New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-11-29
MUSIC.
n Popular Night at the Opera.

The first Saturday night performance CT opera
at popular prices devoted to a repetition OF
Die Walkire." There were two changes in the
cast. Mr.. DIPPED enacting the part Of Siegmund
and Miss Marion Weed that Of Brtnnfilde. In
happily there was no change in the stage manage
meat. and the absurditiss ard plumbers heaped
themselves up from scene to scene until there
must have been many In the audience who were
filed with wonderrnent that any old work could
be bungingly presented In New-York- new
stage was certainly not needed for such a pres
entation, it necessary for a man to come
frem Munich TO teach the lovers of Wagners drama
that the representations under the German regime
fifteen years ago were brilliant in comparison Then,
with the crudest devices and utterly inadequate
apparatus. effort made to observe some
relationship between cause and effect The
freight in Hunding's hut did not shine on
the backs of Siegmund and Sieglnde and
illuminate their faces. The moonlight, which
was to inspire the love song, was not turned
on after the side of the house had opened without
provocation even suggested. The limelight did not
go seeking its objects up and down the walls and
across the floor. Clouds did not fall upon the hero
and impede his impetuous progress to the battle
with Hundng But there is need TO persist in the
doleful catalogue. There have as yet been no ade-
quate rehearsals and criticism must wait for that
much promised time when the operas were to begin
with such perfection of scene and ensemble that the
twinking stars to be quite lost to sight in
the glow Of the nebuIse. Meanwhile. there remains
the fact big with present delight and future prom
Use. that Herr Motif conducted admirable
chestra through eloquent reading Of the instru-
mental score, and that Herr Van Rooy was a
Wotan Of ideal puissance.
Mr.. DIPPED has shown his quality as Siegmund in
former seasons but last nights impersonation dis
closed growth in both its histrionic and musical at
tributes He is neither heroic in stature fervid
of ternpera ment but he has immeasurable zeal and
an eager, searching intelligence. His enunCiation
Of the text is admirable though he still pUrsues
dstinctness at the cost OF correct phrasing and
beauty of tone Miss Weed sang the part of
Brlnnhilde for the first time in public it
said Her performance would have been creditable
in z provincial city OF Germany, Here II
chiefly va liable as an index Of the confidence and
ambition developed In an American singer by a
dozen years Of experience in German theatres.
Vocally she also illustrated Of the results
Of that experience When she came to New
York from her native city CT Rochester
fifteen years ago. she sang contralto in the
quartet choir Of the Dutch Collegiate Church. at
Fifth-ave. and Forty-eghth-st. Her voice was
then not true contralto-there are few such-but
a mezze contralto For the purposes of German
opera Chose requirements being, as Nine Marchesi
once remarked like those of maid of all work. her
voice has been squeezed up 1t is a beautiful voice
within the registers that have not been tortured,
but it has neither the weight. the warmth the
range for so unsteady sublimated a roie as that
OF Brunnhnde Her case and that Of Miss Frem-
stad Cwho was last nights Sieglinde), indicate
what may come out Of such opera class that
which Moderated in the chorus OF Valkyrior but
better results would be obtained II the ambitious
young women could practise in a smaller house
ana before less sophisticated public