Life — October 12, 1899 — page 12: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

“ An Ambitious Effort. IE MEISTERSINGER" 1s not an opera to be trifled with. Its suc- cessful performance {8 a heavy strain on all tho resources of the greatest operatic organizations, But the Castle Square Opera Company is nothing if not courageous. To courage it adds earnestness aud sincerity of effort, with tho result that its accomplishments are croditable from the artistic point of view, and commendable as valuable steps in the direction of popular education, When it is remembered that this company plays to prices which are well within the means of tho people at large, It can readily be understood that it cannot command all the accessories for the perfect performance of tho great operas, The captious can find many defects to cavil at in these perform- ancex, but that they havo a high degree of merit for the pluco they attempt to Millis shown by their continued popular support in Now York and Chicago, and by the fact that St. Louis has been added to the list of cities maintaining a company singing *standard operas in English, “Dio Meistersinger ” as produced at tho American Theatre is cut to some extent. If Wagner is to be popularized in tho United States, this isa necessity with some of the longer operas, Not all of his possl- blo admirers have the time, and few have the patience, to sit through the complete performances, Americans at largo have not yet acquired the ability possessed by German opera-goors and Admiral Dowey, to stop fora meal and then go on with the entertainment, But the Wagner babit is a Progressive one, and even the people who are receiving their musical education at the hands of the Castle Square company may yet come to clamor for the Trilogy in its entirety. ‘The opera is well mounted and costumed. Tho stage of the American is not that of the Metropolitun, so that in tho out-of-door scones wo do not get the same effects of distance, but generally in correctness, and certalnly in freshness, the costumes com- pare (which comparison should not be made, of course) favorably with those of the older, bigger and richer house. Tho orchestra is deficient in numbers, but, con- sidering its size, is admirably handled. Miss Yvonne de Tréville, who sang in the first performance of * Die Meister- singer,” seems to have grown since last season, both in stature and in self-posses- sion. In the later performances of last year her voice appeared to show the effect of bodily fatigue, This has passed away, and shesings with equal sweetness and precision, and with fur more vigor than when sho first appeared with this com- pany. Mr. Berthald, who sang Walter, made himself up to resemble Jean do Reszko, but, notwithstanding this, his per- formance as a whole was creditable, and his singing of the “ prize song” showed the possession of a sweet and sympathetic voice, The Sachs ot Mr. Mertens and tho David of Mr. Davies wero well sung and acted. The acting of Mr. Lind as Beck- messer was really excellent, and atoned for his vocal eccentricities, The chorus at tho Amortcan is always good, and in the prosent instance sang well, and outdid its own reputation for activity in its business. The real- ism of the bustling about of Beck- measer by the crowd in front of Pogner’s was actually shocking In & grand opera—wo are so accus- tomed to seeing the chorus and utility peoplo do their W acting in the perfunctory “nanner of a bricklayor working by the day. ‘Tho season starts propi- tiously at tho American and even the most exacting critic must admit that the Cas- tle Square company 18 | workingin tho right diree- tion and for the good of the causo of music among the Amorican people, *“ «© « SPECTACULAR pleco entitled she “The Welcome of the Ad- miral” received its first presentation in New York on September 29th and 30th, and proved an unqualified tri- ne 5 wee umph. Mr. George Dewey, who has of late beon appearing with con- siderable success in Manila, played tho leading part, and demonstrated not only that he possesses physical pulehritude and wears his clotbes well, but that he has great ability and personal magactism. Ho ro- ceived much genuineapplause, Tho scenery provided by our leading sculptors and deco- rators was highly effective and arttstlc. Wo havo it on good authority that next season Mr, Dewoy will bo cast for The President in a “1 ASSURE YOU, MADAME, IT GIVES ME GREAT PLEASURE TO BE ABLE TU OFFER YOU THE SHELTER OF MY UMIRKE! ploco not soon in America for some time,and entitled “Good Government.” Metcalfe. HE: Don't you think, dear, it would have been better ‘o look up that cook’s references? He: Dear me, no. They might not lave been satisfactory. HE folks who interested themselves in raising money to buy Admiral Dewey a house have beea pretty gener- ally scoffed at as self-seekers, meddlers, and doers of the wrong thing. Neverthe- less they have got together nearly fifty thousand dollars, and that will buy about as much ofa house asthe Admiral will cure to pay taxeson. Judging this pudding by the eating, and not by the cooking of it, it seems not to be so very bad a dish. comicbooks.com