New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-03-03
MUSIC.
TRISTAN UND ISOLDE"

Strange and unexpected things happen ar the
Metropolitan opera House when the dramas of
Wagner are brought forward As rDIe IT, -
expected things which good are not hard -
explain In spite Of the sophisticatjor which -
got into the Beyreuth performances since Va
SleT-s death there Is enough in the preserved ira
s1noo % INT representation imbued with a
1oos1cC0 OF the Old spirit far above the plapa If
khe ordinary operate performance -rtar. :. -
1ooie contingent OF the bearers these traditions
IL hr. Shsu's company. In some Of the externa Il
OF the spectacle il IS impossible for these artists n
make Their influence felt though in their zeal tho,
sometimes make their knowledge and wishes 800
fest IN surprising way, for instance on Thurs
day evening when Nine Schuma nu-FIeinl,.s axoi-al
ahc therefore TOO audible command TO the stage
1nachnist tWho was threatening to leave the heads
rof the Nornir sticking out of the ground A. err
tTise) came near turning the conclusion of the
NOotterdammerung' prologue into a farce At
cther times. however, and especially when there
IS no occasion for the stage manager TO tnternose
Eais bungling hand the fine zeal knowledge and
ability OF these artists bring about results which
ennoble our operate institution ard enable i to
preach an artistic gospel of thrilling potency and
beauty.
So. on Thursday. night. The concluding scenes Of
~Gotterda1nmerung" We're filed SO full of throbbing
N1tality by the singing and acting of Mr. Dppe
and Nine Nordica that the bungling manipulation
'o1 the stage could easily be dismissed from the
minds OF the audience as inconseo uen1faI yexaons
and last night Tristan Isolde was given with
a 1erFor, passionate intensity. perfection OF
understanding between the principal performers
and a sympathy with the drama and It's musical
snvesuture which made it the most notable oc-
cuTrenee thus far Of the season Singulary enough
-Dut frequently proclaimant Of the which
TWasners art makes kin OF all its votaries the
principals had never before co-operated with each
bother in a performance OF rhe work Mn- Ternina
FSas no stranger 70 her task, but NJ Van Dyck was
foch 10 his IL a comparative sense his active ac-
sQuaintanCe with the role of Tzsfan being limited
20 concert performances Of excerpts in French
version. No not, even he shregdest deliver
1nto the secrets of the WAgneraI. text literary and
1nuslcaL would ever Ave guessed that fact from
The performance Of <the love scene in the second
Ect- The same whole hearted wish to make
plain tie exposition Of the drama b. dint ex-
pressive defamation vitalization the music
by the WofIz and sweeUening Of the word by music
marked 10th performances, and they in
most admirable and marvellous degree compile
-neut2A An eXqusitely tender womanliaess gave
syn pathetic color the passionate outbursts
aof< /Ame. Ternina, and found its counterpart in
-@tTe chvalrfc department and expression NJ
Nan Dyck. This IN the first and second acts, while
81 the t-ird II. Van Dyck 10 a tragic height
CHAT has not been seen the local stage IN this
drama since the departure OF Herr Niemann. The
1nan became TRANSPORTED. the intensity of his
sng and singing became poignant; it whirled the
listeners and spectators of in food of emotional
excitement, which all the thrilling be-
cause il had 10 be kept in restraint until the end
OF the drama Then, however, the barriers
down with a rush. and the scenes which used TO
follow the Tristan representations Of 1885
re-enacted for indeed last nights audience though
largely made Up OF subscribers. could and
would remain obdurate such appeal
More marvellous than his acting, because less ex-
.pectec was NJ. Van Dycks singing. Those who
had followed him ettentiyely through the season
were prepared for lack OF euphony his musical
sltterance. They knew his devotion high ideal,
they mad long been convinced OF his intelligence.
but they dreaded the dry, hacking. untuneful
defamation which he has often INDUCED in in
other works. and they wondered what would hap
pen 10 the WagneTian cantilena IN the love duet
and the death scene. al OF IL was beautifully
conserved, and had the voice been filed with
Sensuous charm. mis- representation Of Tristan
would have wiped all recollection OF its prede-
Cessors- There is time only for word of appre
citation fer those who well known that they
scarcely need it-8Ime. Schumann- FIeink who bur
<iened the Of the garden with loveliness; Mr..
Van Rooy, and Il. De Reszke. and. above them
all Mr.. Paur. who conducted with inspiriting elo-
rUence.