PAGE- TWO THE MICHIGAN DAILY FRIDAY, NOVEME ?AOE-TWO THE MICHIGAN DAILY FRIDAY, NOVEiWI 'LOHENGRIN': Orchestra, Chorus Lack Stage Presence DAILY OFFICIAL BULLETIN 3ER 12, 1965 LOVE r- L 0 By LINDA SIEGRIST The Music School's production of Richard Wagner's "Lohengrin" now at Hill Aud. is a disappoint- ment. The current "rendition" of the romantic opera fails mainly in the orchestration and chorus. Last minute cramming in the pit had its usual results. Josef Blatt, musical director, could not crys- tallize the muddy tones. Nor could he synchronize entrances between the brass and the woodwinds. And, at the tempo he set for the pre- lude to the third act, the strings could not handle the scale pass-I ages. The climax to such slop-s piness occurred in the second actI when the organ and orchestra un- fortunately collided at least one tone off from each other. The male chorus, was a sore- spot. Like the principals, the boys were brilliantly garbed in cos- tumes, authentic of tenth century attire. But outer appearances could not, hide the princetons or crew-cuts. The boys so lacked sufficient stage presence that they either failed to stay with the ac- tion or over-reacted to each event. Results were -either distracting movements of the banners or what looked like spasmodic coffee-claq- ing sessions. The chorus was defi- cent numerically and consequent- ly vocally. It was also deficient in attention to vocal and stage en- trances. The girls' chorus was accurate in its vocal entrances and ade- quate in vocal dimension. But, again, many of the girls were too concerned in-reaching block 45 in six measures and kneeling than they were in Elsa's plight. Success of the production was staked on the talents of the prin- cipals. Four people-John Henkel as King Henry, Lee Davis as Count Telramund, Marilyn Krimm as Or- trud, and Noel Rogers as Elsa- were outstanding not only vocally but in character portrayal. Hen- kel's rich bass lent great feeling of wisdom and austere benev- olence to the role of Henry. Krimm's stable and powerful voice, though lacking in an even flow from lower to middle regis- ters, was exceptional in that it enhanced and colored every nu- ance in Ortrud's character; lust, revenge, hatred, love. Rogers' voice is not Wagnerian by any means. But in interpreting the score more lyrically, Blatt enabled Mrs. Rog- ers' coloratura voice to soar not only forte but pianissimo through the auditorium. Kenneth Scheffel as Lohengrin was a disappointment. Scheffel's voice is very clear and large enough to reach the whole audi- ence. But he lacked stage pres- ence and assurance in his role, and he failed to identify with the grandeur and austerity of Loh- engrin. He seemed to isolate him- self so much from the action that in certain scenes such as his dia- logues with Elsa, he showed about as much love for her as Ortrud would have. Aside from individual efforts, a successful "Lohengrin" demands collective dedication and work from musicians and chorus mem- bers too. The opera, save for its German background and a lack of a ballet, is grand opera; but the current production approach- es neither the orchestral brilliance, the magnificent choral tone or vol- ume, nor the emotion and verve of the processionals (that must be a part of Wagner's operas). In short, "Lohengrin" misses the swan. The Daily Official Bulletin is an official publication of the Univer- sity of Michigan, for which The Michigan Daily assumesno editor- ial responsibility. Notices should be sent in TYPEWRITTEN form to Room 3519 Administration Bldg. be- fore 2 p.m. of the day preceding publication, and by 2 p.m. Friday for Saturday and Sunday. General Notices may be published a maxi- mum of two times on request; Day Calendar items appear once only. Student organization notices are not accepted for publication. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 12 Day'Calendar Bureau of Industrial Relations Per- sonnel Techniques Seminar - "How to Train Supervisors in Cost Reduction": Michigan Union, 8:30 am. Cinema Guild-"Me and the Colonel": Architecture Aud., 7 and 9 p.m. Professional Theatre Program Per- formance-APA Company in "You Can't i DIXIELAND "The New Wolverine Jass Band" OLD HEIDELBERG TON IGHT Take It With You": tydia Mendels- sohn Theatre, 8 pm. International Center Gala Interna- tional Ball-Michigan Union Ballroom, 8:30 p.m. University Musical Society Concert I-New York Pro Musica: Rackham Aud., 8:30 p.m. School of Music Opera-Joseph Blatt, music director and conductor, Ralph Herbert, stage director, Wagner's "Loh- engrin": Hill Aud., 8 p.m. Astronomical Colloquium: Fri., Nov. 12, 4 p.m., Rm. 807, Physics-Astronomy Bldg. Dr. W. P. Bidelman,'Dept. of (Continued on Page 8) 483-4680 na+ ne CARPENTER MRAD FREE iN-CAR HEATERS STARTS TODAY FIRST RUN-ALL COLOR A CY ENDFIELD-STANLEY BAKER PROD1TiON IEC GMCO W " MMAYSMM -A PARAMGUNT PCURE ADDED-COMEDY HIT TONIGHT THRU SUN. BOX OFFICE OPENS 6:30 L dz AMOUR LIEBE 1965, GALA BALL LOVE IS INTERNATIONA TONIGHT-8:30 P.M. LYUBOV' MICHIGAN UNION BALLROOM KOERLIGHED AGAPE PYAR Al EROS GRADH NOW DIAL 8-6416 "AR ABSOLUTE KNOCKOUT OF A MOVIE! -Bosley Crowther.N.Y.Times -- AMOR . . r DIAL 662-6264 , PREMIERE ENGAGEMENT 'ows at 1:15-3:45-6:15 &8:50 Fiercely Lives Again the Lusty World d. mm mum mumu mu umummm mmmmmminmim mum mm m mm mm mm rrr r rin' r 1 / TO IIH t n U1 1 1 1 1 I el 1 r 1 1 1 I~lteardrthe 1 1 1 1 1 5a wihADMkyM ouseNFITYCarTo rwrrrr* Irtsrrrr ~rrr~~rrrrr~rr' UNIVERSITY PLAYERS present inl repertory, HENRY VI Nov. 17-Dec.S5 Trueblood Auditorium Box Office Open 12:30-5 Season Tickets: $6.75, $4.50 "A tour-de- force of sex and suspense! 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