New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-12
MUSIC.
DIE OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES,

DIE GOETTERDAEMMERUN
Inc last OF the three Nibelung dramas was per-
ior'ned at the Metropolitan Opera House last night
by the Damrosch- Ellis forces. Perhaps 1t would
ne nearer the truth 10 say the Damrosch forces.
Tor we are inclined TO believe that the end OF tho
enterprise in which Mr.. Damrosch Is chiefly Inter
ested Is the German end. which is having its in
hihss In New-York. the Franco-ltalian contingent
having dominated the Philadelphia season. Wal
kure." "Siegfried" and Die G3tterdammerung'
having now been given it is possible to say some
thing about the representations az whole. IL
would be most agreeable 10 set the pegs high In
such discussion for f. iaudable undertake
ing 10 produce the dramas which have had so much
20 do as they with the formation OF the present
taste and understanding OF the patrons OF the Met
tropolitan Opera House; but. urhappiy. the repre-
sensations have not marked progress. but the re-
verse. In tho scenic department the retrogresson
has been great that the greatest kindness IS dis
na, ed in the completcst silence that point The
silence. indeed ought to be like that Egyptian
darkness which was not only seen but felt. on
the other hand there have been extremely
praiseworhy features in the approximations Nine.
Nordica who has been the Brunhldc OF the three
dramas. has increased her artistic stature most
decidedly in the estima ion Of the knowing. She
was greatly handicapped at the outset by being
obliged 20 essay the heroine in the first drama for
the first time before audience to whom the best
traditions Of the part were az familiar az nursery
tale Had she been less OF artist she would
proba bly, have achieved better results for she would
have been less embarrassed in contemplating her
task. and would theSeforo have trusted 70 her
instincts, which splenddly sound. the sequel
plcved TO the satisfaction OF the most confirmed
faut-fnder. The confidence in her own powers. in
spired by greater familiarity with the part. made
her second Brinnhilde last Wednesday nigh,
notable creation In II there nothing lacking
that could be supplied by intellect and feeling Its
only shortening being the physical one for which
q pOf 70 he fafllf cd In pOip fact her
impersC nation raised on extremely interesting
question. Must Brtnnhilde be the Amazonian giant
that she Is popularity conceived 10 be- Is II neces
sary that she should transcend all our amable
notions OF womankind? Is she any the less human
because she Is supposed to be divine any the
less divine after she is supposed to have been de-
prived Of her divinity by chastisement which is
after all the chastisement OF lover OF course.
long as there people who think that the stand
ard OF Wagnerian singing is purely a question Of
dynamcs and conductors who think that the
foodgates OF the orchestra he opened TO their
fullest extent at all times criticism. profess
s!onal rs we'll as lay, will demand that Brtnnhilde
he an emotionalized foghorn But II does follow
that their conception is correct. Imagine every
thing brought into the proper perspective. and the
ideal Brinnhilde will be woman with woman
ly attributes raised 70 their highest power by
dramatic stress. II ia true. but divinely feminine
nevertheless. Nine. Nordica's only shortcoming
grew out or her assumption that the mperSonatlon
had to ne OF the heroic stature given TO II by
some Of her phenomenally gifted predecessors She
strove 10 paint broad lines as. indeed. she had
to do in order 20 preserve harmony in the picture
and therefore she disclosed. and anon. the
fact that nature had not given her equipment
for such a performance Yet In "Siegfried" and
especially last night IN die G5tterdammerung'
she sang and acted in style that thrilling.
and created wish that she might ne heard in
properly adjusted. symmetrical and tremendously
adjusted performance.
Vocally. Herr Kraus was cast in the old-time
vocal mould. So far mere weight and purity Of
voice concerned he has had equal here in
the character OF Siegfrfeid The part moreover.
called out the finest qualities that he has displayed
as an actor He delight 20 those who love
a sound. pure tone produced with that ease which
tells OF unlimited force There is want OF
roma ntic feeling and poturesoueness IN his i'm
personation but IN and action his Siegfried is
so much better than anything else that ne has done
that easily fancy him having everything
his way the German WagneHan stage
within Ave years. In "Siegfred" Herr Hans
Breuer distinguished himself in decamatory sing
ing and IN character acting as Mime. In last
nights performance besides Nine Nordica and
Herr Kraus. the performance most entitled 10 praise
was that OF Mr. Fischer Hagen. The cast vas
as follows