Evening star., 1923-10-16
LOHENGR|N' sung
W|THF|NE EFFECT
Warnerian Opera Co., in De-
but, Hailed by Audience.
Ritter Scores Triumph.

Practically all Washington society
filed Polls Theater last night at the
debut performance of the Wagnerian
Opera Company, in "Lohengrin,' the
Aida. of Wagnerian operas. Eduard
Iocrike, who won such general ap-
proval with his conducting last year,
.,gain proved his extreme sympathy
and understanding of the great Ger
man composers music in the manner
in which he brought out all of the
magic beauty OF this tale of the gem
tlCnesS of ideal love
Maivin Dahlherg was indeed right
YES erday when he said that the or
"hcStra can make or mar a Wagner
ian production more easily than any
other opera. The New York State
symphony Orchestra. under Moerike's s
baton, created the exact atmosphere
for the opera in the first notes of the
opening overture, and upheld the
same throughout all the changing
moods and motifs of the beautiful
music. 1t is a wonderful instrumental
organization.
Ritter Dominates Opera.
Ot the singers Rudolf Ritter domi-
mated the opera. both by reason of
his role. Lohengr.n. and by virtue OF
The excellence of his tenor voice and
the manner in which he interpreted
the role. Physically as well as vo-
valiy he filled the role OF the gentle
Yet valiant knight to perfection, tow
erinE above the other members of the
company in comma nding fashion. The
only possible criticism that might be
made would be that he is a bit ma
turc for the role. a one is led by the
story and the music to expect ar
Apollo rather than a zeus
Else Alsen, formerly a leading con-
tralto, but for the past four years a
dramatic soprano of much ability,
showed splendid Stgength and volume
III her singing OF Ortrud rising to
special heights in iher aria of the sec
ond act and the dfet with Elsa. Nine.
AlSen has become noted for her sing
Ing OF Isolde aud of Brunhilde. but
surely her Ortrr,d is admirable.
HcrmanLa We'll Scores.
Elsa Gcntner Fischer in the role eNof
Elsa Of Brei,ant. sang easily and
smoothly with we'll rounded tones
and great y eauty. especially in her
softer passs ges. The extremely diff
cut and G.nGthy duet with Lohen-
grin in the last act, rose TO the great
est heights of wagnerian music Her
duct witE' Ortrud in the second act
was also skiIIfully handled. although
a few u her notes were shrill
otto 'Semper sang the role of the
herald. very well and Hermann We'll
made the villainous Telramund d
detnY-e dramatic identity as we'll as
proving himself a powerful singer.
beokIoldinc Link sang his role of King
H2Cry / very well. but his voice was
fhrdly big enough for a kingly role.
Thc chorus was well trained aud
most effective in rejecting the dra :
matte changes Of mood in the princi-
pal characters.
Die Neistersipger" Tonight.
The settings and costumes were
unusually fine for a travelling com
pany and the production held the at
tention of the audience in its entirety
until the very end of the last scene.
Tonight the company will present
musical comedy. beginning at :
o'clock. Josef Stransky will conduct
the opera and Heinrich Marowsky.
claimed to be the foremost bass of
Europe. will make his American de-
but in the role of Pogner Hermann
SChramm will sing the role of David
Others in the cast of tonights per-
formance include; Theodore Latter
man as Hans Sachs. Benno Ziegler as
. Kothuer, Editha Fleischer as Eva.
Emma Basth as Magdalene. Robert
Hutt as Stolzing. Max Loppmann as
VogclSang. DeSider Zador as Beck
mcSser. Emil Staudenmeyer as Mach
tigaII. Otto Semper as Ortel. Joseph
Braun as FOltH. William Birlenbach
AZ Zorn, Fritz Great as EislinEer,
Heinrich konrad as Schwarz Her
mann Lindermann as Moser and Jo-
seph ScoctzinGer as Nachtwaecher.