New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-02-02
MUSIO-THE DRAMA,
wAGNER,S NIBLUNG DRAMAS.


nes tetralogy contained In the Metropolitan list has
been abundantly demonstrated by tho attendance on
Monday and last nights and tho ticket sales for tho
remaining evenings. The influx Of visitors from other
cities has been extremely large. gentleman who
journeycd from Boston to New-York last Monday dis
covered that fourth Of the occupants Of parlor
their way to listen to tho Ring Of the
NIblung." Lbreitos were read during tho trip and
party, at least, provided with those cxIana-
tory handbOOs which have been appropriately dubbed
Musical Baedeckcrs." 1t called up memories Of pill
grimages to Bayrcnth. Hundreds of strange faces
have been visible In tho audiences, and apprecla-
ton Of tho dignity and artistic significance OF the occs
sion has been disclosed by tho rapt attention with
which the dramas have been watched and listened to
and the hearty applause which has followed each Of the
striking Die wakuere' could not have aroused
greater enthusiasm than 1t did Monday night IL IL
had been novelty instead Of stock piece for four
years and yet, I'm those features which appeal most
powerfully to tho INITIATED that Is to say, in tho
scenic effects, Die walkucre' IS tho least successful
OF tho Wagncrfan dramas in tho Mctropp.la E.t Its
stage dress has been good and is positively
shabby, while the failure OF the light effects has been
extremely disturbing to those who are familiar with
tho possibilities In this direction
"siegfried,' which given last night, f. mechan.
caly the finest representation Of the three, though II
Wagncr's prescriptions had been carried ont In Die
Gocttcrdaemmerung' and the foolish effort TO improve
tho original design by final panorama had not
been made, that dr,ma would Ut least have ranked
with "siegfricdT spectacle As matter Of fact
It ought to surpass It's predecessor, having the adj
vantage of greater variety and activity of dramatic
movement. The structural short ccmngs OF the stage
Of the Metro pOla Opera House, the want OF kDowi
edge and facilities in the handling Of lights lack OF
time for preparation and, fear, the necessity OF
economy have combined to mako tho last sccne Of
"Die Gottcr,cmmcrung" fall much short CT what few
stages in Germany have demonstrated to be possible
In this eliminating scene. Few attempts TO improve
on the pmpose of Wagner ale successful; most Of
simple inanltics like the pictures the
Metropolitan, while become absudities like Ierr
Hooks translation of portrait OF Vanderdecken into
a fishing smack with brick dust sails which poor Senta
is compelled to fall I'm love with spar ordre dc MufL"
The moro studies the mechanics side Of Wagners
works the stronger becomes the conviction that
machinist and stage manager he Il as far above
tho most sklllfu theatrical craftsman he Is superior
to the ordinary opera lbrest and opera composer in
their departments.
The temptation to pick flaws in that side of tho
Niblung representations which addresses Itself to tho
Of sight, is that Is easily overcome however,
There much that Is admirable In the work OF tho
Metropolitan Company, much that is astounding to
those familiar with the intelligence de'o,lon, patience
and labor involved. much that transcends the most
ambitious efforts Of the representatives of the spoken
drama in this country, so much that tells OF tho
nobility and seriousness with which the poet composer
sought TO invest artform which had come to be
iOOksu upon as a mere nNfrSlCn tnN IN lcSiHS VI
gratitude inspired by the performances swallows up
the disposition to carp ard cavl. II they fall short OF
the ideal in externals, they yet lay bare big portion
OF the heart Of wagner's creation. There Arc BIG
| specks in tlb marble but tho statue is there.
Last night there again several scenes Of en-
thusIasm bordering delightful frenzy. The vocal
freshness and visor and picturesqucness with which
| Herr Alvary invested the hero OF tho drama made
potent the charm which goes out HON Wagners con-
ception. siegred was radiant all evening with that
bright and genial light which surrounds the heroes Of
| nursery tales and which loses its amiable
| Influence upon those who not ashamed OF
| their susceptibility TO emotional appeals Frauleln
lehman when her opportunity came set ones blood
tingllng TO tho fngertips with the magnificent vehe-
menco Of her defamation and the sensuous loneliness
OF her tones In the second act the orchestra trans
ported the auditors to fairyland where not only tho
| Birds but trees, rocks and bushes, wero vocal
The impuslve generosity with which the public paid
the tribute of applause the work, though unfamiliar
with the language Of the singers, was a convincing
proof Of the which crowned Wagncr's effort to
| blend poetry music, pantOmme and painting Into a
common art OF the highest potency of expression. It
suggested the thought. too, that here IS something
peculiarly sympathetic to our people In the character
Of the chief personages Of the drama In their ruds
forcefuness and freedom from restrictive conventions
they might be said to be representative Of the American
| people. They full OF that vital energy which
made a nation. This IS not altogether fancfuf
idea, is the share which the American people lin
common with the other of Teut0nc origin have
the poetlcal heritage that Wagner has stven to
servo In his dramas altogether fictitious. We would
assert that the tales of Northern mythology have
any peculiar for in themselves but only that
their presentation in localized form which lifts
into prominence the ethical and other elements thai
are characteristic OF the stock from which we are
| sprung Is naturally to sympathies. Va
have not preserved Siegfried I'm the character Of
popular hero the peoples who occupy ancestral
| homes have DONE but We have put his manness and
| strength and even his frank lawlessness into many
OF tho heroes Of our fairy tales, while in Sir Walter
| ScOtts Cyneth, who was put into magic sleep By
Mcrlln in Tennyson's Enchanted Princess and in tho
story of the Sleeping Beauty, which eagerly made
| O part of literature, have retained memories OF
| BruennhIlde's sleep and awakening. Siegfricd Is q
prototype toO of the American people in being an UNI
spoiled nature He looks at the world through glow
Ing eyes that have not grown accustomed to tho false
and merctrcious. The process OF Matchmaking I'D
which we have boon engro,sed has loft us In posi-
ton to look at wagners art-world in Segfreds man
ner. We have heard and seen much, but at heart We
are yet unspolled in art We are not ridden by con-
of any kind. We yet bring our emotions
with into the theatre, and arc therefore open to an
appeal that the delightful pilgrimage be made with
serious intent Wagner dreamed Of a regeneratcd
society whose attitude toward should be like that
which prevailed in Greece. 1t Is not altogether
impossible that when the conquest OF the continent ~
completed, and the social anal gam OF the American
| people has become nxcd something ike the hciic"o
ideal may be realized and that tho lyric drama,
now regarded diversion, may be lifted to tho
position which 1t ought to occupy as factor OF tre"
mendous potency the educ alton Of tho mind and re-
fncment OF tho soul.
HERR POSSA RI MAKES AN ADMIRABLE OIL ID
MAN
aerr Possart appeared last night at tho Thala
Theatre before large and extremely enthusiastic
audience in two welcontrasted oldmcn parts. lo
first played the cunning and mperious Frederick the
Gteats In TONER'S comedy BY Order Of the King