New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-10-07
English Language Not In
appropriate to Wag-
ner Dramas.
NEED OF ARTISTIC
DIRECTION APPARENT
Crude Realism Fatal to Poetic
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Sing
ing Wins Approval.
BY II. T.. kREHBIEL.

Every honest attempt to perform
Wagner "Lohengrin" is entitled to re.
sDect. regardless Of the language used
by the singers. The musical beauty
OF the opera was first fully disclosed
to New Workers by Italian perform
ances; the first dramatic by German.
The English performances at the Cen
tury Opera House last year were disap-
pointing, because Of the want of both
musical and dramatic beauty. Yet, in
It's way, IL was brave effort in the
only direction in which salvation for
such an enterprise lies. SO was the
effort at the same institution which had
its beginning last night.
Every absurdity in this old Italian
opera is made more absurd by presen-
tation in English, as those who have
littened TO "Traviata" and other works
OF its kind have been compelled TO
recognize. Opera removed from the
sphere of poetry becomes ridiculous,
and TRANSACTIONS of the old Italian and
French works all emphasize the incOn-
gruity of commonplace dialogue
welded TO music.
The difference between Romantic and
Germanic languages must be recog-
nized Italian and French operas done
into German are just rs foolish as
Italian and French operas done into
English. This might also hold true of
Ctd-fdshiOned German operas done into
Fnglish: but it does not hold true Of
Nagner's lyric dramas. partly because
Of the lingual kinship, partly because
The music fits both play and language.
"LOhengrln" offers few obstacles TO
representation in English for music,
4 -,
tagonism. Wagner is unsteady trans
latable and "Lohengrin" has been well
translated; never i'll, 50 far as we
know
No fault was to be found, therefore,
with the groundwork Of last nights
performance, and if Mr.. Weldon, VINO
impersonated he King, and Mr.. Kreid-
Ter who ragged about the stage as the
wicked Count Frederick, were at dis
agreement with Mr.. Mari (the herald,
and Mr.. Kingston (the celestial knight,
as 20 the proper names Of each other
and the wrongfully accused heroine, It
only challenged an amused smile or
passing regret that the AbOrn broth
crs have not enlisted the services OF
an intelligent, artistic director, who
might have Strengthened such matters
out, and incidentally have indicated TO
all concerned how to spread little
more poetic glamour over play which
loses its charm when presented IN
the spirit Of rude realism. Somebody,
surely, ought to have told Mr.. Weldon
that the heroinc's name was not Miss
Won Brabant. or the villains Mr.. won
Telramund. but that the former was
the Countess of Brabant. the latter the
Count of Telra-und. That much, at
least, might have been asked for the
sake Of the cause"
1t was not until "Lohengrin" was in
cluded in the repertory of the Wag-
merriam temple at Bayreuth that much
attention was given 70 historical verify
in the scenic investiture of the play.
That element was negligible last night,
though the pictures and, possibly, the
frowsv costumes were borrowed from
the Metropolitan Opera House. But
how interesting il would have been
had the opera been made to present
graphic and convincing pictures OF Ger
man culture in the early part Of the
tenth century, had something been
done TO enable spectators and hearers
to realize that the King on the stage
was the counterfeit presentment OF
that Henry / of Germany who success
fully defended his Duchy OF SaXony
against Savonic invasion. who hrs:
made Lorraine subject TO Germany and
who extended the German dominion
over much of that country which the
Germans of William II have devas-
tated
Mr.. Walden was a reasonably I'M
pressiye monarch, tuneful of utterance
and orotund of voice, but not much
more suggestive of the romantic side
OF Henry the Fowler than Miss Llnska
was Of the supernaturally sinister OF
O-trud, Miss Freeman of the dreamy
maiden or Mr.. Kingston Of the knight,
strong OF arm. yet borne as on angels
wings. The singing Of the last named
was admirable, thoroughly admirable
scarcely any one could have wished y
better. But who could have imagined
him a Knight of the Grail?
1t would be straining even charity 20
cay that the demands Of the score were
met by Mr.. knoch, the new conductor,
the chorus or the orchestra