New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-05
MUSIC.
DIE WALKUERE."

There were evidences at the Metropolitan ope'"
House last nigh, that a large number OF the music
lovers OF New-York conceive the proper m'ss'o
OF Mr.. Walter Damrosch and his operauc enc
prises 10 be that which he himself announced II W
be when he first embarked on the per"ous sra Va
operate mama cement. Then 1t seemed so'''et'i'"e
like fatallsrn TO him he said that he shouia iee'
irresistiby impclled TO give Wagnerian opera ""e
,erybody else seemed to have been frign'eheu
away from H. There were circumstances winch
made his partial change OF front this season eN-
pcable II not wholly defensible. but unless ou
Observers Of operate affairs are deceived by ap-
pearances he Will have reason TO think that ms
bird impulses a few wears ago were SAFER guides
than his worldly wisdom Of 1897. However. tha' Is
a subject which can be discussed more inteHhsehoy
hereafter. That the thought arose in me MIND OF
the reviewer is due 20 the fact that die Waikure
was seen and heard ,ast night by an audience
especially remarkable In numbers and cnhrac'e' II
will. perhaps. be said that curiosity to near MHe
Nordica make her first essay In the roie o. b u""-
hide In the first drama OF Wagners Nloeiuns
trogy had something TO DO with the attendance
but careless attitude OF mere curiosity was the
last activity that could have been attributed 10
last nights assemblage by an intelligent observer
The people who came to hear Die WalKuVe hne"
the drama. and quick In appreciation OF us
merits as they were o, It's defects as enthusiastic
in recognition OF It's beauties as they were ieh'eh'
AC"dlu IT'S SuCU dl d'NtHHe -
once of understanding and affection
Both understanding and affection were essential
10 enjoyment Of the representation. An active I'M
agination had TO supply the Deficiencies OF the
scenic outfit Of the dra ma. for the pictures were
the old and familiar ones Of shreds and patches
The merits Of the performance were not OF the
kind that force themselves upon the general at
ention and the shortcomings only too OBJ
trusivey apparent. In Herr Krauss impersona-
ton OF Siegfried could help seeing what TO
a large extent was misappcation OF splendid
powers Vocaly and physically he has a hne out
fl for the part; but neither voice. nor figure. nor
distinct enunciation OF the text. endurance,
nor honest endeavor. nor all Of these admirable
qualifications combined produce Siegmund
II the poetic blood OF he character be absent
in the impersonation And to have that. high
intelligence and n warm ina gination must be In
formed with feeling The gifts which nature be-
slowed Herr Kraus in generous measure are
physical: they consorted with equally gen.
erous gifts Of the mind and heart. he would be an
ideal representative Of Wagner's heroes: but with
Wagner It is temperament. temperament. and al
ways temperament. Nine. Gadski did not sing
well last night; her voice was not steady and her
information was faulty She sang sharp with pain
iul persstency but she was full Of the feeling OF
the character OF Seglinde Instinctvely she seemed
70 know that II is the most humanity sympa thetic.
the most unconventional. the most frankly naive.
the tenderest and the lovelIest Of Wagner's char
acterr. and because she knew this. .elt II land
such feeling is instructive knowledge. ard had
art enough to body II forth. her performance was
the most moving and convincing one OF the repre-
sentation.'
Nine. Nordica's impersonaton Of Brinnhilde did
disclose her vocal intellectual tempera mental
endowments In their fitness II was not TO be ex-
pected that II would in such ordeal When a
woman OF her artistic antecedents and experience
undertakes a role like that OF Brtinnhilde, around
which, moreover. there cling traditions that are
almost awe-inspiring II must oe expected that she
will show profound apprehension and concern for
the result. She would be artist II she did not.
Moreover. the music sets problem for Nine.
Nordica from a purely technical point Of view
which is not easy OF solution. Had she sung the
proclamation Of death with the fulness OF tone
which must echo in the memory OF those who have
heard Nine Lehman sing II 20 long as memory
lasts II would have been a greater wonder than
her singing years ago OF the music Of Isolde.
But. though lacking In weightness Of tone and In
emotiona, penetrativeness her performance at that
| crucial moment was full Of the calm earnestness
which betokened how deeply and well she had
studied the part. Moreover. the drama moved
on her voice grew In fulness and expressive power
Just as her acting grew In freedom and e!oquence.
! her poses In statuesqueness and BEAUTY, TIL the
climax was reached when II ought TO be reached
in the final scene between father and daughter.
As for the rest a detailed study Of the impersona-
ton can walt TIL confidence has taken possession
/ OF her 10 a degree which will enable her to pub
ush all that she knows and feels about the part.
Mr. Fischer's Wotan was much like the Wotan
Of old Mr. Rains as Hunding appropriately
lugubrious. but neither sinister nor impressive.