New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-08-12
,rvvopx nuy TRIBUNE SUNDAY SIXTEEN PAGES

because he noticed one day in Bayreuth that she
had a stately walk. This may also serve to show
Wagner's care in all details Of stage management
It may be taken for granted therefore that In It's
stage setting Parsifal' was exactly the same as
at the festivals OF two five and SIX years
ago But the participants had changed some
what. The orchestra was. as usual drawn
from the ranks of the greatest artists of Europe
Every singer Of the chorus was a soloist
But Parsifal himself what Of him? Winkel-
mann had been unable TO take the part ana mere
was q Belgian. Van Dyck by name, who could
scarcely speak German Mt all. going to attempt
the part His first phrase caused me shuduer'
for il was given in that sharp style OF chipping
the language which marks the Berlin middle chiss
A Borlinese Parsifal! horror Bat 1t was only
momentary AS he grew into his part MS az
ton. voice and enuncaton were all effective
enough His powerful cry Of Amfortas! as
in the second act lie tears himself from the arms
of tbe temptress was magnificent. Schcidemontei
made a grand Amfortas, and Plank portly DuO
excellent Klngsor As for Gurnemahz' lerr VIZ
cond made the part a trfe duler thah was
necessary but it is trying role al pest lno
choruses OF the fower-glrls were well gwen anu
the Sc cond act the most successful Oh 'ie e'0
nerformance Matern was great, almost entirety
So in the role Of Kundry. Her singing IN the hfs'
act was lust a triie fat. but she won triumph
in the second act which, Of course, reSt"d ehVlreiy
on her shoulders and those OF Van Dyck. INC
neophvtes of the audience attempted TO appiauu az
the end of this act but were sterniy saC uo"H
unon bv the more thoroug h- going Wagneria1s' VINO
know that applause is not in place until the emu
of the opera The result was that they were
afraid TO applaud where they ought to nave aie
nlauded and there was not the usual frenzy oil
doEgbt at the close For myself, while rank
the performance above everything operhllc oulsIuo
of Bavreuth l do not think the hrst perloiiiai,,
as entirely perlecU 10 soH0 o'
| previous festivals
Die Meistersinger- made a balance on lhe
nroDer side II was the greatest and most spun
taneous triumph ever achieved even III PpdSti
It's human interest its perfect nde 70 ms, een
/ accuracy the Prince OF Hessc told me thaI cHti
~. march of the last act has been discovered 10
he n yeritable march OF the fifteenth century, its
trle German humor mot mere lun put SaiITI
LIN RI that of Arstophanes its autohlographlcal
value-all these and o,her points make u tle nlo'
pel feet and enjoyable of Wagners OPERAS anu pIol
ably the finest truly operate WORK ever that
Every character was sustained in NANNY r't os
makes criticism mute, but the great TRIUMPH w.
won by Fredrchs in the part o. beehu un' s,d
which was almost a revelation III lts pCI.IncIS 80
rorrowncss The manner in which the WORK N"S
staged calls for eulOgy. We nave nag a. ~ 81
scenes as the set Of the first Act llhe i hvt
he church, in the Metropolitan Opera House n L
when this opera was given there !ast H,nleI, NV
street of the second act was rs Wldc ~ I
Now any one who has been 10 NuTclno'i n Rav
how the old streets OF gassen, look. In ply
/ rou+h there was lust such a narrow gHnSy ~
y 4he gables on the houses alnOSl IouclI- IN,
Tho scenes between Sachs and Eva, ana Sspcc ~
tho riot at the finale, more eHectNp IN -
could otherwise have been Inc seem VI IN 80
act in the public square, WAS IN tSc'S ~ +31orr
greatest | have yet seen In Bayreutn, am, ~,
fore snvwhcre-a perfect representation 81 .'-t
borr ON the other side Of the Pcenltz a cosl'iI
which was lavish. yet at the sam ui' ne on, Ohio
3 SINGING that was broader than thar OF ar OH
horns Gathered together. not even eNccp'h3 VI.
raore's ~ and altogether an ensemble tha' u.Hr
descrntion. no wonder that the audience stoo
for fully fen minutes at the close OF w az
shouting themselves hoarse and inauI.lns \. IA
D frenzy that would have put MilaneS' - 49,
uolitan Public 10 hlusnlng. -, - o,,o -,
must vet mention that Lucher mace chh-iu
ing Eva although Maltcn is the lde"l oil IN w
in appearance. Guoehus' athouTr RI l- eiir
5 ~ounq was brilliant as Walther. Inc Only slll
=, I ~ tho rnrfornarce werc the chorus OF hei7lr'
singers finale Of first act badly out OF tune III
- rri1c-song a little out OF tune on lnc Pi-. :
T Gudehus. and the delay in raising the c1rIn
after the prelude TO the last act so lh"' on uI
. | Picb+ers stentorian voice calling out Norhau
arf ~ which is n breach of discipline seldom %
u CURING i'm Bayrcuth. But It seems a shame eve
b ~ mention tho few, very few, faults Ihey vi
u have disappeared in the latsr pcIin5 oorv
! MANY Wagnerian triumphs Alter IL was was al oNy
u everybody went TO Angermanns which j. u
g artistic "l,neipe' of the city, and there amu u
G multi and greeting, beer ana song; lhe Wnoie -
: tivaI was reviewed by everybody at the san
tiron The next day there WIS that tehdes an
c subdued manner on the face OF the various aus
:. that told too plainly what the hostess tIlu u
" afterward that they had separated az 80
=, the morning | will in my next lCttef give ~,
u readers pen photographs Of the chiefs among u
:. artists bat in more normal state than they We
If in during that spirited postlude at Angermanh