New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-03-18
"TlEFLAND" SUNG
AT THE CENTURY
D'Albert Opera Has Most
CreditabIe Performance
in English.

The Century opera Company presented
last night a work which came very near
being novelty when it gave Eugeu
Il Alberts "Tiefand.' This opera, which
Maria Labia brought to vast popularity in
Berlin. was sung at the Metropolitan
opera House during the season OF 1850
the first OF the joint directorate Of Guilio
Gatu-Casazza and Andreas DppeL
The part of Marta was then taken by
Emmy Destinn. that Of Sebastiano by
Fritz Feinhals, Pedro BY Eric Schmedes.
and Nuri by Isabelle rHuillier. The
work despite an admirable presentation,
failed TO awaken any popular interest.
and since that period its scenery has rest
ed in the Metropolitan's storehouse from
which it was taken last night once more
to fulfil its functions at the Central Park
West playhouse.
The CenturYs MANAGEMENT made an in
teresting experiment when it chose the
dAlbert opera for It's repertorv. one Of
the chief reasons for its failure at the
Metropolitan lay in tho fact that prime
requisite FOR the enjoyment OF the work
is an understanding Of the lbrettO As
the work was given in German, such IN
understanding was impossible. and the
melodic and lyric inspiration OF the music
was insufficient to make amends. If any
translated opera is to be preferred TO
the original. surely "Tienand" IS one Of
these. the music being entirely subordi-
mated 10 the story. which is carried on
practically entirely through parlando, the
music Coloring the words. and, as II were,
floating them over the footlights. In such
a case a complete understanding Of what
Is passing is practically necessary there
being no lyric or emotional outbursts 10
warm the heart or carry away the feel
ings In the projection Of this under
standing last nights artists were COM
pletely successful.
Little, if anything, that was sung
escaped the audience, and for once the
management had secured translation
which was altogether admirable. II was
smooth. grammatical. singable and suf-
ficientIv forceful Angel Guimera's play
was given and appreciated, however much
the audience may have cared for the
music itself
OF the singers first honors went to
the PEDRO Of Gustav Bergman, who gave
n moving impersonation and who sang the
music with pleasing tone and with true
feeling Mr. Kreidler's Sebastiano was
also fcrceful enactment. and Miss Ewel
sang the music finely. even II she made
the figure Of Marta more colorless than
might have been desired.
Mr. Szendrei despite his recent out
burst. was in the conductors stand ana
showed that he understood the score,
though the tone produced by his musicians
still lacked warmth or resonance.
The first duty of the Century's man
arement is surely to bring about an i'm
provement in the personnel Of this most
important portion of the organization.
though it was evident from last night s
performance that adequate rehcarsals.
such az it was apparent "Tiefland' had
received. will go part way to remcdyinS
this weakness.
"Tiefland" is one Of the best things the
Century has accomplished, and II Is well
worth hearing. Its singers are admirable.
its staging effective, its movement vital
and the orchestra improved.