The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-12-29
Cbe CbedtreS
savage's Grand Opera Company.

I
 To hear "Lohengrin," Wagner's great | tone-drama sung as 1t was sung at 1 the Montgomery Theatre last night by
 Henry W. Savage's English speaking | company is an opportunity that sell dom comes to Montgomery music low
 CTS and the large and fashionable au- dience which included people from all parts of Middle Albama did not un- dervalue the importance of the oc-
 casion. The singers were given un- stinted applause.
 Mir Savage, from a wealthy Boston
 dealer in real estate, has developed into | one of the really great theatrical pro- ducers of the country. Grand opera l in the vernacular is his hobby and in | this he Is a public benefactor. It is easy to calculate that such a produce l tion as was given here last might is not wholly @ mere business enterprise.
 It is such a stupendous undertaking that one wonders at the courage MT. Savage displaysin sending such a large organization with such lavish equip
 ment to play one-night stands. It
 must be borne in mind, too, that this company is singing a repertoire of six
 or eight operas and that each of them is as gorgeously staged and costumed as was .Lohengrin."
 There was nothing about the produc-
 tion of "Lohengrin" to indicate that the company is singing in repertoire Every detail was cared for and the staging of the opera gave expression
 to the genius of stagecraft. No finer
 pictures have ever been shown on the
 stage Of tho Montgomery Theatre. The
 great and cultured audience gasped in
 astonished delight at the moving, stirr-
 ing picture shown at the rise of the
 first curtain diclosing the banks of the
 river Scheldt the meadow, the giant
 trees and King Henry with his people
 l.t.
 ferent order but equally as fine was
 the picture of the palace of Antwerp
 shown in the second act.
 These effective pictures helped the
 illusion and enhanced the beauty of the
 opera.
 One may not speak without enthust-
 asm of the superb orchestra of some
 forty odd instruments under the direc- ton of Mr. Schenck. Wagner's music Is never complete without a full and competent orchestra. Mir. Schenck is one of the great opponents of Wag- merriam music, and he knows this. There was no disposition to show economy in the orchestra There was a sufficient blending of reed and brass to round out a perfect whole, and many of us enjoyed the music from the pit as much as we did the singing. Indeed, the overture to "Lohengrin" and the pre- ludes have never been played here in more masterly fashion.
 Mr Schenck does not employ the methods of some directors. His Is one of perfect confidence and his master full handling of the score was thor oughly enjoyed
 with an artist to direct the stage, a | master musician to wield the baten and | seasoned singers on the stage, "Lohen- | grin" could not have fallen short of | the great success 1t was.
 The story of "Lohengrin" is as famil- | jar to music-loVerS as nursery stories | arc to children, but 1t Is helpful in | review to speak of 1t again. It Is the | story of Elsa, the Princess of Brabant, who was falsely accused of murdering | her brother. The cargo is made by an cnvious relative, Telramund. husband of Ortrud, who is consumed with jealousy of the beautiful Elsa. Telramund wishes to usurp Elsa's inheritance to the crown. Elsa has no champion to appear for her in the lists, according to the usages of the Dark Ages, and In her despair she appeals to heaven in one of the beautiful classic numbers of the opera, known as "Elsa's Prayer" At that moment beautiful swan ap- pears, drawing a boat, in which is a glorious knight in full armor of white.
 This is "Lohengrin," knight of the Holy Grail, whose magic sword aVenges the princess. He then marrteS Elsa, exacting from her the promise that she shall never inquire as to his birth 1r whence he came. But the envious Ortrud worked on Elsas curiosity and pride until she at last put the fatal question to her knight. Then she learns the story of Lohengrin. who, when his identity becomes known, can 10 longer remain. The swan again ap- pears and bears him away on his pur- suit of the Holy Grail.
 The famous Swan Song." sung by Lohengrin," occurs both on his ar 'ival and at his departure and is one . If the most beautiful motives of the a opera. It gave Francis Mcclellan in . he title role an opportunity on his very irst entrance to show off his full, rich enor. He was a decidedly pleasant His tone is full and of TO- 1ust quality, an essential fin such a character. Of fine physique and hand tome lace, he made striking figure II the gorgeous costuminG of the White Knight. He rose to the full de- hands of the situation and took the audience with him. This was especial y noticeable in the tapestry chamber cene with Elsa, where he sang his numbers superbly.
 MISS Rennyson, as Elsa, steadily grew lpon the audience from first to last n mere pleasing quality of tone there nay be a number of singers who lead er: But Tn his great opera It would be lhcult to find d soprano with greater .rasp or comprehension or equal abll- " 10 lully rise to the character. We lad heard her in Elizabeth, and inn slned that We knew just what to eX- ect' put It must be said that she far xceeded our most sanguine expeeta-
 semorlch is the one great Elsa, and st tnsre were moments last night