Metropolitan Opera Archives

An uncommonly smooth and symmetrical performance of "Tannhäuser" was given at the Metropolitan Opera House last evening. It was a performance superior in most respects to that of "Lohengrin," with which the current season was entered upon, but it resembled that representation as compared with last season's production of "Tannhäuser" in respect of its greater evenness and finish and of its slightly lessened spasmodic brilliancy. How much of what the Italians call "effetto plataele" was the outcome a year ago of the contrast between excellent and mediocre work need not be discussed at present; certain it is, thus far, that the Winter's entertainments quite outrank their forerunners in point of balance and artistic worth. Yesterday's rendering of "Tannhäuser," with the exception of an occasional lack of skill and promptness in the management of the stage, claims a high place in the records of German opera at the Metropolitan. The portrayals of the principal characters are entitled to hearty commendation, and the difficult task assigned to the chorus and orchestra was executed with a degree of precision very seldom attained, M. Sylva, who essayed for the first time the rôle of Tannhäuser, as it stands in the original version of the opera, sang through the trying alternation of declamation and pure cantabile with the easy emission of a broad and powerful volume of tone, the accurate intonation - a somewhat rare thing in German opera and the expressive and tasteful phrasing and accent that marked his earliest achievements. In the finable of the second act be wrought a particularly profound impression, and when the nervousness that possessed him shall have passed away and his acting of the part shall be helped by a freedom of manner which it sometimes lacked last night, he need fear no recollections left by his predecessors. Herr Robinson came forth again as Wolfram, to whose tuneful measures the baritone's voice and style are capitally suited, and Frau Krauss was once more seen as Elisabeth. Both artists renewed pleasant memories of past successes. Venus was embodied, as formerly, by Fräulein Slach, whose rather harsh voice a period of repose has not mellowed to any appreciable extent. Herr Fischer's tones lent unwonted importance to the music of the Landgrave, and, in the fine concerted numbers of the score. Herr Alvary's resonant tenor - the performer being cast for Walter - made these portions of the opera notably effective. But there is really no need of going into details concerning a performance which had evidently had careful preparation and which progressed, last night, under the direction of a practiced and firm hand. The representation was most creditable to everybody engaged in ft. It was conducted by Herr Anton Seidl.

Search by season: 1885-86

Search by title: Tannhäuser,

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