New-York tribune., 1905-02-12
MUSICAL COMM ENT.
Operate and Other Matters.


son, except on two occasions. frivoiity is to be
dominant. Next Thursday a managerial holiday is
to be decked out with a performance of Johann
Strausss operetta die F1edermaus," with it's
bright comedy and scintilant music (wholly worthy
of serious consideration under appropriate sur
roundings), clipped and interrupted by vaudeville
show for the delectation of the curiosity seekers
For the rest there to be repetitons. Under the
circumstances, representations like those of last
Thursday afternoon. when Miss Walker made
essay in the character of Brinnhilde in
die Walktre" and of yesterday afternoon when
Mr.. Dippel sang and acted the role of Tristan in
Wagner's greatest tragedy. loom up incidents of
serious import. So too will the performances of
"Siegfried," next Wednesday afternoon with
Nine. Ackte Brtnhilde and of Tristan und
Isolde" with Mr.. Burgstaer and Miss Weed in
the titular parts. next Saturday evening Again
the game has been played and won. and what hap
pens now cannot signify. The contraltos voice.
having had as little consideration from the com
posers since Rossini the dramatic soprano
voice has had much 1t is not singular that
contraltos should all be striving now 10
annex roles. 1t is become a matter or
self-preservation. The public. well as the
singers, to be congratulated when the need
is met by so admirably equipped a singer as Miss
Walker. Her beautiful voice and genuinely artistic
temperament were put to a strain which caused
| occasional apprehension on the part of her ad-
mirers last Thursday but on the whole. she passed
through the ordeal triumphantly, end when all was
over it was possible to recall moments In which
very high ideals indeed were splendidly realized
Never did there TO be lack of intelligence,
a want of high ambition. Her Judgment
seemed faulty at times. when she reached out
for the applause which the shallow are ever ready
to bestow upon singer who will recklessly shrek
the Valkyrs cry at the opening OF the second act,
and failed to give out the penitude of tone called
for by the death proclamation, which she seemed
to have conceived in a fine spirit. but one which
she could not develop the situation, music and
text require When she did violence to her voice
retribution in the form of impure intonation fol-
lowed: but the slips few, and patriotic pride
was again hattered by the observation that
American singer was again demonstrating that it
is possible to sing Wagners music without offend
ing any Of the artistic proprieties
Mr. Dippeps reasons for essaying the part of
Tristan are not as tenable those which aetuated
Miss Walker in her venture His versatility and
zeal have admiring comments for years, but
1t has not yet occurred to any to say OF him
that in voice bearing he is cast in the heroic
mould from which a capable Tristan must emerge
His limitations physical rather than intellectual
and were set by nature So while it is possible,
it is almost obligatory 10 speak in praise of his
honesty of endeavor, 1t is neither possible
obligatory to laud his performance of yesterday
afternoon. The representation moved with unusual
smoothness and Nine. Nordica surpassed her best
preceding Wagnerian performance this year, but
the poetical atmosphere in which the lyric tragedy
should be stepped seemed sadly lacking. 1t was
of the earth earthly.
''Romeo ct Juiiette" was sung last night to what
probably the smallest audience that has
gathered within the walls of the Metropolitan Opera
Houss this season. The performance was fine
one. both Nine Ackte and NJ. Saleza presenting
themselves IN parts for which they are capitally
fitted by nature and predilection Obviously
Gounods opera is not to the taste OF the Saturday
night people. Why not? On Monday perform
like that OF last night would have been voted
complete success. So it was artistically
1t is very likely that the muscally minded read
ers of The Tribune were somewhat puzzled by a
sentence In yesterdays criticism OF Mr.. Weingart-
ner's symphony. If the types had permitted the
writer to say what he wrote. there would have
been contradiction in the remark touching Mr.
Weingartners orchestraton. He has not yet
gone back to the Attic purity of Beethoven's in
strumental language said the notice. ''but he
will yet attain IL, because he has recognized the
Importance of the volapuk which has dominated
the imitators OF Liszt." For importance read
Impotence" and the sentence may have mean
ing
Felix Weingartner is not to conduct again in this
city after the two special concerts to be given on
Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday evening by the
Philharmonic Society at Carnegie Hail. On Thurs
day he will conduct concert of the Philadelphia
Orchestra, and the 21st is 10 return to Ger
many. Mr. Weingartner is still the conductor OF
the Kahn concerts. in Munich and, contrary TO
the reports has not resigned the conductorship OF
the Royal Symphony Concerts. In Berlin. His
resignation was handed in more than two months
ago. but in response to the request of the directors
he consented to delay all action in the matter until
his return from this country He will decide when
he arrives in Germany whether he will retain his
post with the Kahn orchestra or abandon that for
Berlin.
Senior da Motta's first panoforte recital given
in Mendelssohn Hall yesterday afternoon more
than bore out the promise held out by his per-
formance at the fifth Philharmonic concert. His
programme unconventional without being new,
and seemed to have been influenced by recent do
ings in Berlin. where Mr.. Busoni has been giving
a series of reeitals devoted wholly TO Liszt's music
AN entire afternoon of etudes. another of tran
scriptions and so on Senior da Motta did not put
the endurance OF his listeners TO severe test.
After BusonIs transcription of Toccata by Bach,
he played three Lsztan transcrIptions of Schubert
songs ('Du bist die Ruh," "Wohn' and "Hark.
bark the Lark!"), Weber's Polacea i'm E and
Beethoven's variations original theme in F.
Then he gave original Liszt-the two ST.
Francis legends-and. to wind up. of the operate
fantasias-the skaters scene from lie Prophetic"
The list is not altogether awe-inspiring. 1t would
have been in keeping with the popular taste
forty ago. but IL served admirably to display
the best qualities OF the pianst-his scrupulous.
neat technique. his perfect sense of tonaI beauty.
his avoidance of exaggeration OF every sort. his
elegance and finish Not large artist. but
ingratiating one.
Here is the programme OF the concert which Is to
take place in the Metropolitan Opera House this
evening under the direction of Nahan Franko:
Overture; "csrnsysl Romain BerlioE
Aria bufrs- la Cenerentola ......,...... Rossin
Aria 20 prses de nqs a. tEom 1 Prophetic h'yerb'er
Air heur carmen Biret
's"e' song ''0" Mme Emma Eames ''''u'''
lal 5efenaoe