New-Yorker Stadt-Theater Opera: Lohengrin

“Wagner’s splendid romantic opera styled as above was again performed last evening at this theatre, and with the most complete success. The magnificent scenes were never shown to better advantage. The costumes, which have been provided at an immense cost, are elegant, and, of course, tend to make the amusement highly attractive. Seldom has there been in New York an opera—the music in which is the finest known—which required so much from the artists and yet been so thoroughly successful. Musicians of standing, and singers also, have attended at the performances of this opera from all parts of the country in order to hear the music alone, and several have given their opinion that there are few connected with the stage who could compete with Madame Lichtmay in her rôle of Elsa of Brabant, and so well acquit themselves in the difficult parts she undertakes in carrying out the character she represents. Madame Frederici has also, in her rôle as Ortrud, some of the most difficult passages in the opera, and, though not perfect in her reading, succeeds in rendering the airs in an effective and artistic manner. The river scene in the first act, where Lohengrin arrives in a boat drawn by a swan, is very exciting, and shows the good taste of Messrs. Rosenberg and Hamann in their selection of scenery which exactly suits the piece. Altogether the opera, as here presented, will compare favorably with any representations of it that have taken place in Europe, and could it but be put forward in English it could not fail to receive extensive patronage and have a long and remunerative run. The house was crowded last night.”