New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-25

surg1nE 20 It's feet at the end OF the second
sct. with round after round OF applause and
cries OF ~Conriedl Conried" the great audience
at the Metropolitan Opera House last night-an
audience which filed every seat and left a
thousand Etanding-resolved itself into a tribute
70 singers. conductor and manager OF the first
production OF PArsifal on any stage outside
Bayreuth- This performance. unique in many re-
spects, was the crowning effort OF the new
-eglrne n the opera kingdon-an effort which
met with Undoubte6 popular success
An audience which was gathered from all parts
ot the country and contained many who had
seen the original Beyreurh production. went TO
the opera house at the unheard Of hour OF 5
p T. and after inte-mission went again 10 sit
Until midnight
Coming heralded BY a lawsuit between the
wife OF the composer and the company which
was 10 produce the opera, advertised by the op-
position OF well known clergymen few pro-
auctions have ever been advertised. the first
dramatic presentation IN America OF tcParsifaI"
naturally called forth an audience eager in ex-
pectation- The manager. in his most sanguins
moments. could not have desired a more cordial
reception OF the oDera from those fortunate
enough 10 have seats.
That he was pleased beyond measure is saying
almost little Herr Conrisd's excitement
would let him say last night
IN very, very happy" he declared. half
laughing as he said It while he tossed back the
hair which partly o5scured his vision. 7 had
wished but I'd hardly dared 70 hope for so much.
There's e Thousand ton weight OF my mind I
an glad that the American public has justified
ny acton n producing 'Pa-sifaf in opposition
70 Nine. Wagner's wishes"
7 vas & dual audience which greeted the
opera and Eignided its approval; an audience
OF two distinct kinds Of people. with two dis
tinct motives for being there. There were the
music lovers and well known musicians. those
vho went for the music drama for ITSELF and
the larger number who were there simply to
Sc whether the game was worth the candle
whether the cause OF all the comment and COM
notion was really worth while. and TO see the
show"
STREET THRoNGED WITH CARRIAGES
r,-g before 3 .. n. an hour previously IN
heard OF n the annals OF opera me streets
I.rouns the great yellow brick structure were
.bronees with carriages. from which emerged
vrornen n gay dresses and men in the conven-
4sonal black At 3 O'Clock there reacheo from
n. inside doors o. the lobby a long twisted
.lrssn Of humanity. clear around TO the carriage
doors a. Fortieth-st- Three deep they stood
there waiting for the doors 10 open, while out In
broadway others arrived, their carriages adding
70 the confusion
VIII AL the vast throng. however. there was
little difficulty II handling the carriages The
noitoe force under Sergeant Brouer was doubled
= about twice SIS normal size. yet there were
only thirty-hve men there. Broadway traffic
was at SIS height az that hour. and. TO make
had worse three huge coal wagons got stalled
directly IL front OF the opera house. By hustling
and pulling taking horses by the heads and
turning them into side streets, the police man
aged 10 keep the stream OF carriages in motion.
and the-e was not a serious nlishap-
There was even less trouble al the end OF the
first act. when everybody made vociferous call
for carriages and au wanted them al once.
The throng moved out n quick time. After the
opera the block between Fortieth-st and Thirty
uiutl-st was closed % al traffic. while the
oDeragoers got away
u had been uooted point whether or not
evening dress should be worn Fearful OF estab-
llshing q precedent equally fearful OF breaking
one, the b0Xh0i6ers 10 a unit came in afternoon
dress. The appearance OF the grand tier changed
after The long interrnission. however. Gorgeous
toilets bloss0nled along the horseshoe. set of /
hv dazzling jewels while the occasional white Of
fnirt bosom aId black Of coat picked out the 4
gay colors by force of contrast. In the orchestra
almost everybody wore evening dress ar the be /
ginning - the 1rsI act
Il was remarked that the boxes were almost !
faIl when the curtain rose. From that time on. /
The audience lost sight Of boxes. lost thought /
- dress; every attention VAS concentrated on 4
ihe stage. Grouped in the rear Of the orchestra
stood some hre hundred persons almost unable
70 move. yet shifting about for vantage points
- 10 riow
ih The topmost gallery stood another throng.
lfle lovers Of music these. with staring eyes and
.ale4 hreaths. following the action. Some read
from score as The music flowed out from the
sn-es. Not word was spoken as the solemn