New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-03-05
MUSIC.
NOTES on A DAYS DOINGs.

'wagner's "siegfriad' had its first and last repre-
sentaton at the Metropolitan Opera House yester-
day afternoon factor in this years Neurological
sum: IN the evening lie Cid" by Massenet Cwhom
the wits of Paris called mile. WaEner'O,
performed outside the subscription and for the
benefit OF the building fund OF the French Hospital;
at the same time the Pittsburg Orchestra directed
by Mr.. Victor Herbert. gave concert IN Carnegie
Hall. These were the significant musical events OF
the day. and they might have served the text for
extended discussion II they had offered anything
new particularly striking. But Wagner's fairy
play IN a musical setting is a than twice-told
tale IN New-York. Massenet's opera has already
had its day in the Metropolitan season. and II Is
not plain that much good would be accomplished by
a long preachment on tho incidents and accidents
Of the orchestral concert. For the chronicler OF
jocose disposition the afternoon performance
doubtless tho most prolific in suggestion. The
Brunnhilde who went to sleep a brunette Of
the most pronounced typo awakened a
blonde the bird that few out OF the forest with
white pinions to guide segfred UP the freight
mountain in the second act, donned raven plumage
before he reached the enchanted rock in the third:
meanwhile somebody. less fearless than the hero
devoid OF fear. had penetrated the barrisr OF fire
and robbed tho sleeping heroine of her scarlet
cloak
But there were admirable features in the per-
Torrance outside Of these externals which once
inconsequential IN dramatic representations.
and may be so considered again-for the sake OF
brevity. Nine. Terniua a plastic figure
Brunnhlldet ana an inspired deTni goddess. though
her voice and manner We're lacking IN OF
their usual charm Mr.. Dppel was voice weary
and sought. with some success. 10 supply the de-
hciency by abundance OF youthlike energy in
action. Mr.. Bispham's indispostion, which caused
him to cancel his engagements OF Sunday and Mon
day, evidently also compelled the substitution of Mr.
Muhlmann for him AlberiCh Under the clrcum-
stances his performance had much TO commend
It, especially in the matter distinct enunciation
OF the text feature. by the way. which character
fy,I
noteworthy in the impersonation of Mime by Mr.
Reiss. though he would talk the audience in
stead Segfried, and seemed so anxious to r,ale
an impression on the audience that he brought the
character past the verge Of caricature. Nine
Schumann-Heink sang tho music of Erda with
Opuent voice. but at the climax OF her speech N
the Wanderer she suggested the thought that She
too. like Mr.. Van ROoy had been imbibing the
notion that all the characters IN the NibeIunp
tetralogy are vituperative and noisy scoIds Would
that somebody would come 10 tell these weII-tn-
tentioned people that when they storm at each
other they do they play havoc sometines
with the sense Of Wagner's lines. But, on the
whole. Mr. Van Rooys impersonation was pro-
foundly impressive and noble. She who was Mics
Sophie Traubmann before her retirement and the
voice OF the forest bird for time in the Car
regime at the Metropolitan. and after EMERGED
yesterday from becoming domesticity and sang tbo
music again; but not as well she was wont n do
The best dracontlne voice ever heard AT the Ma.
ropolitan was Fafner- Bass's
Mr.. Herbert gave hearing to Mr. Vill,ers- Stan
rords irish symphony" at the concert OF the
Pittsburg Orchestra, brought back Mr. Emil
Fischer TO the delight of an audience of bie
friends, and introduced his principal vionist Luigi
Won Kunits as a solo performer. The symphony
good a novelty. for it has not been
heard here since 1883. 1t IS chiefly interesting an
example of nationalism in music but II has MANY
beautiful features especially in its second and last
movements. in which the Irish traits are most in
evidence. The work was read with obvious de-
voton and well played; but the want Of erphony
in the tone Of the orchestra the impurltv OF it's
information were frequently disturbing The other
numbers on the programme were the "Waldweben''
/ (heard under proper conditions, but not so we'll
played In the afternoon at the opera), and Sieg-
! fried's Rhine journey. from "G6tterdammerung -
! Mr.. Fischer celebrated a most fattering triumpb
| In the from Die Meisterslnger" and MANY
! lovers of German opera long to him again as
| Hans Sachs at the Metropolitan Opera House He
/ was compelled to respond to two recalls Mr. Won
/ Kunts played the first movement of Tschaikov-
/ sky's violin concerto. He is serious panstaking
musician, not equal in all respects to the task
which he undertook last night. but one worthy of
much respect and doubtless capable of admira bic
work I'm tasks less arduous.
The audience at the opera in the evening was
numerous and enthusiastically appreciative.