The sun., 1903-02-13
| A new TENOR AT The OPERA.
ALOIS tRGSTALLER ~ WAG-
NER'S "DIE WALkURE."
A Bayrcuth SIegmund Heard on the Metro.
pOiitan Stage-Mr. Bispham as WOtan
the Smali-NOrtiica and Gadski Sins.

A Hayreuth slegmund Heard on the Metro.
poiitan StaEe-Mr. Bispham as Wotan
the SmalI-NOrtiica and Gadski Sine.
"Die Walknre' was performed at the
Metropolitan Opera House last night. 1t
was an extra performance. and the occa-
sion was Lincolns Birthday. Whether 1t
was that Americans could not reconcile the
pruriencies of the Volsung family with the
memories of the day or that the German
lovers of Wagnerian drama could not dis
cover any reason why they should cele-
brate the saviour of the western republic,
the audience was a very small one. But
it was like many other small audiences,
full Of enthusiasm. II applauded every
thipg that was done. and had as good time
as If ii had been three times the size.
The interesting incident OF last night 8
performance was the dabut here Of Alois
Burgstaller, who appeared as Siegmund
He sang the part two weeks ago in Phia-
dephia and made a good impression, which
he repeated last night. He was heartily
applauded after the first act and received
not less than five calls, together with Nine.
Gadski, who "a Sieghnde, helped him to
make the act effective.
Mr.. Burgstaler is a man OF fine physique,
well suited to the heroic Wagnerian roles.
His voice is typical German tenor having
a full barytone quality in the low register
and tending to whiteness in the upper tones.
which are generally sung in mixed voice
with something too much Of q forced open
throat. But the voice is on the whole a
robust and well-conditioned organ, emitted
without undue pressing and nearly always
agreeable 10 hear
The tenor's style is open TO discussion
1t il not what il usually regarded as the
typical Bsy.euth style, though MIR. Burg
staller is purely product of the Pi euth
school. His declaration is exi gg rated
In its treatment f consonants, aid his
naturally results in some distortion OF the
musical phrase. On the other hand, MS
cantiena is far and away ahead OF what
we would nat urally expect OF BaireUth
singer. 1t Is excellent in phrase, aRrceab!e
in tone and correct in iltonation II has
not the grace. the elegance. the sweetness
Of an Italians cantilena, but what German
te or's has? Mr.. Burgstal.ers Si6gmund
was musicaly the best the Netrcpolit an
Opera House has heard in years. and IN
some messages of the defamation, as in
in dramatic force and picturesqucness TO
Mr. Van Dyck's. The new tenors voice
production il often like Van Dyck's. but
he is a much better singer. Indeed, not
since Niemann has any one made more
eloquent oirec, with that significant bit
al the ord of the narrative;
Non weas>t du. fragcnde Frau,
Warum ich Frcdmund nicht hclsSe
Mr. Van Rooy was indispOstd last night
and Mr.. Bispham took charge Of Wotdn's
tales of woe once upon time he sang
the third act and conveyed the impression
Of n one-eyod god in reduced circum-
stances. Ii did not tcndto the bctterment Of
the pilgrim from Wal ala that he was heard
last night in two acts instead OF three.
Mr. Bisphams Wotnn makes clear to the
Youngest Wagnerian neophyte the suprem-
acy Of Frickd, especially when thai stickler
for the observance of marital rights is
imper-onated by that experienced lady.
Nine Schumann-Heink.
Mime Nordca repeated her now familiar
and admired embodiment OF the Naikyr who
thought she new Wofdr's purposes better
than he did himself, but counted without
her Frickd Nine. Gadskis Siephnde bad
all of its vocal charm last night and Mr..
Elmblad a. Hundiaq was surely the primeval
savage The stage management showed
much Improvement. especially in the treat
ment Of the lighting of the sword The
untuneful nine in the last act set tho wild
echoes fying" in fine style. and Mr. Hertz
and the orchestra did their share of the
evenings work excelently On the whole,
il was a good performance