Venue(s):
Academy of Music
Proprietor / Lessee:
East 14th St at the corner of Irving Place Academy of Music
Conductor(s):
Carl Anschütz
Event Type:
Opera
Status:
Published
Last Updated:
25 July 2014
“Jean Ruggles dined with us, and we went with Master Johnny to hear Der Freyschutz, by Anschutz's corps at Acad of Music. Never heard it as well done. The orchestra did its work magnificently and both Max and Agatha were very respectable, Caspar was fair, Annchen rather feline. I enjoyed it all intensely. It's wonderful music. There's nothing exactly like it, a certain special wild aroma, or game flavor, pervades it all from the first note of the Overture to the last chord of the Finale, which can be found nowhere else to my knowledge, It stands alone, like Fouque's Sintram--a genus and species by itself.”
COMMENT: The date of this diary entry seems to be wrong, since the opera was performed on 12/11, not 12/09. Perhaps Strong entered his comments at a later date and did not remember when he heard the performance.
“The Performance of ‘Der Freischutz’ at the Academy of Music, Friday evening, was in many respects the finest ever given in this City. We have been forced on other occasions when speaking of Mr. Anschutz’s representation, to confine ourselves, in a large measure, to well-merited praise of the orchestra and chorus, but last evening the principal artists distinguished themselves so much, that we refer with peculiar pleasure to their efforts. Mad. Frederici particularly distinguished herself by a full, varied, and intelligent rendition of the difficult rôle of Agatha. The opening prayer of the second act was rendered most deliciously, and even the awkward and almost impossible quick movement which follows it, was given with vigor and clearness. The Aennchen of Mlle. Canissa was a pretty conception of the part, and the music did not suffer at her hands. Both these ladies are gifted with fine voices, which, with time, will ripen. They are sure to become favorites. Mr. Habelmann, the tenor, sang admirably. He is a careful artist, with a charming voice, and will also become a favorite. On the orchestra and chorus we have nothing but unlimited praise to bestow. Both these important auxiliaries were perfect. The success of the performance will, we hope, induce Mr. Anschutz to confine himself as much as possible to a purely German repertoire. By so doing, he can avoid comparative criticism, which in German opera is peculiarly unfair.”