Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-05-16
WAGNER FESTIVAL
NOTABLE SUCCESS
Applause for Madame Gadski
Emil Holman and Met
ropolitan Orchestra.

One hundred years ago, nearly to
the day, in May, Richard Wagner
was born. A few months later, when
the soft, shimmering haze and gold
en- sunlight of October descended to
glorify the earth, mighty masses OF
men surrounded Leipsig, the mas
ter's birthplace. Thu Battle OF the
Nations" with myriads against one
devoted army, was being fought. 1t
was the power of a world pitted
against the genius of one Corsican,
and Germany triumphed through the
greater odds. Thus in the selfsame
year twofold victory crowned the
aegis of the fatherland. One OF these
was gained through the indomitable
Teutonic spirit, the other was the
gift of the spirit of art, which sent
into the world one who, indeed,
would be forced to battle for his
mastery, but who, winning, was and
is acclaimed both as German genius
and as the creator of the universal
music of the future--the music which
expresses poetry that lies too deep
for words.
1t is a triumph for the city of New
ark, the home of so many loyal Ger
man-Americans, that there should
abide within her limits a son of the
fatherland who could pay such a
tribute to genius as the Wagner me-
mortal festival held at the Shubert
Theatre last evening; and literally
was the originator, Emil Hoffman,,
rewarded His program alone
proved that no ordinary concert mas
ter was In command The prelude
was from "Die Meistersinger," that
song of nature in which the first act
is a hymn to the glorious awakening
of spring; the second, a chant OF
a summers night Then follows the
waldweben from "Siegfried," that mu-
steal counterpart of the sounds of
the forest. "Tannhaeuser" supplies
the next numbers with overture and
excerpts. Then the Ring and Par
sifal' are invoked to give due express
sion to the later masterpieces of the
composer in honor of whose memory
the concert is given.
And the artists? Where could they
be surpassed? Where in the wide
world is there the equal of the ma
iestic Madame Gadsk, gracious but
imperial in pride and mien, with a
voice whose quality and range long
ago stamped her as easily first among
dramatic sopranos?
Adorned with rich jewels in pro-
fusion. with her decorations from
sovereigns upon her breast, Madame
Gadski instantly won for herself the
admiration and love which are as
much her right as the gems that she
wears. She sang 'Dich Theure
Halle" "Elsa's Traum' and "Brunn-
| hides Appeal to Wotan" and
.sIsolde's Liebestod" The heartfelt
applause of the audience, the thrice
repeated calls and the splendor of the
| floral tributes showered upon hel
seemed to go to her heart. Never
lhas she sung with more ravishine
perfection or feeling. The very heart
| of one beat softly as if its SOUND
must be hushed for the notes that
poured from her lips. II am speech
| less, said the woman at my side
when I murmured a question. This
was the feeling of the audience, il
/ was evident. As the great singer
| awaited the signal of the baton 9
silence fell such as is rarely heard
| in a thronged auditorium. Madame
| Gadski has had innumerable tributes
but none more genuine or unaffect.
| ed than that which a Newark audi
ence gave her, I dare to say. And how
! like a gracious empress she received
/ them! Her stern eyes softened. hei
| smile was very tender as she bowed
her head in recognition.
I think that the singing of Profes
sor Hoffman, was surprise to hi:
fellow townsmen. His choice wer,
"Blick Ich Umher" and "Wotan's
Farewell" The first he sang with q
wealth of expression and grace tina
were very touching. There was ap
peal in his attitude and sincerity IL
his phrase. If slight intimation o
nervous tension was evident it onl,
added to the rich beauty of his vo
calization. The air of Herr Roth
meyer as he gently guided the sing
er was, as it were, paternal and thu
glance that he gave the artist, TIN
grasp of the hand, expressed his EN-
phatic approval.
This same conductor, superb in hi
leadership of his great organization
doomed upon the stage as noble
dignified figure. The wonders tina
he brought forth from the suprem
artists under his command inspire
applause even with the energy of a.
ovation.