MME. LOTTE LEHMANN

Southland Times, Issue 22215, 6 January 1934, Page 10

MME. LOTTE LEHMANN

OPERA ROLE TRIUMPH.

NIGHT OF BEREAVEMENT.

Vienna, December 16.

Dr Richard Strauss’s new opera, “Arabella,” had a brilliant first performance at the Vienna Opera House. Among the distinguished persons present were Dr Strauss himself and Signor Toscanini and his wife. The great applause which greeted Mme. Lotte Lehmann was due both to her artistic performance of the title part and to the audience’s _ sympathy with her devotion to her art in a tragic situation. Everyone knew that her mother, who was 84 and to whom she was devoted, died the day before, and

that Mme. Lehmann had declined to jeopardize the success of the performance by staying away. At the end of the second act Dr Strauss, after making several appearances on his own behalf, came before the curtain and said: “Mme. Lotte Lehmann asks you to allow me to express also her gratitude for your tributes. She cannot bring herself to come forward.”