Year: 1875

GERMAN OPERA AT THE AcADEMY-''THE JEW


Ess."


Theodore Wachtel appeared at the Academy of Music
last night for the first time in this country in the role
OF Eleazer, the goldsmith in Halevys opera The J6w
css This in itself event to bring good house
together, and the cast with few exceptions was
everything that could be desired Mr.. wachte was in
splendid voice, and though he reserved his
powers for those grand where his genius both
an actor and singer have their fullest scope, he
was always the great artist AS a representative Of
tragic role he is unequalled, and part in which he
has yet been heard in this country surpasses his
Eleazer in depth of feeling, whether expressive of
fathers tenderness for his child wrath the conduct
of the betrayer grief account of her and his
fortunes. In those grand outbursts of passion with
which the opera abounds-not the fine frenzy
of stage lovers swearing fidelity to stage
mistresses, but the highest emotions of the
human heart-hc was superb. The finale to the first
act masterpiece of art, and his clear ringing
tones-each note as clearly cut as his action was in
tense-were something which surprise the
operate stage of the period. It almost impos
sible that artist who has had such an extended
should long have preserved his marvellous
powers unimpaired but this grand effort last night
was only necessary to prove that the Wachtel OF
tho past l. Wachtel STILL 1t the fea-
of the evening" and IL would scarcely be saving
too much characterize such triumph as sufficient
for a lifetime. An artist capable of such achievements
may well be excused for outstanding his strength in
less important scenes; but MIR Wachtel has the
quality of making his acting go far his singing
and he thereby enhances instead Of dimnishes his
lyric triumphs. This specially noticeable In the
third act where he saved his voice, but made his
Respondent by his skill as actor


The cast of "The Jewess'' last night in the main
excellent As matter of course there were marked
deficiencies and many defects but these were more
than counterbaanced by features OF great merit Mr.
Mder as Leopold was mider than desirable. His
voice is larSn In quality ana inSufCtcnt quantity
and he has skill as actor whereby to redeem his
other shortcomings He emakes the role an exceed ngly
nspd one but then have scarcely the right expect
him another Wachtel Mile Goldbergiwas hardly more
fortunate Her voice Is naturally shrill and she had
the misfortune to pitch II too high at the outset and
she thereby marred her entire performance. She was
however, sufficiently successful TO be considered
ceptabe artist, and she Will doubtless learn TO avoid
those faults After Wachtel the success of the evening
belonged TO Nine. Wagner in the mpassioned part OF
the Jewcss In naming her thus after the others it
may be that We are following after her own example,
for while the others showed their best qualities the
beginning and grew neither better they
proceeded she tardy in the exhibition her powers
She Is an artist who grows upon acquaintance and
compels recognition by repeated effort In the first act
she forced her voice in way to give little promise of
what she afterward achieved but as the opera pro-
ceeded she seemed TO become inspired with her theme
aud her singing OF the pathetic parts Of the role
marked by sweetness and fervor which certain
TO insure the highest results She has all tho pathos
necessary TO this trying role and her voice responds in
all respects TO the emotions Of iorsaken but noble
womanhood and II she able to interpret the char
acter with much force by acting in her singing
she might make the part Of Rachel her own


Turning from these matters OF detail TO the presenta
tion of the opera a whole 1t must be pronounced
ceedingly satisfactory Seldom has work been better
given in this city. If the orchestra and chorus
not exceptionally good they at least
unusually acceptable and throughout the artists
composing the company succeeded in giving
completeness Of ensemble seldom at
tanned. Almost without exception there
wealth OF expression so often lacking the Italian
stage and which reserved alone for the Ger
mans. Even had Mr. Neuendorff been without bis
great this alone would have assured tho
OF the work last night and IL must 60 great sway in
assuring the success Of his whole season.