New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-17
A. PERFORMANCE OF "s1EGFRIED."

A. PERFORMANCE OF 'SlEGFRlEI'
"siegfried" was given at the Metropolitan Opera
House last night. and In a manner 10 whet curl
osity touching the representations Of the entire
Nibelung tragedy. which are TO form the culminat-
ing feature OF the present season. II will be a
somewhat singular commentary on the history Of
opera IN New-York II II shall turn that the
most striking achievements Of a regime which
was reinstated for the avowed purpose Of
rehabilitating opera in italian and French
CTtalian opera" II is popularity called
snail make It's finest successes in the Wagnerian
drama sung IN German. Such an outcome is
made more than probable by the excellence Of the
representations which die Walktre' and "Sieg
fried" have received. Mr.. Grau has gathered to-
gether a company Of Wagneran singers with whom
he might carry into Bayreuth TO the ad-
vantage Of what there is left Of true Magnetism
in the Wagner stronghold Nine. Nordica was the
Brdnnhilde last night. Nine Meisslinger the Erda.
Marie Engle the voice Of the forest bird Andreds
DIPPED the Siegfried Herr Van Rooy the Wanderer.
Herr Meffert the Mime. Mr.. Bispham the Alberich
and Mr. Prtnge the Fafner Herr Schalk con-
Quoted. The performances OF Nine. Nordica and
Mr. Bspham IN their respective parts being 1arnilar
from last years presentations may pass
without comment; comment on the rest
must he brief. To the performance as
whole the measure Of praise which was meted OUT
10 DIE Walkiire" cannot be given. Mr. Schalks
tempt had something 10 do with THIS nn' ho' 50
much az the incapacity OF some or the men j" '',e
Orchestra The instrumental ia brio was frequently
turg;d and impure and Herr Dippel win all MS
youthful ardor and fresh voice. could not Always
prevail against 1t There was frequently eon'es'
between the voices OF the singers and the ihsu"
rnents which need MT be and never ought 10 De
Out Of that contest Van Rooy emerged VICTORIOUS
BY virtue of his tremendously sonorous pass
and his rotund utterarce He Is IN all thihes al
exceptional singer and only gives pause 10 en-
thusasrn by some singuarities OF cencep'ioh ms
blond bearded Wotan Of Die Walktre liz "hi'e-
bearded Wsnderer in "Siegfried we Fancy '""'
Cosilna the Autocrat OF Bareuth has oeen al
work here Has Wagners widow hidden away ',ie
golden apples OF Freya? II SO she shoulo 'ahe
their musical symbol out OF the score Vi .,io
ietralogy And what an irritable old gentei"a" W
supreme god has become, We knew MIN 10 pe
weighed down with divine melancholy pu' he'e.
before realized that he had such an lnnfini'y VI
temper Blu. the wisdom Of Wahnfried IN 'hs '''
ter day passes understanding. In appearance i
Dippe is an ideal Siegfried and so ne was IN ac'io"
and in voice also when not overpoWereo pS ,ie
band How refreshing was MS "ue"ess 81,
tonation how splendidly elastic ana helo'' M
bearing, Verify singers who can sing "ae
music are no longer the rare birds they useo 10 '
Herr MefYert was admirable In his enuncia'".
the text but less satisfactory musicaHy' 'o
Engles singing Of the difficult bird music was e"
irely without efficacy and pretty close 10 tne se"'e
in which i, uorA hest 10 pass IL over.