New-York tribune., 1911-01-21
MUSIC
"DlE MEISTERSINGER"
A Spirited Performance of Wag-
ner's Comedy.

part OF the Italian contingent, to-
gether with the German of the Metro
politan Opera Company threw itself with
great zeal into a performance Of WaSneTs
'Meistersinger' last night. Nerv much
the most potent OF the contingent was
sigror ToscaninL. who conducted the rep
resentation, and to whom large part Of
the success achieved was due. \ success
ful achievement in this case does not mean
that anything novel was presented or any
feature which was specially ilum'native az
10 the matter or spirit ot the work. Ihere
nave been many performances IN "hiCh
the dramatic element was more potently
and trurhfullv presented, especially III the
matter OF individual Characterization ana
also many in which the music made more
general appeal to the ears and hearts OF INC
audience. Die Meistersinger has become
50 completely and intimately an integra'
part Or what might Do called fhe hlghsr
operate life of the community mat
would be difficult 20 infuse It WIN Al
element which would excite sensation aI
all akin 10 surprise. II no longer presents
a problem Of any kind 70 those VINO love
f.. and al love II who know 10. Io"y loNe
rs comedy and accept n for me pure
humor ad downright fun there - m II
without indulging IN curious questlon"sS
as 70 tho corrective purpose when wagner
had I'm writing t. They love i's music De-
cause they have learned that II eXhaleS
melody as a lilac tree does perfume. ano
that there Is nothing but retresnment anu
aesthetic upift in the melodies. II was ue-
cause Of the sincere and obviouslT anec-
tionata appreciation OF that fact on the
part of Signor Toscanini and his skill IN
making the orchestra sing without ceasins'
and sing with A thousand expressive
, nuances. that his share I'm the performance
/ OF last night must re lifted into higher
prominence than that Of any other FACTOR.
There was both understanding and love IN
his work FOR guch results as he attained
can only be reached by intelligence sat
urated through and through With affection
/ knowledge. skill. enthusiasm and afec-
| ton Of an equally high order informed the
/ work Of Mr. Goritz who has been fig-
IRE In the comedy which since II was Hrst
| brought forward has had but one fellow
Emil Fischer's Hans Sachs. There are
many admirable qualities in Mr.. Soomer's g
| lmpersonation Of the cObhler-poet espe'
/ CialIy musical. but IL is not free from con-
ventionality and II does not disclose as
naturally and uncoustrainedly az did the
/ inpersouation of one or two Of his prede-
. cessors the delightful mixture Of elements
which are tO ue found in the historical
Sachs as well As the creations Of Wagner.
Mr.. Sooner might proita1ly study the
. character little more closely from its
physical as well as spiritual side. Were
be- 10 copy any one Of the extant portraits
Of the old poet he would present him as an
older yet at the same time more attrac-
; tive man. For Sachs Is a WdOwer in the
comedy, and the veritable Sachs was a
widower after he was sixty years old.
There is much charm in his voice. but FOR
a very essential element IN dramatic song
a. C-emplfed in tins wonderful wOrk-thar
is dction-he might prodtably study the
work OF two Of his companions who vii.
never be accused Of thinking too much Of
the sensuOus effect Of their sinRing-Messrs
Gor!tZ and Relss Even Mr.. Witherspoon,
/ whose dramatic impersonation as Welt POg-
ner IS all but lifeIess. was more distinct
in his utterance than the singer who comes
70 US from the land Of Wagner. Miss Des-
tinn's Eva does not belong on the line in
her gallery of dramatic portraits, though
her fine vocal skill stood her in good stead
in the sustained musical portions like the
quintet Nr J0rn sang with real warmth
Of feeling, mis- singing being much more
compelling than his acting. Much spirit
was put by the chorus and orchestra into
the finale OF the second act and the festive
scenes Of the third
The cast: