Metropolitan Opera Archives

The performance of "Die Meistersinger" at the Metropolitan Opera House last evening, though attended by a large audience and followed with the interest which this admirable, many-sided work always awakens, was not as warm in spirit nor as smooth in execution as previous performances of the season. This was largely owing to the fact that some of the principal singers were in poor voice - a failing that is naturally frequent at the latter part of a long and arduous season.

Herr Alvary, who has so large a share of the work of the opera, was in particularly poor voice, and his singing suffered greatly. Herr Beck was also suffering, and his Pogner, which is usually a good performance, was not up to its mark. Fräulein Senger-Bettaque sang Eva in her customary style, which is injured by numerous departures from the pitch.

Herr Fischer's voice was in good condition, and he sang and acted with all his excellent ability. His manly and genial acting of his rôle is delightful to witness. The chorus did its work well, and the orchestra, under the sympathetic guidance of Herr Seidl, brought out all the beauties of the wonderful score.

Search by season: 1888-89

Search by title: Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg,

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