New-York tribune., 1908-08-02

Z. 1880 and he not yet thirty when Wagner
in a speech delivered In Berlin, alluded to him as
'the young artist whom l have brought up ana
who is accomplishing astounding Things
Naturally, when ne came to New York, he was
looked upon prophet. priest and paladin OF
Wagners art. For twelve years he filled large
place in the music of New York. in concert room
as we'll as opera house. and when he died it was
like his predecessor in the fulness of his powers
in the midst of his activities. But this belongs
later chapter of this story.
Lilli Lehman brought to New York chiefly the
fame which she had won In Bayreuth at the first
Wagner festival Of 1876. at which she was one of
the Rhine daughters (Woglinde) and of the
Valkyrior tHelmwfgel. and where she also sang the
music OF the Forest Bird in "Segfred- At that
period in her career she still classed among
the light sopranos and so she continued to be
classed until she broke violently away from the
clogs which tradition puts upon artists in the
theatres of Germany. She felt the charm OF free
dom from the old theatrical conventions when she
sang Isolde at Covent Garden on July 2, 1884, and
her growth TO a lofty tragic stature was rapid
She was filed with fervor for the large roles OF
Wagner when she came New York, and her
success in them was gratifying to her ambition
that led her the expiration of her leave or
absence from the Court Opera at Berlin (where she
had been fifteen years erste Coloratur Sangerin)
to extend her stay in America beyond the period
of her furlough. and involved her in difficulties
+, with the Berlin Intendant and the federation of
German theatrical managers. called the Carteii-
president of the Cincinnati Festival Association
sing the festival of May. 1856, which was the
ultimate reason for her action in position
to give the details of the story of what became
cause celebre and led to wide discussion Of the
relations between the German managers and their
singers short time before Nine lehman had
declined offer from the committee of the North
American Sangerbund take part in the Sanger
fest which was to be held in Milwaukee In June,
1885 She had also asked by the artistic man
ager of the house of Steinway & Sons to go on
a concert with Franz Rummel and Divide Mu-
sin When I came to her with the dispatch from
Cincinnati she spoke of her unwilngness to break
her contract with Berlin and of the loss of the
lifelong pension to which her period of service at
the Court Opera would eventually entitle her. L
declined TO advise her in the premises, but made
a calculation prospective net earnings from
the three engagements which were offering and
suggested that she the income from their
| investment with the pension which she would
forfeit. also agreed, If she wished 1t. to reopen
the negotiations with the Singerfest officials at
Milwaukee She took the ma tier under advisement,
and in a few days having concluded the engage
ment with representative OF the Cincinnati as
sociation she told me she had determined to stay
in America during June. In July. against the ad-
vice Of of her American friends she paid a
fine imposed upon by the Intendant of the
Court Opera. The amount of the fine 1900
marks (S3 250), and this amount she had received
| from the Milwaukee engagement. l had written to
Mr.. Catenhusen, the director of the Sangerfest as
promised, and he had reopened negotiations with
more than Willingness. Asked for her terms. she
replied: Three thousand three hundred dollars
and turning to friend. said TN let the festival
pay my Berlin fine" After she had paid the money
into the royal exchequer, the manager of Krolls