance. but the memory OF the work seemed TO have
died out OF the public mind Then came the sec
ond year OF the German regime. Lehman
and Brandt and Niemann were in the COM
pany, and some devotees OF Beethoven asked
Mr. Stanton. the director. for "Fi6eIio" His first
answer was a quotation from the boxofice sheet.
which showed that the opera had drawn less
money than any other work in the previous sea-
sons list Nevertheless. he was urged to try il
once more. for there sincere desire to hear
Herr Niemann in the part Of FIorestan and
Mr.. Seidls reading Of the score. Then Mr. Stan
ton answered that the presence Of two Fdeos In
his company would compel him to give two per-
formances If any in order TO preserve domestic
peace in his institution At last, late in the
season. he decided 10 make the sacrifice because
of the importantly OF the admirers of Beethoven
and a tribute TO the names OF the COM
poser. The result OF the experiment is an
interesting chapter of LEGAL musical history. The
two representations drew crowded houses. and the
popular enthusiasm rose high that an extra per-
formance had to be given outside of the subscrip-
ton. With the lower prices which prevailed at
the time, the receipts 5000. and
BeethOven's opera mounted from the bottom to the
German I
a spirit very different from that prevailing now.
called upon his countrymen to note how Americans
could appreciate a German master who had always
been neglected at home. More than that. So
ardent an old lover OF the Italian form OF opera
the late George William Curtis made public con-
fession that for the first time his eyes and ears
had been opened to the grandeur Of the German art
"Fidelio' has passed through strange vcissitudes
at the Metropolitan Opera House There have been
performances with notable points Of excellence. but
/ none that could compare with those Of 1886. Four
years were permitted 10 lapse between it's last per-
| Torrance and that OF last night. Two years ago
| II was announced but was abandoned at the
/ eleventh hour because OF insufficient rehearsals
| There were moments last night when the reflection
obtruded itself that possibly respect would
have been shown to the memory OF the great COM
/ poser had the same course been followed At no
time in the first act did the performance havesths
| glad eagerness and freedom which Beethovens
/ music demands IL II Is to exert the powerful and
compelling charm inherent IN It.
| There was change in the spirit OF the oc-
casion when the second act was reached. and for
this large measure OF credit was due to the whole
/ hearted manner in which Mr.. Dippel threw him
| self into his work in the great aria. Thereafter.
with Nine Termina, Mr.. Goritz and Mr. Blass all
| inspired by the most moving page Of dramatic
| music ever penned there thought OF con-
straint or want Of preparation. An audience splen-
/ did In point Of numbers. which had betrayed a
| love for the work at the outset and had its en-
i
| took heart Of courage again and carried into
| a whirlwfnd OF enthusiasm by the dungeon scene
The performance OF the third ''Leonore' overture
after the act kept them keyed I'D TO the new pitch
| and the evening ended joyousIy. Mime. Seygard
| seemed to feel her way most Of the time through
| the part Of Marcelline. but Mr.. Reiss showed the
skill Of true artist In his singing and acting as
| Jacquino. and Mr.. Muhlmann filed tho role OF the
| Minister acceptabIy.
The afternoon performance was a repetition oil
I"Carmen," with two changes in the list of charac
| ters Mr. COnried tried experiment IN the tenor
| department, and ntrusted the part OF Don Jose q
| a French singer named Pierre REVERE. who ono,
| belonged for brief space Of time to Mr. Savage
| forces. The experiment had enjoyable results
| The newcomer IS sadly out OF place in the Metro
| polltan company He uses poor voice badly II
| every way. and would have extinguished the ardo
Of the audience had Il not been Calvs audience
VI. Journet was the toreador. IN place OF Slguo
Scott. and slow witted. heavy footed bull-hghte
he made