The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-20
IN The OPERATlC WORLD.
"IOEENGRIN" PARTLY GIVEN AT
THE METROPOLITAN.

Mr. Burrisn Taken with Hosrseness. tho
Bridal scene Cut out and Mr. DIPPED
sings Inc Last Scene Otherwise lt
was n C~OmmendabIe Performance.
The performance of "Lohengrin" at the
Metropolitan Opera House last night was
the first Offering of Wagner's most saccha-
-ine opera this season. There was a time,
u time yet green in the memoryof inhabi-
,qnts not old, when this opera was brought
forward at the very threshold of affairs
20 make a field for vocal glories. But times
change, and ustom with them. We now
revcl in the Joys OF Italian operas because
or sweet singers are chiefly Of the Italian
school.
Last night = performance OF ~-Loheugrin"
Wa, interesting for more than one reason,
nartly because, owing to the indisposition
of Mr.. Burrian, the opera was ended with a
second Lohengrin. The bridal scene was
ON, out and the knight departed without
having answered the fatal questio o This
made a lamentable hiatus in the proceed
inrs and evoked one of Max Hirsch's famous
eutr'acte speeches.
Nine. Fleischer-Edel as Elsa was more
Pleasing than she was in the role of Eliza
be-, in "Tannhauser.' Her voice suits the
music of last nights opera better than that
Of is predecessor. Nine. Fleischer -Edel has
a beautiful voice. but when she tries to give
it forth in such volume as she believes to
. needed TO fill the Metropolitan it be-
comes wiry and hard. In Elsd's soliloquy
on the balcony. in which she was able to
sing we'll within the power OF her voice, her
tones were mellow and tender and hoated
through the auditorium excellently.
As far as the histrionic side OF her i'm
p~ersonation went it was according to the
contemporaneous traditions of the Ger
man stage. Its routine was complete,
us stage business all correct. Rut it was
hv no means impressive. Let the record
for the present he ended with that non-
nssertive statement.
In so far as this ELsd was uninspired IL
was paired perfectly with the L0hengrin Of
Carl Burrlan. About this tenors voice
there is no question. II is a pure, sonorous
singing voice, beautiful in quality and
plentiful in power. Mr.. Burrian sings in
tune thus far and his enunciation continues
70 be admirable.
He was noticeably hoarse at the beginning
Of last nights performance, but the trouble
seemed 10 disappear before the close of the
first act. In the second, however, il grew
worse, and Mr.. Burrian was unable TO finish
the opera. Max Hirsch appeared before
the cur Idltl dlbCl ~ CCNOiiu y dtll Ed
a carefully prepared announcement. IL
contained the startling assertion that the
bridal chamber scene would be admitted"
but Mr.. Hirsch on the second shot made this
omitted" and so il was. Mr., DIPPED dis
charged his brief duties creditably.
All the other members OF the cast were
old acuuaintanoes. Even Nine. kirkby-
Lunn, who made her first appearance with
the present company, is no stranger to the
stage of the Metropolitan Opera House.
She has sung and acted Ortrpd there before
in the same intense, picturesque, broad
lined style. She knows what the role means,
and she has abilities of her own.
Mr.. Goritz repeated his vigorous and
musical performance Of Telrdnund, Mr..
Blass sang the Il ing and Mr.. Muhlmann the
Herald. The scenic attire OF the opera was
that exhibited last season, and the Co.'S
tunes, which are similar to those o
shown at Bayreuth, were good. The stage
management under Mr.. Sohertel was most
c~ommendable. The wishes of the composer,
now in authority at Bayreuth, were re-
spected. Lohenorin and Elsa were even
raised on the shields at the end OF Act |.
Not in many moons has a chorus sung
50 much Of the opera in tune. The orchestra
PLAYED admirably. It is a good orchestra,
much better than it was last year. Alfred
Hertz conducted excellently In accordance
with the ideas now prevalent in Germany,
where IL il the custom to take the tempt
very slowly. Mr.. Hertz makes some con-
C~essions 10 American taste. It would
please many IL he would hurry matters a
lttle more here and there. But that can
hardly be expected OF a German who has
faith in the ideas of his own country.