Anschütz German Opera: Fidelio

Discussion of Anschütz’s opera in general. “And is it not a triumph that just ‘Fidelio‘ which has been denounced as heavy, incomprehensible, devoid of melody, etc., should have drawn the fullest houses, and had altogether the most success?”

Ad is mistakenly a day off, saying “Tomorrow (Thursday).”

      “German Opera.--A good performance of Beethoven's  ‘Fidelio’ attracted an excellent house here last night–- composed, we think, of equal parts of Americans and Germans.  It is a work that improves so steadily on acquaintance, that we are not surprised at its increasing favor with the public. Now that there is no Italian opera, an evening at its German substitute is profitably and pleasantly employed. If affords a new and almost unexplored field of enjoyment. The artists, last evening, were in excellent voice.  We have seldom heard that meritorious singer and actress, Mme. Johannsen, to greater advantage. Mme. Rotter, to whom devolved the entire responsibility of the first act, wasas also in fine condition, and in the opening scene contributed in a large measure to the encore which was obtained for the quartette.  Messrs. Lotti and Weinlich sang with spirit and effect–-especially the last named gentleman. The prison chorus in the first act has been heard to greater advantage in this house, and–-what we can seldom say at these performances–-the orchestra was not so clean as we have been accustomed to find it. It was only in the oveture [sic] to Leonore, preceding the third act, that we recognized the experienced báton of its steady chief.”