“Mr. John Koch, having found that German opera in Winter at his new Terrace Garden Theatre could not be made profitable, as even the most ardent admirers of this species of lyric art would not brave the terrors of the Third avenue cars in Mid-winter, fell back in good order on the Stadt Theatre, and encamped there last night for the first time. It may be said that he has gone into Winter quarters, and the veteran home of the stage of Fatherland is once more lighted up and its vast array of benches dusted and brightened for the reception of the Teutonic élite. The company on which Mr. Koch relies for the success of his season is more remarkable for quality than quantity. There are two reliable, tried prime donne—Madame Lichtmay and Miss Clara Perl; a first class basso, Carl Speigler; a baritone of considerable ability, Fritz de la Fontaine, and a tenor di forza, Mr. Horn, who has given much satisfaction in the rôles he has so far essayed in this country. The season opened last evening with Nicolai’s sparkling work, ‘The Merry Wives of Windsor,’ before an audience of no small magnitude, and good-natured to a fault. Shakespeare dons strange habiliments when he appears in Teutonic form. The Merry Wives, who on this occasion were represented by Madame Lichtmay and Miss Clara Perl, make Falstaff (Mr. Speigler) the object of ridicule by a series of airs and duets, provokingly comic, but very un-Shakesperian. The leading rôle, Falstaff, gives a fine opportunity for a basso to display his powers, and Mr. Speigler made quite an effect in the part last night. Mr. De la Fontaine did very well as Ford, but the rest of the cast was only passable.”