The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-01-29
NOTES or THE OPERA.

Tho requirements Of the operas in the Rims
of the NibClungcn can rarely 10 satisfactorily
met outside of u theatre devoted exclusively tc
their performance. Tho completeness of tho
recent presentations at the Metropolitan wa
remarkable when one considers that the roper
toirc Of the Metropolitan contains about thirty
operas and the theatre is not provided with the
complete scenic mechanism foundin subsidized
theatres in Europe. The Rhine daughters in
"Das Rhcingold." rs well az in "G6ttcr.
dammerung." are managed with wonder
full skill, and their mannuvres in the
first scene OF Das Rheingold" should
interest n person looking for merely the spec
tacular without regard to tho musical and
dramatic features of the. work. Nothing else
in theatrical spcctacles has over been so inGcn-
ious as that scene. Tho Same could be said Of
the dragon In "Siegfricd" and HIS more
modest associate in "Das ltheinEold." All
these different effects arc created with a skill
and a certainty that make them impressive
when they might readily be ridiculous. Tho
scenery of Das Rheingold" is better painted
than the MctropoIitan's stock usually is, and
this Is especially true of the Ncbclhoim. But
there are some episodes in the opera that
have been beyond the power of the stage man
ayers staff. This was to be expected in an
episode demanding such colossal effects as the
last scene in 'G6tterdammcrung," when the
Rhine is supposed to overflow its banks. That
was "A dismal failure. The canvas waves were
tossed about in n manner which seemed eN-
plicable only on the ground that crane had
fallen in and was trying to e~Xtricate himself.
No attempt whatever to show the gods in
Wnlhalla was made, and the destruc-
ton of the hall was not IA terrifying
sight. Nine. Nordica hurled her torch in q
manner that kept It some feet away from the
funeral pyre, and when the flames began to
rise n mammoth hand was seen in shade on
the background. apparently dropping into the
fire the elements which were causing the
lanes. In the management of so difficult a
scenery scene "q for % PARLIAMENTARY tic d5HrSInsPi CONC On was 81 n ref
finished until last Tuesday morning. although
the date OF the performance was announced
last, September. Future performances will
Doubtless present these episodes with greater
the mistakes could be .rcmedied with little
trouble, When David Blspham as Albprich
turns himself. into a toad no effort is made to
show the diminuttve animal, but Mr.. Bispham.
when he hides behind the rock. l. in sight Of
half the audience, In view, of the splendid
effect produced in the difficult scene that pre-
cedes this there is no excuse for negligence
III SO simple n detail.
The Wagner cycles at the opera will proba-.
bly, not be repeated again. The first was
to the management and the second
is likely to be. but there was no such intense in
terest taken in the series as London showed
last year when three series OF performances
were given. New York has had the Nibe-
lungen Ring many times before last week.
and the performance Of "G0tterdam-
was the thirtieth time heard
here. The greatest interest was shown in
this last production. This was probably due to
Jean de Reszke's first appearance as the ma
ture SieGfrted. and interest in his appearances in
that part will doubtless continue throughout
the season. But the audiences at the Metro
polltan will undoubtedly want their Wagner
with the customary infringement during the
rest Of the season. In "Gotterdammerung."
which is to be repeated next week. the inter
view between Nine. schumann-H elnk and
showing the three 0 Norn sno P Wfii
Ie sings W SI 1Gns New ss AY@ orikessssh viii de-
mand the retention ofthat scene. There seemed
to be signs Of one decided change in the de-
heir occupants to the confectioner on the Sec
posed before to be cosniSant Of, the exist
aware e ID tRis fact on the night
.ePies. R Rffor w tbnt nIsbt Was Fbs rs snns wf Art tbr in the
md tho pink and yellow drinking waters dis
!!ppeaIed as rapidly as they generally do at
ntormality will continue can be told only after
'ubsequent performances. TIL democratic
llzed. and It is the inclination to attribute the
unusual phenomena as to the, confectionery
ions are not 70 be repeated there ia but little
the demand for the wares will ever
gain be so great.
One OF tho most interesting sights at the
Metropolitan Opera House in these days Is of
o domestic a nature that the public would
ever dare to intrude to witness II, even II it
ould. Only one person sits in the great audi
orium and only one sings on the stage. This
which expresses its approval with
he greatest unanimity. is Nine. Nordica, while
he performer who arouseE her enthusiastic
pproyal is nobody other than her husband,
oltan Doehme. who expects to return
t some early day TO tho operate stage.
With the piano and her husband on
no stage Nine. Nordica can evidently get
lore enjoyment out of an hour in the opera
ouse than the average audience does out Of a
nnday night concert. NJ. Doehme's present
Ian is to return to the operate stage next
BRING at Carlsruhe, and as he is to conflne
imself to the Wagner repertoire. it is that
Iusic which delights Nine. Nordica's ears as
10 sits in the empty auditorium. Luckily, it
possible. in the quiet Of the theatre. for her
express her ,anprova! aloud. and the enthu-
astiGc, outbreaks OF First ratel" That's /
&c in 4 tbair similar nteas sentipg tRay are as Eenu;
nd as the old-lime hurrahs Of Signor TaInag.
rs cohorts. There are other private per-
RI r@nSfitoG given az from time to time, in the
,ednesday, afternoon. A young singer OF
HON much has been heard during the past
W years was there to have her voice heard G
Z Maurice Grau; He sat IN the audience :
rough the great building, Herr Saar ac-
IN panied the young girl on the piano
n. Signor Mancinell,i bad been invited by '
Grau to give his opinion on the =
r 8 voice and singing. These additions are i
spring % the singer. There are too few per- n
ms in the audience room TO applaud, and d
hen they Try to do SO tho result is not en- a
uraGing' The patterof a few pairs Of hands Il
scarcely heard, The murmur which follows 4
@ END Of every song has always a tone Of y
nroval II II. but that rarely reaches the I
Iger on the stage. AT the most il cheers tia I
rents and relatives who may be within reach =
'lgnor Mancinellis Fro Q Leandro." which
II be given here early in March. was sung 4
week at Genoa with success. 1t will en- r
~ here practically the same singers that gave h
n London. Future productions at the Met =
All an