The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-25

NEW YORK, Dec. M.-ln spite or sue
cessive legal complications, small storm OF
pulpit protest and some enormous practical
difficulties. Richard Wagners sacred music
drama. dedicatorial festival play. "Parsi-
fall was produced at the Metropolitan OPP
era House this evening before an immense
audience. The production takes rank not
only rs the most sensational event In Amer
| lean operate history, but ii has a world
wide Importance as the first public perform
ance of the much-discussed drama out of
| Beyreuth, and serious blow aimed at
the so-called "Bayreuth monopoly" which
''Parsifal' by it's restriction to that stage
has largely created and maintained for the
Wagner heirs.
To give the work has meant the complete
rebuilding of the Metropolitan stage. the
purchase of most elaborate mechanical ap-
,pliances and lighting apparatus and ran
sacking of the musical centers of Europe to
secure a corps of experts for every depart
ment competent to direct the details Of the
| drama 1t is given in Bayreuth.
The results summed up in to-day's per-
Torrance amount TO signal triumph for
Director Conried. In the opinion OF every
one who has made the ''Parsifal pilgrimage"
to Bayreuth. New York was treated TO the
| ever received. Never has "ParsifaI been
! given so superb a scenic dress, never more
1horoughiy adequate musical interpre =. ton
duce in full measure the profound impress
| sion which accompanies its performance
| abroad may be accounted for by the con-
| spicuous lack on busy Broadway of that
| atmosphere which belongs peculiarly TO
the quiet little town in the Bavarian hills.
This was to be expected, although every
/ care was taken to realize Bayreuth condi-
! tons in the theater itself.
| 1t is safe to say that such huge au-
| dience has ever been compressed within the
four walls of the Metropolitan Opera House,
| nor can even an ''old timer" recollect one
OF such brillance and representative char
| acter. Boston, Philadelphia, Washington.
Baltimore. Chicago and other cities sent
parties Of enthusiasts and almost everyone
well known in art. literature or music
throughout the country could meet in the
jostle of the Hobbies and corridors. For
weeks every seat from the footlights to the
roof had been sold and could have been
| resold score of times.
| BEGINS AT O'CLOCK.
The performance was begun punctually
at o'clock, the opening of the drama, and
that of each of its acts being heralded after
Bayreuth custom by trumpeters on the
main staircases.
The first act, ending at about T. was fol-
lowed by a recess for dinner. the perform
ance was resumed at a quarter before 3,
and concluded at about half past IL.
These arrangements. coupled with the total
| darkening of the house, presented society
|
dine" and how to dress inasmuch as
the curtain arose before the hour at which
evening dress, according to social canons
variety of ways. While some used the
long intermission to drive home. as rule
dinner was taken at the principal restau-
rants near by, tables at which had been re-
served for weeks All sorts of solutions of
the dress problem was to be seen.
Men as a rule assumed evening clothes
from the outset as the easiest way out Of
the difficulty, although few frock coats
were to be seen here and there. The ten
dency of women's dress ran the other way;
afternoon and a sprinkling of opera gowns
appearing in the boxes after dinner. The
cred, was reverential and attentive. 1t is
safe to say that most people were i'm
pressed Applause after the first act was
end nothing could have controlled it and the
principals were brought repeatedly before
the curtain amid boundless enthusiasm.
| The cast at all important points was
strong one, three at least Of its principals
having learned their respective roles under
tqtelage of Frau Wagner wa Those were were
Hilka Tornia as Kundry and Herr Blass
as Gurnemanz. Anton Van Rooy was the
Amfortas, NJ. Marceljourant the Titurelu
mentioned making his first American ap-
To consider all the details of the really
remarkable performance Of the drama
to which they contributed is well nigh
impossible. The mystical atmosphere which
pervades "Parsfal," its medieval flavor
and its climax of religious exultation sets
it apart from every other work written
for the modern stage, and to realize all
this and bring IL home to American
| audience Is truly a huge dramatic task.
Not only are mastery artists required and
a great company of well-drilled minor per-
| sonages, but Wagner prescribed scenic
spectacles OF the most sensational sort
So important a part does this "actine
| scenery play in the scheme of things,
shat the average mind fixes itself on tn
| work as n succession of great pictures
rather than of dramatic incidents.
''ParsifaP' is an idyll rather than epic, yet
II needs the finest dramatic resources to
people its pictures in way that will con-
| vince.
AN ADMIRABLE PARSIFAL.
AS was to be expected from Herr Burg
stallers "Siegfried,' he made an admirable
Parsifal To portray the boy Parsifal as he
. | is shown in the first act ''guileless fool
innocent, pure, simple, but uncouth, almost
} wild as we'll. to follow his growth of soul
his awakening to sin, and his final lofti-
ness of spirit, is a great dramatic task tC
which Herr Bergstaller proved himself full
| " equal His singing, moreover, was most
|