THE GRAND OPERA SEASON.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12158, 26 September 1901, Page 8

THE GRAND OPERA SEASON.

"TA.VNHAUSER." It is unnecessary lit- this time of day to . open .up tho question of (lie relative merits of tlio hernial!, Ireix-h, and Italian school? of fiuitic. At one time it furnished a pet-en-liidl theme for polemical debate with clilotlante aiitl musical connoiseurs. Hfuveis. in ■his well-known work, " Music and Morals." went abViosl as (r as to that ait Italian musician w-v physically and menta.ly incapable of giving true expression (o lierniati music,, Ilasveis was an enthusiastic admirer of tl.ie (Jernian school, anil while eiithiM.ng ..about CJei'niaii nUi.-i', 1 in a manner more in accord witii Ike emotional ohsiraclir of the miif.ie lii* deprecated, he grudgingly aoniittod tliiit there -,vas much to admire in tji" compositions uf Koss.ini, Yerdi, aiid Ctourgcl. While lie tiles a long list of composer* who occupy -a. place of suprenie preomincr.ee, he makes no mention of tnt; name of Vi Wagner's goniiui had not then rfiYMird ilsolt. It was ieflto an aTiei- generation to upraise the artistio prccihcU of hi.- 5 giaiic intellect froin the aceuii) ilia ted., dust of preceding lieavs, And Hint gCtiocaticin, v.iii v li lu 1( | attaiiu-tl to a snJi.ieiMntly Ki s l, ss. V| ;e in ;i ; ,. mro i tl ,i cvo i u . ■tjfin to enable it lo' pcrcwe Hie tmieh of Ih« supremo master mind in the" sublime lli f :nion of " and " Timnhanser,'' can allocate an honoured placo in the roll of fame In tho prprtt eomp.ojors oi other Countries who for 50 lbii£ licUt magic sway over tho tii(ni r AiKl;s of people seatfcved throughout Kurope. Wo Ure peculiarly fortunate that it is given ti : > ua to tiUtetfind and appreciate nml fed the glory awl supreme beauty of Wiigne/s inufiii'. 'i)ie wblld li:vp been the poorer iii years gone by that- it .was without the refining Houl-up-li'ft'iiijj influence of one of those giai.it mind* that al wide interval.})' loom large oil tho human horizon. Who knows what advanced Stage. with tlie experience of the fruits of ;i mmd mh'H as Wagnefoj the r'aeo may hot lmve attained to, what smouldering fire of may not, under hid creative skill, have boon Iciiulled into beintr, to be A hoacon • lifjht- to illumine the -world? The bountiful harvest with which tjenhts enriches the world is only stored iuul gathered in the lapse of year* Tho le?s receptive minds of ordi- . my mqrtab are glow lo assimilate tho lofty aims jind ideals of ineu who arc born before their: tinio, and hence it U that the deeds of great men live after them—an incentive ami fiwy *pur to humanity iu it* struggle to- higher and nobler tilings. K Lohengrin , afforded pleasure aiid food, for sweet reflection to the; general miu-s 6E music lover.?!, it wa.s onlv to bo expected that "Tannhauser" would .meet with an equally gratifying response. If there is much tlial Is. left to the imagination, except to those technically trained in " Lohciißriii," there ir, comparatively little in "Tann, liaiieer" that may not appeal to the instincts and feelings of all who. are disposed to be musically inclined. Most of us'have come to be acquainted with the great underlying themes of the work—the Pilgrims' chorus, the Vertusberg motif, which Wagner liimseif states is intended to. suggest ".the dizzy motion of a horribly wanton dance," Tnniilipiieer s ecstatic love song, which he triumphantly and exultingly sings: at the tourna- , n;e.nt, the magnificent raul-rousing niareh .Jfitli tlie choral accompaniment, "Hail, bright abocjci" the well-known and touchingly expressive (strains of "Elisabeth's liraycv," " firccting id. the hall , : •W'l V-olfram's song " 0 Star of < love. The overture to Tannhauser Jia? not o.Ucq.. but on many occasions, figured oil. (ho firogramme of the Dimcdin Orchestral Society, and . those ivhb have attended its concerts and listened with an appreciative and > mte'ligcut car to its admirable reiidering of I the sylendid: compo?ition could not fail to havo derived superlative delight listening ' to the incomparably fine rendering of the '• opera last nightj .as the majestic, inspiring ' nr.isic of each succeeding theme swelled and 1 ttiroug.Ui.nU tlie building. And 1 wlien contidpring this it is not unfitting that ' a few commendatory remarks should be made in connect ion with the admirable s'ocicly of instrumentalists which wo have the 1 go/id fortune to have in our inidist. Jt is at 1 (i.iiies such as this that its power uvul in- ' fluci'jcc as an educational factftr becomes ap- . parent, and its good work ill refining jtiid 1 uplifting the musical tastes of flip comlußuity m.anifqsts itself. Thai long it may 1 fulfil its signally useful and beneficent fiiiic- : lion? should bo the wish of all true lovers 1 of art- jij .Diinedin. 1 Mag.ncr not only wrote the inusie and the ! libretto of his operas, but he has set down ' in w-ritKig tlie. conceptions sought to lie ' pourtraved in the music, and lias left:, stage { oiroctioiis as ic the liianner in which the dramas should be presented. In underUk- I ing the production of AVagner's opcr;i.s the .nianagenicnt of Mr lluj.grove's company did 1 not underestimate the' necessity of tluj ' ( action of the Works being accompanied by 1 adequate scenic aeccssories. This has been c abundantly manifr-t in rrspcct of all the 1 operas performed dtiriiig the season, Imt on ; \ no previous .occasion has there been Wit- i nessed such a stii!jptuou?, elaborate series c cif stage pictures which formed suoh an t exceedingly at.iraetiv'c feature of last even- i ing's performance. Tho. fejst of Colour aiid ] the gleaming cffiilgonep of the niagieal, i myst"rioiis realms of the Tcnusberg," the i stately pomp and splendour of tile tourna- I li'.ent of song, and the imposing liiitgnifiepnee { of i.he 'inise en scene.fired the imagination s S'lul Swiftly carried the mind back to (lie s realms of .medieval romance aiid mysticism, r In the first act Tauiihauser is discovered c sighing 1 , for freedom' and relief from the s voluptuous'' charms of the underworid. This t mysi.erious .region has tlie appearance of an f immense grotto, under whose arching rocky,..a canopy a- scene, .of-.fairy-like cnchaiit.mt'Ut is z revealed. A niini:'turc lauds.cape of t beauty slrelc'lies out before the vision—a. n lantvca-K) of -virgin forest arid' opalescent, t 'translucent wafprs.. wlicreiu njiiipbs of a ijiyisliihg; ";be.aiVt;y disport themselves. (J'n v liVe-banks ii group oi;syf ens. raise their voices iii alluring ( hort'.-'c, while in. tlie . midst of a

(I i all Vehun sits in qiicculy statu deigning to | receive flic homage of ail her obedient stibi- "jeets. "T?.nnh;iuser," the romantic, lnytlioe logical figure wliicli. the grams of 'Wagner 11 iias imbued with life ami immortality, is It the dominant nolo of the whole work." Its it dramatic impersonation demands an ink-n----il ' sky and force of histrionic skill and sus.o tained vocal effort that none hut an artist IT fully imbued with a sense of tlie poetic g ((inception of the composer's meaning, coinis limed with a plenitude of natural gifts, e ; can ever hope to adequately essay. The >■ most jjeri>tit.cnt and the most ardiious'efforts. 0 ; well nigh phenomenal outbursts of dramatic e fire and vocal energy, are indispensable ;- \ features of a sueces-fitl presentment of the f heroic character which forms the central i- ' idea in this marvellously beautiful dramatic !i ' poem. 0 In tho second net Taunhauser's prayer to t ho delivered ficim the thrall of the beautiful .. goddess of the under world is found to have I, been. answered. Under eircmnsrances where 0 smiling Nature is seen at her loveliest Tannt hatiser is received by the handgtave and his party of nobles who have just returned from . the chitse, Tlis tableau which is witnessed . at this juncture is remarkably effective, A deep ravine, running between towering . rugged mountains is seen in the distance, [ while on the right .the grey walls and pic- , | tuveaqiie battlements' of an ancient stalely s pilo surmounts an eminence. Tniinhauscf . is persuaded to accompany the nobles to 1 j the tournament «f song, and tho scene ' 'ro V v i'i tl111 liiaßsl y° { '' lonis of ma lc voices, j Ino llall of &oiig is; disclosed to view after f ; the short exquisite prelude to the second , act is concluded, and the first glimpse of ,r i'litsabeth is Secured when, crowned with a j coronet of diamonds and arrayed in sumpltii ( apparel, she. enters and sings a song r. ? f grating to tho hall. Tho notes of the i lamous march give the signal for the entry , : of the vc.ne.rabl)> landgrave and his brilliant , | retinue, who, preceded by court pages, take 3 their scats on (lie curiously inlaid raised , seats Qii the right. One by one the contest- , tug minstrels, attended by pages carrying , tho lyres, iiiake t.lieic appearance, and with , a profound obeisance to the distinguished . assembly attune a. position on the left. The _ swe.l hug, niajestio music of the march is augI , m .™ w ill(> . voices till a magnificent ■■. 1 ' 3 attainpfi, ■ the strenuous noies of . j tie brass enunciating the theme till tho . | close is reached in a thrillingly impressive | fortisimo. A more, imposing spectacle than he disum;'tableau lias seldom been scon on . t »; s 1 lie Hall of Song was gorgeous . in its nreaitecturol embellishments. Columns j 01 ted polished .marble, fretted and carved, , I inn round the beautiful chamber, and the , ; -lofty entrance opened up on cntrauciii" . j vision of symmetrical arches, richly fretted , and carved, loading out to lofty 'corridors and splendid vestibules. The interior of the , nail presented a._ blaze of colour, as the Landgrave took his scat on the throne with tins fffir Llitabetli in the place of honour , . by his Eitlc and Iho gorgeousiy-attired nobles on tho raised circle, of scats. The nature ] and praise of love is the theme of the con- ' »"<! it. falls to the lot of Wolfram to : .c-ad off. Ho responds with tlio beautiful song in which lie idealises love. The theme is one of (he Ji.appispt inspirations of llie composer, and is set iu strains of surpassing loveliness, which eitme.s it to stand out in a • position of jifominicrioo in the great mine ■. Tann.liauser having profanely loved is moved fo an. outburst of exultation Hi- which he outrages the feelings of the assembly by giving expression to a debased passion. Those preseiit seeking to dosirov i nun, Jvhsabeth interposes, and the net close's M the unhappy minstrel, awakened to his illusions, joiiis p. ti'iiin of pilgrims who arc setting out (or Rome. The third act takes lis once more back to' the mountain retreat without the castle walls, and the chant of the returning minstrels is heard in the distance. Misabcth vainly spots Tunnhauser ill their number, and in h.er despair dedicates herself to the life of. a religious. Tannhauser appears and te.lis Wolfram that tlio Pope, earning the nature of his sin, had curscd him and declared absolution to be alone passible when, his staff" burst forth into biosaoin. In his rtmorwj he is about to seek relief ill tlie worldly pleasures he had forsaken ivlien (.ho funeral procession of Elisabeth come!' into view, and another Ijody of pilgrims had brought the pardon of the rope, whoso staff! had put forth leaves. llie perfornwitQ? of this triumph of dramatic soiig was without- doubt the culminating feature qf tho 'remarkably successful season of Mr Mnsgrove's company, Tho theatre, was cro-.rded to the utmost extent and very many tore admitted on the understanding alone that they would content themselves with standing room. The va*t aiiuience living t.astctl of Hie rare musical dciicaeres of Wagnerian opera, awaited th» 1 ureal overtiiM with expectancy, and the re- j eeption tliey accorded tlio conductor when the hnal cadence died away was over-! whelming m its intensity and enthusiasm, j it is Eafii to fay that no operatic protlur- \ tion ever previously given in Dunedin roused } the amiieivo;! (o stiofi irresistible otilburets | of acclaim as did last evening's performance, j At tlie conclusion of tlio overture tho audi- 1 eneo gaye vent, to a spontaneous and uti- i restrained outburst of chcering, which did ' not cease till the eor.d'ueUu- had twice bowe<l I ns ack'nowlcdgmeuts. From tho moment i the inslruments opened with the subdued I (li.atant music of the Pilgrims' chorus to the colossal grandeur of the finale there was a ! hushed auditorium and delicious, intoxicating strains alternating with majestic pas- i sages, in wliicli tlio brass dominated, were ! listened to with rapture. To Mr BaiTon. Befliinld was allotted the part o.f lahiiliauser, and in it- was revealed With impressive v.iv.ifiness his commanding breadth of artistic, skill in rendering Wagnerian music. Tlio romantic, imaginative ' creation was renli-ticidly realised in his movin.g, forceful, admirably-sustained acting, .Hie splendid declamatory music of the "Soiig of Lovo" was sung with amazing vigour and power, and moved the audience to a fervid outburst uf appiauso. His acting and singing in the final, scene, where Tanniinuser, stricken and tortured with remorseful defpair, gives way to: the emotions of his overwrought, and attempts to seek oblivion in a life of sordid pleasure, were also remarkably fine, as was his exposition of the pathetic outpouring of grief he gives wav to when thfi bier of J'liisabeth passes. All through Mr Bei-Hiald'S portrayal of the character wa.s a memorable performance, inSjinet with dramatic fervour and rare vocal , Fkill. Madame Slapolfski's lilizabeth was a.so a feature of fho production, calculated i to bo ong. remembered by those present. : fjjie imbued, the character with a rare digmty and grace, in keeping with the com- , posers conception.. Effectively dramatic is , the sceiio wherein she saves Tannhanserfrom tho \yrath of thii ininstrels, antl tender]v ' piithefic in her expressions of grief and sor- i row at. his banishment and non-return. Her . Jlilisahetli was, with ft Tannhausor," a tliril- ] lingly lnterestjnpr featttro of tlio evening, , and , impressed itself on all present as an artistic aind finished performance. Her sing- ; ing, it need scarqely bo said, wan of the verv i highest'order. The beaiitiful music written i for the part aftordctl her full scope, and tho rare ])uri.ty of lier voice, togethsr with her | perfect iiiethod, revealed to an appreciaiive and admiring tutdience. She sang i with joyous, cnthtisiastie animation tho greeting to the ''Hall; of song," and with exquisite devotional effect interpreted the well-known nrayor. Mr l.awrcnco Mooncv, ; as UOlfram, also s.ceure.d a full share of the honours of tlio evening. He acted and sang ' with iidmiraGln tikill .throughout the even- ' ing. Ilis principal Vocal success came in tho j second act, when at tl.io. tournament he sang tho beaiitiful song "Praise of love"—an ex- 1 epiisite number,—in which his fitie reso- r riant, sympathetic vojco was heard to splendu. advantage. The rendering of the number was received with fervid acclaim. Mr hempnero I'ringle also sang tlie music of l!ie .Landgrave in an emirenilv satisfactory i maimer, and impersonated the venerable dignified ty-urc with more (ban ordinary - judgment and effect, .Mr Clarence Lw,'. ' inano as Waltter, Messrs Gilbert King. 1 J.. lj. .Sutton, and E, ntillmick as minstr<;i 1 Kmg U.Sj and Miss Lilian liuunas us a voun? 1 shepherd all lent adequate assistance.' Tho i part of Venus was sustained by Miss Rnriqneta Crii-Jiton, who made the most of her opportunities, singing the alluring music of till! goddess of the under world With artistic ! taste and eflcct. The choruses were all admirably rendered, and frequently evoked ! tnyirly demoiistratiotis of approval. ' i'o-iiigl.it " Carmen" will be performed. s ■*- Oiahiandi. a. native of Pylaros. one of i the (.reel; Islands, is a. remarkable calcu- ( lator. After a mere glance at a blackboard ( on. w'nieli. thirty groups of figures are written ~ he can repeat them in. any order, and deal t with thtm by a;i.y arithmetical process. Tt is said tliiU. he never nmk:es an error in cal- i culatioirs involving billions, and lie can ex- p tract square of cube roots with marvellous -' rapidity and accuracy, Diaiaaudi writes i poetrj- and novels in the intervals of busi- i ness, _ and shows considerable intellectual . capacity. • —At a recent meeting of the French Hv- : glome .Society, M. Fefet made an imp.4- l sioneil appeal to civilised' society to go to sleep in a horizontal position. "We nil> niit t-0 the bolsler," hfi exclaimed. "Hut does it follow thai tho bolster is a necessary Or .i healthy ifistitutjon!" Of course the question was answered with a strong negative, and the negative wa.s justified bv C a wholo. host of scientific reasons. The hori- f. zonttil position i's the. o.iilv hygienic one. p biit, .since man. is- innately conservative and e opposed to suddejt reforms, M. Foret boas c •that the .bolster iuay' be abolished fortlnviOi t: and the pillow gradually dimiimliecl to the d vanishing' point.. |j fsCHXAri'S i, pure, wholesome, d ana iina/lullorited, ■ TVy.ii.