The sun., 1888-01-29
lAfUsKafENTS
TIE Gotterdsnn,eruns Given Again IN tho
Metrepoiitan Opera Heuse.


The second performance and first matinee
OF the "G0tterdnmmcrung took place
Yesterday afternoon. before tho most
crowded assembly which has been seen
this season in the Metropolitan Boxes
were oyerflowing, overy seat was filled,
and from the top TO the bottom OF the house
not an inch Of standing room was left unoocu-
pied. The cast was the samo as upon the first
night, and, "a might be supposed, the perform-
ance only gained In power and impressiveness
from tho ease which continued practice and
familiarity give. Like all OF Wagner's works.
the grandeur OF the "G6tterdammerung grows
more and moro mighty with each successive
hearing. 1t is the climax and elimination Of
the whole Ring" series, and gorgeonsly rich
In the loading motives of which We have be-
como so fond In the other operas. How power
fully these motives affect the Imagination
through the memoryi How generously rioh Is
tho tissue OF harmony that forms Wagner's
sibie for even the most learned musician to
grasp all Its intricacies Mt a hrst hearing, ana
S every one those new SesISs that H
pectediy and INCREASINGLY. -
sre,sSss Of p Hss .ssS s S
s: fd Bs n tho s Rns b
neTsasipE Ssf Inssssst toward tEs siIPsH: TRe
Dist scene takes Ip. the tkroad cievsrly from
where 1t was dropped at the close OF the pre-.
ssding opera and carries the goman0se s ot the
~ ssa,eag ssgAedH deserton Which leaves hOr lonely
es q tRe new tho
Siep6ieds entanMgleme9t q by Gu,.aae's charms. ms
This scene s lH p oesSMse Ma n Rs
ter
sSo h1 psops tbess SSh
savors In its strength OF no less writer than
Wagner now takes us upon the strong. wings
Of his imagination, and makes us soc Brtinn,,
hide alone upon her rocky ledge surrounded
Of Sieaj,ied wo look at sEuddsrIngly. though
the magic. potion he has drunk shields him
sGm bs%s A. the sSs tod q tSs
hin him to Tie depths oi III the earth, from Shepee
vfas and pons Pro a'fa ns and
darkness We now emerge through the glorious
sunrise INTO daylight. and the coming OF Brtln;,-
wheh af SeT snd
nn9lly 70 the marriage procession OF SteGj'Ied
The next act is the most romantic and beau
tiful Of all, though not the most stormy. In the
flrst place the stage setting is rs lovely and ro
into the depths OF some dark cool forest, whose
stones are spread with greenest moss, and
whore trees and vines are interlaced and
pickering sunbeams dance all over. The en-
franco Of the Rhein nymphs seems but natural,
for our fancy is now ready for any flight and
their lovely singing completes the .enchant-
ment which is thrown about the woodland pic
ture. With consummate art Wagner now
leads us away from the Mikes to be interested
IN Sieafiefs companions and their hunt, and
thence 70 the story Of his life, 30 oeloquentlyltod
and leading up to the abrupt ending at his
des1s. one Of w.aner,s most dar,nr sttemnts is ot
the point where he makes the dead Sieah.ied
raise his arm In warning against the terrified
the coveted ring. But so completely docs the
dramatist and poet hold us In his power that
The Inst actis almost wholly given up to B,.tlnn-
hide and her tragic elegy oyer Sieafieds corpse
highest powers Of an-actress and singer. 1t Is
needless 20 say that Lehman fills the, utmost
Imaginable requirements OF the role in both re-
CARDS. Niemann acted and sang maRniflcently
yesterday. and Fischer also did splendid work
an