Year: 1875

Ess."


Theodore Wachtel appeared at the Academy of Music
last night for the first time in this country in the role
OF Eeazer the goldsmith, in Halevy's opera 'TheJ6w-
ess" 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
actor and a singer have their fullest scope, he
was always the great artist AS representative Of
tragic role he is unequalled, and no part In which he
has yet been heard in this country surpasses his
Eleazer in depth Of feeling, whether expressive of
fahers tenderness for his child wrath at the conduct
of the betrayer grief of her and his mis-
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-ho superb. The finale to the first
act was masterpiece of art, and his clear ringing
tones-each note clearly cut his action was in
tense-were something which surprise the
operate stage of the period 1t almost impos-
sble that an artist who has had such extended
career should so long have preserved his marvellous
was only necessary to prove that the Wachtel OF
the past Is Wachtel STILL 1t was the fea


ure of the evening, and it would scarcely be saying
too much to characterize such triumph as sufficient
for lifetime. An artist capable of such achievements
may well be excused for outstanding his strength in
less important scenes; but Mr. Wachtel has the rare
quality Of making his acting go far as his singing,
and he thereby enhances instead of diminishes his
lyric triumphs. This specially noticeable In the
third act where he saved his voice, but made his
resplendent by his skill as actor


The of 'The Jewess' last night in the main was
excellent As matter of course there marked
deficiencies and many defects but these more
than counterbalanced by features Of great merit Mr.
Milder as Leopold was mider than desirable. HIS
voice is harsh in quality and insufficient in quantity
and he has skill actor whereby redeem his
other shortcomings. He makes the role exceedingly
nspd but then we 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 1T too high at the outset and
she thereby marred her entire performances. She was
however sufficiently successful to be considered
ceptable artist and she will doubtless learn TO avoid
these faults After Wachel the success of the evening
belonged to Nine. Wagner in the npassioned part Of
the Jewess In naming her thus after the others IL
may be that we are following after her own example,
for while the others showed their best qualities in the
beginning and grew neither better as they
proceeded she ardy in the exhibition Of her powers
She is an artist who grows upon acquaintance and
compes recognition by repeated effort In the first act
she forced her voice in way to give little promise of
what she afterward achieved but the opera pro-
ceeded she seemed to become inspired with her theme
aod her singing OF the pathetic parts Of the role
marked by sweetness and fervor which are certain
to insure the highest results. She has all tho pahos
necessary TO this trying role and her voice responds in
all respects to the emotions of forsaken but noble
womanhood, and If she able TO interpret tho char
actcr with as much force by acting in her singing
she might make the part Of Rachel her own


Turning from these matters OF detail the presenta
ton of the opera a whole it must be pronounced
ceedingy satisfactory Seldom has work been better
given in this city. If the orchestra and chorus
not exceptionally good they at least were
unusually acceptable, and throughout the artists
composing the company succeeded in giving
tanned. Almost without exception there was a
wealth OF expression often lacking the Italian
stage, and which seems reserved alone for the Ger
mans. Even had Mr. Neuendorfr been without his
great tenor this alone would have assured the
OF the work last night and it must 60 great sway in
accu tha NJ hfs Oia