The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-12-25
I, - dLqH7 a. u..rn
.PFAKSlr n n PLAYED
IN NEW YORK
Sensational Event in
American 0peratic
History.
BEGAN AT s O'CLOCK
A Serious Blow at the "Baireuth Nc
nopoIy'---Stage at Metropolitan
RebuiIt---No Such Huge
Audience Ever in
the House.
the House.
(By the Associated Press.)

New York, Dec. 24.-In spite of success
siye legal complications. small storm
of pulpit protest, and some enormous
practical difficulties, Richard Wagner's
sacred music drama, or dedicatorial les
tival play "Parsifal" was produced at the
Metropolitan Opera House this evening
before an immense audience. The pro-
duction takes rank not only as the most
sensational event in American operatic
history, but it has a world wide impor-
tance as the first public performance OF
the much discussed drama out of Baireuth,
and as a serious blow aimed at the So
called "Baireuth monopoly, which
''Parsifal" by its restriction to that stage
has largely created and maintained tor
the Wagner heirs.
To give the wor meant the complete
rebuilding OF the Metropolitan stage, the
purchase of most elaborate mechanical
appliances and lighting apparatus and
ransacing of the musical centres of Eu-
rcpe to secure a corps of experts Tor
every department, competent to direct
the details of the drama as it is given
in Baireuth.
The results as summed
performance amount to
for Director Conried. Ir
every one who has mad
rilgrimage' to Ba.reuth,
treated to the most sum
the work has ever recei
"Parsifal" been given so
dress, never a more tho
musical Interpretation. That it Should
have failed somewhat to produce in full
measure the profound impression which
accompanies its performance abroad may
be accounted for by the conspicuous lack
on busy Broadway of that .atmosphere"
which belongs peculiarly to the quiet
tie town in the Bavarian hills. THls was
10 be expected, although every care was
taken to realize Baireuth conditions
the theatre itself.
1t is safe to say that no such
audience has ever been compressed
in the four walls of the Metropolis
Opera House, nor can even an old tin
recollect one of such brilliance and re-
sentative character. Boston, Phila
phia. Washington, Baltimore, Chic
and other cities sent parties of enthusa
and almost every one well known
art, literature or music throughout
country could be met in the jostle of
lobbies and corridors. For weeks evt
seat from the footlights to the roof had
been sold and could have been se-sold
a score of items.
The performance was begun punctually
at five O'Clock, the opening of the drama
and that of each of its acts being herald
ed, after aBireuth custom, by trumpet
ers, upon the main staircases The first
act, ending at about seven, was follow
by recess for dinner, the pelLol lll.t4ice
was resumed at quarter before nine
ard concluded at about half past eleven.
These arrangements. coupled with the
total darening of the house, presented
society with the practical problems Of
where to dine" and chow to dress
asmuch as the curtain arose before the
hour at which evening dress, according
to social canons, is permissible. Society
settled them in variety of ways. While
some used the long intermission to drive
home as a rule dinner was taken at the
principal restaurants nearby, tables at
which had been reserved for weeks. All
sorts of solutions of the dress problem
were TO be seen.