The Washington times., 1903-12-25
"PARSIFAL" GREAT
ARTISTIC TRIUMPH
Wagner's Music Drama
First Heard in America.
THE AUDIENCE ENTHUSIASTIC
Production Greater in Many Respects,
Especially in Scenic Effects, to
That in Bayreuth-

NEW YORK. Dec. 25.-Surging to its |
feet at the end Of the second act with |
round after round of applause and cries /
of ''Conried, Conriedl" the great audi
ence at the Metropolitan Opera House
last night-an audience which filled ev-
cry seat and left a thousand standing
resolved itself into a tribute to singers. |
conductor. and manager OF the first pro-
duction of ''Parsifal'' on any stage out
side Bayreuth. This performance,
unique in many respects, was the crown
ing effort of the new regime in the
opera kingdom-an effort which met
with undoubted popular success.
An audience which was gathered from
all parts of the country. and contained
many who had seen the original Bay
reuth production. went TO the opera
house at the unheard-of hour of 81
p. m. and after intermission went again
TO sit until midnight
Coming heralded by lawsuit between
the wife OF the composer and the com
pany which was to produce the opera,
advertised by the opposition of we'll
known ciergymen as few productions
have ever been advertised. the first dra-
matte presentation in America OF "Par-
sifal'' naturally called forth an audi
ence eager in expectation. The manager,
in his. most sanguine moments. could
not have desired a more cordial recep-
ton OF the opera from those fortunate
enough TO have seats
Sartorial Features.
1t had been a mooted point whether
or not evening dress should be worn.
Fearful of establishing a precedent.
equally fearful of breaking one. the
boxholders to a unit came in afternoon
dress. The appearance of the grand
tier changed after the long intermission.
however. Gorgeous toilettes blossomed
along the horseshoe. set off by dazzling
jewels. while the occasional white of
shirt bosom and black of coat picked out
the. gay colors by force OF contrast
In the orchestra almost everybody wore
evening dress at the beginning of the
first act.
II was remarked that the boxes were
almost full when the curtain rose. From
that time on. the audience lost sight
OF the boxes, lost thought of dress;
every attention was concentrated on
the stage. Grouped in the rear OF the
orchestra stood some 500 persons. almost
unable to move. yet shifting about for
vaaAtsies sPoin t5aas 10 view.
Music Lovers in Gallery.
In the topmost gallery stood another
throng, true lovers of music these. with
staring eyes and bated breaths. follow
ing the action. Some read from score
as the music flowed out from the stage.
Not word was spoken as the solemn
church scene ended not one stirred I'M
I'll the curtain fell. Then came the
signing OF long-drawn breaths. while
with the applause which followed was
mingled a swel-defiDed storm of Kisses.
IL was new audience, refreshed and
re-dressed. which saw the second act. II
was an audience just as fervent in its
attention and just as enthusiastic which
greeted the fall of the curtain and LET
its enthusiasm burst forth. No misses
stopped the applause at that time.
Forth came the singers in the time hon
cred curtain call, not TO be dispensed
with in the most modern of Emusic
drama productions. # seems; Ternina
and Burgstaller together. Ternina and
BUrgstaller separately; Ternina, Burg
staner, Hertz, and Lautenschlager.
while the clapping rolled on, louder and
louder and the calls for "Conriedp' in
creased. Finally. hurried and nervous,
Herr Conrted made his appearance. He
bowed thrice, then fairly ran OF the
stage.
Just a Little Speech.
At the end of the opera. equally great
enthusiasm prevailed Nothing would
dc but a speech, so the director made a
little one.
The enormous success Of 'Parsifal' is
particularly gratifying to me-" he said,
because IT is a vlndication of the Amer
lean operagoers, who have proven be-
yond peradventure that they are capable
of responding TO a great. solemn. beau
tifuI work like this with an enthusiasm,
as il seems 10 me, which is unparal-
leied.''
In the audience were many men wei
known in the musical world Walter
Damrosch. Felix Mottl. Herman Hans
wetzler. Henry X. Hadley. Fritz Kogel.
Samuel Frankie. Alexander Lambert and
Philip Hale were some of them. Many
n the opera singers were there, too
among them Edith Walker, Olive
Fremstad. Herr Kraus. David Bispham
Nine Gadski Louise Homer. and Herr
Kloepfer. Sgnor Nigna, the conductor
was there, too.
Clergy in Audience.
Even the clergy testified to its pleasure
In the piece. Father Doyle. head Of the
Paulist Fathers in this city, attended a
rehearsal of "Pars far on Wednesday,
and yesterday sent a note TO Mr.. Conried
not only not condemning the drama, but
declaring that he enjoyed the first act
and found Il devoutly reverent and in.
spring" There were other priests there
last night who did not condemn the
production.
Nine -Zeisler. who has seer
Parsifal' at Bayreuth, declared thai
the production here was equal in every
respect to that. and that the individual
singing was better I'm many cases. The
staging was magnificent, she thought
and the entire effect less stiff than IN
Germany.