Evening star., 1923-10-17
ADJUSTMENTS

Die Meistersinger Won Nuremberg"
the second opera of Wagner after he
left the so-called grand opera" field
and began composition Of musical
dramas, was sung very acceptably
last night by the Wsgnerian Opera
Company at Polls Theater, as the
second of its four-performance sea-
son in this city. Josef Stransky con-
Quoted.
The opera abounds with lovely
melodies that occur and recur all
through the score. while the conven-
tional recitative OF opera composition
is replaced in this work with decla-
nations set to music that are far
more pleasing to the ear.
The success OF a Wagnerian musical
drama rests not in singing alone, hut
in the ability of the singers to act.
For this reason the role OF Beck
messer, sung last night by Desider
Zador, stood out above all else. Vo-
cally, Zador was well suited to his
part. but in his portrayal of the irri-
table middle-aged town clerk who
sought the hand of the lovely and
youthful Eva he rose to the heights
of artistry. Particularly excellent
was the work during his serenade.
or, rather. attempted serenade, of
EVa, when he shaded his love song
from the sweet, wooing tones of the
opening passages to q terrible growl
as the Interruptions of Hans Sachs
reused his Ire. He made the most of
the humorous intent of this song.
Again In the last scene as he sang
tne nonsensical song that Sachs had
given him. as he thought. to aid him
IN winning Eva's hand, his growing
CONFUSION as the outlaws of the as
sembied people greeted his efforts
anu MS nnal dumfounding were well
oone and won much approval
me ro1e or Hans Sachs is one of the
most d;fficult of operatic roles. The
demands upon the singer are con-
tinuous and little rest is given from,
the first to the last. Theodor Lat
[erTiman. feTi who sang this part, had a
Part of the philosophical shoemaker
lie was particularly good In his sec
cnd monologue when he INTERRUPTED
Door Backmesser's serenade. His third
ornz ~nen ne ne @ sat In his shop brooding
had fallen upon the town. was dra-
matte and well shaded
Inc nrst monologue, which con-
1asnS two of the most beautiful airs
OF the opera, "Es klang so alt. und
war doch so alt" and Dem Vogel.
der heut' sang" with the orchestr "a
giving the lovely Springs Com
n1and' motif. however. through no
fault OF the singer. failed to meet its
possibilities 10
The two soft, legato passages were
lost somewhere behind the volume of
me orchestra Even the Springs
command" motif failed to carry above
me brass. The real criticism of the
ts opera: II one is to be. made. is that
the orchestra was frequently too
heavy. and unless one were famflia p
with the motifs they were difficult to
follow at times ~
liatterman is entitled to much praise
Tor his excellent performance of a
difficult and trying role.
EocaIly. the outstanding passage of
rhe opera was "Pogner's Address >,
sung by Heinrich Schoepffin. who was
cast In the character of Eva's father
the rich burgomaster. His sonorons
bass powerful and deep. Yet smootb
sno as a baritone, poured forth to the
The ,ecstatic "St. Johns DaV" notis
Which comes shortly after the Start
o. & me aadress, was sung with the
audience listened enraptured 'He
Robert HUT. who sang UaI+ar
r,