The San Francisco call., 1905-03-07
'TANNHAUSER"
IS NOBLI SUNG
English Opera Company
Wins Noteworthy Triumph
in Wagnerian Masterpiece
SCHENCK LEADS FINELY
SolOiSts and Chorus Warmly
AppIauded by a Crowded
House at the Columbia
SCHENCK LEADS FINELY

A ''Tannhauser" that would have set
caps flying at the Tivoh was given at
the Columbia last night By the Savage
Grand opera Company. Being at the
Columbia, the enthusiasm was less
picturesque. though the audience re-
mained for a curtain call or two even
after the last act, in spite OF the lack Of
Latin ferment. But box party or two
from Broadway would have helped
things amazingly. They would have
seen. for example, after the truly splen-
oio climax OF the second act, that Con-
ouctor Schenck came on stage They
would have remembered him even
through the entr' 'acte and given him
q hand" on his return.
For it was a good deal Mr.. Schenck's s
night
The conductors work OF last night
would seem to show that the condi-
uo1s OF conducting the Columbia
orchestra-with half Of il under your
tOes-were perhaps wholly responsible
for the lack OF grip in Mr.. Schencks
first Carmen" and 'Lohengrin" per-
formances. Crispness, spirit, a firm
pulse were as agreeably in evidence in
the conducting last night as the dig
nifty and breadth that distinguished
both the "LOhengrin'' and ''Tannhaus-
er" And Mr.. Schenck's people met
thoroughly good, Wagner they gave
and even the Bayreuther may be rec
commended 70 the next performance.
They did not begin well, that is,
after the prelude, that proved popular
as always. But the Nenusberg, with
its gaTish lighting, was even q more
than usual hopelessly unseductive
habitation- Then Mr.. Wegener. to re-
mind further Of the Metropolitan
opera production, decided to begin fat
just as Mr.. Van DYck used to. It
cannot be said that Kate Sherwood
helped him here. Miss Sherwood kept
nobly on the pitch, and though her
voice did not stretch to the full dra-
matte demand of the part, she came
out on the whole a surprisingly good
Venus. Mr.. Savage does not give us
ballet-he gives 50 much that some
how one expected ft-and the scene
demands il for the illusion. II is just
as well said here as later that the set
tings, barring that Of the Venusberg,
are handsome and sufficient
in Miss Rennyson and Mr.. Wegener
the Savage company can certainly
claim two competent Wagnerian sing
ers- Miss RennYsOn did far and away
her best work here up to now as Eliza
beth. She lost most Of the self-con-
sciOusness that marred seriously her
Dc sdemOna, and showed an even more
notably sincere and sympathetic ap-
probation Of the role than she did Of
that of Elsa, which was noteworthy
for both qualities. She sang the part
also with much more confidence, and
with much sweetness. Mr.. Wegener,
again Ike Van Dyck, warmed up to
the pitch after the first scene, and
again proved himself most agreea bly,
gifted In voice, though IL was not in
SO good trim as for his Lohengrin. His
acting was distinguished, too, by the
same human note that was struck
through the whole performance-al-
ways excepting that Venusberg scene
And. as in the Lohengrin, Mr.. Wegener
was a particularly handsome knight
Arthur Deane, as the minstrel knight
that befriends the naughty Tannhaus-
or. was exceptionally effective. His
Wolfram was virile and sweet OF voice,
acted with warm humanness, and in
true romantic vein. Mr.. Deane's
Evening Star" song was perhaps less
effective Vocally than the rest OF
his work and he, too, fatted consid-
erably at the beginning. The Land
grave was well done by Francis J.
Boyle and the lesser parts well looked
after. But the chef d'oeuvre Of the
evening was the splendidly sung finale
Of the second act. 1t was a truly noble
hit Of ensemble work, and If for moth
ing else the "Tannhauser'' is excellent
ly worth hearing. They thought so
last night.
la Boheme" is to-night's offering.
BLANCHE PART1NGTON.