Life, 1884-12-04 · page 10 of 16
Life — December 4, 1884 — page 10: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Life Magazine's Satire on Wagner's *Tannhäuser* at the Met This page mocks an 1884 Metropolitan Opera production of Richard Wagner's *Tannhäuser*, presenting it as a pretentious spectacle funded by "Associated Millionaires." The satire targets several absurdities: **The opera itself**: The review notes the gap between Wagner's ambitious libretto (depicting mythological scenes) and the actual production's mediocrity—ballet dancers who "do not break" bad habits, uninspired staging. **High society pretension**: A famous illustration ("Fancy Portrait") shows a cat arching its back in a concert hall—likely mocking the affectations of opera-goers. Between-act dialogue satirizes wealthy patrons' superficial engagement: a father finds it tedious while his daughter gushes; a young woman compares the opera to her home's musical box. **Wagner's reputation**: The lengthy, tedious performance (estimated to take three hours for one address) becomes the joke itself—suggesting even millionaires' money cannot make Wagner's grand ambitions work in practice. The underlying critique: American wealth and the Metropolitan Opera establishment cannot manufacture genuine culture.
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LIFE METROPOLITAN OPERA HOUSE. THE ASSOCIATED MILLIONAIRES, - Dr. LEOPOLD DAMROSCH, - - Sole Proprietors. Director and Conductor. TANNHAUSER. Richard Wagner's Grand Romantic Opera. In Three Acts. Opening Overture by the Orchestra of the Associated Millionaires. Act I. 1.—The Hill of Venus. The libretto informs us see Naiads bathing in a bluish (sic) lake, and | Sirens reclining on its undulating (sic) banks, and a group of dancing Nymphs in the centre and a train of Bacchantes. But the opera glass discloses only a group of Swinging Angels and the usual motherly ballet. In opera in America, the ballet-dancers rarely know how to dance the ballet; and, as sure as legs are legs these ballet-dancers do not break this | custom. The gentle gambols of the maternal ballet having | ceased, Tannhauser tries to escape. Venus, who seems to have discovered that a fashionable house is. always cold and has dressed herself in anticipation of a cold day, has no wish to be left. She tries to beguile Tannhauser by singing “The Girl | Left Behind Me.” But Tannhauser withstands her blandishments and escapes. FANCY PORTRAIT. THE LEADER OF THE THOMAS CONCERTS. SCENE II.—The libretto informs us that this is a view of the Wartburg, but the experienced playgoer recognizes it at once as the exterior of Castle Bunthorne. There is a Business Men's Pilgrimage, followed by a parade of Plumed Knights. Tannhauser falls in and marches away to take part in the | Competitive Examination of the Sweet Singers of the Wart- | burg. Chorus : Now let your harps indite (sc) a measure Of all that hero’s hand may dare— Of all that poet’s heart can pleasure (séc) Before the fairest of the fair. (CURTAIN.] BETWEEN THE ACTS. The Father of a Family (sarcastically): Gorgeous, is n't it? Eldest Daughter (enthusiastically): \t is indeed! That music quite carries me away ! The Father of a Family (sarcastically): | wish something would carry me away ! The Flower of the Flock (to the Male Stranger within the box): Don't you just dote on music, Mr. Dood. I do. I’m so fond of it. Why, we've a musical box at home, with a drum corps attachment and a chime of bells, and it plays the “ Mulligan Guards ” just too heavenly for anything. You ought to come up and hear it some Sunday afternoon ! ACT II. CENE, so the libretto informs us, is the Hall of the Minstrels in the Wartburg, but it has been enlarged ap- parently from a cuckoo clock. The Hall is hung with ban- ners, on which are displayed heraldic tigers and lions, each with its paw to its nose in a most offensive posture. The guests arrive, and Johnson tells them to order “carriages at eleven.” The Landgrave delivers his inaugural address, set to music, and it is estimated to occupy three hours in passing a | given point. The Sweet Singers of the Wartburg engage in a competitive examination (Marquis of Queensberry rules, as served by Barrett, J.) for the post of Chief Vocal Mugwump. Each of the Sweet Singers sings sweetly for an hour and three quarters. (Owing to the length of the programme. only two encores are allowed.) Tannhauser shocks everybody, including Queen Elizabeth, by declaring his fondness for rocking, Mount Desert style. CuHorus, At Thy august and holy shrine I go to seek the grace divine. Thrice blessed who my promise know (szc), Absolved by penance shall they go. (cURTAIN.] BETWEEN THE ACTS. A Cynic with a sense of humor : Well, | wonder how the | Associated Millionaires like ¢hat ? comicbooks.com