The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-03-22

Waensrss IS OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES" Wesrd Zee
sevAav A~reeruoou.

Mfr. Damrosch made his season include thre'
Of the series Of "NibelunRpn Ring" operas
"RheIngold !" alone being omitted. The last OF
the cyclus, ID GBtterdHmmerung," ended the
subscription performances yesterday In a real
blaze Of glory. None OF the preceding rep
reservations could In any way compare
with this final one. although many OF them,
| especially walknre" and Tristan" had
been excellent in many regards. This opera.
however. was fortunate enough TO 10 raised
to n standard Of true artistic worth by
many favorable concurrent circumstances,
the most powerful OF which was the pres
ence of Mime. Kiafsky and Herr Alvary as
Brt,nnhitde and SicdfriCd Each OF these great
artists was ideal in the role assumed, and either
would have carried a performance less per-
fectly equipped In other regards than this one
was triumphantly through on mighty shoulders.
Both Klafsky and Alvary have that possess
sion which Is the sign of highest talent, the
ability to lift a presentation up to an elevated
art plane by the light of their single shin
Ing endeavors. Thoy MI the stage with
the intense meaning of their presence, and
seem to infuso energy and force into
everybody and everything about them.
Klafsky's Rrlnnhtdc-in "G0tterdammerung"
is on a par with the best portrayal OF the part
that has so far been given us-Lilli Lehmann's-
and In sentiment feeling, and dramatic fervor
Klafsky easily ~eclipses Lehman. 1t was
certainly Az soul-stirring, deeply satisfy
ing Interpretation that was set be-
fore US yesterday, In which nothing
was wanting to complete the thrilling effect Of
Wagner's saddest picture. tho agony OF n true,
loving heart torn and wounded TO the death by
of ex Expression which might seem to SAVIOR Of
eHaggeration, Il Is difficult 70 give q def
Until now she had certainly not been statuesaue
or picturesque here she was both her poses
had the beauty OF classic lines. She delineated
subtly every change and every graduation
Of emotion. while her voice, was superb
in volume and in tone. The audience,
splendid art. exhibition they were receiving from
again and again. at the close Of the opera a reg
ular ovation being given to them, which in its
saG,if%sahi IS r HiPRiiisSdSH sn shG Isst n aRS U of amy
season.
to klafsky's grand BrnntHlilde During this
visit the general broadening in conception
which has taken place in all the great tenor's
on n more heroic scale-more assured, more
mature. more impressive. His work throughout
detail clearly thought out and carefully ar.
ranged. His vocal organs are in q fine
condition now, his voice never seeming so
gave some beautiful high tones yesterday
OF pure tenor quality; Ths Ibridersohaft"
WAS also the duet with Brunnhtlde, and the tale
of his youth which Sicgfricd tells Just before his
death was a perfect piece of defamation and OF
action.
The orchestra was commendable In its W ork
yesterday with the exception OF the Fun eral
March. which was done too exactly. in too mat
ter of fact a way. There was no rush, no swing.
no emotion in i. II was the funeral march ola
gentleman Of elegant leisure, not of a hero.
Fischer's Hagen helped on the good effect.
Ria Eibenschuetz's Gutrule did not mar 1t. and
the Gunther Of Herr Merton was really
excellent in Its craven weakness. There was
a certain dignity. about it, too. which
called forth the requisite amount of interest in
the character. and by making Gunthcr. not en-
tirely despicab.e served to raise still higher
Siegfried's heroic might AS it contracted with an
ordinary human being.
OF the Rhine daughters. Fraulein Vollmar,
Fraulein Eibenschuetz. and Fraulein Mattfeld. IL
can only be stated that their performance was
acceptable. though far from brilliant. They sang
heavily, without the buoyancy absolutely re-
CURED In their exquisite unearthly strains and
In the beginning the two under voices were a
trlne fiat. There is material there. with indus
trious rehearsing and the proper spirit of light
ness, to make an excellent trio. AS done vester-
day the RhiHsmdldens were unimportant and at
once forgotten when their song was finished.
This truly artistic presentation will be heard
once more on Wednesday evening next.