New-York tribune., 1903-02-15
MUSIC.
Il Day of Opera.

Attention was pretty evenly divided yesterday
afternoon at the opera between the excited gossip
in the Hobbies and the performance within the
theatre The latter feature far ard away the
most interesting and had the additional value Of
being devoted something Of lasting and artistic
valae- The work 'Siegfried." and in it Herr
Burgstaller assumed the part of the youthful hero
for the first time in New-York. Largely through
his cooperation. but also largely and
cumulatively through that of Mime. Nordca.
Nine. Schumann- -Heink and Messrs. Reiss and
Hertz the performance a memorable one-one
of the most impassioned and poetical in general
design and execution that can be recalled by
patrons of the Metropolitan Herr BurgstaIler en-
phasized the good impression made Thursday
night. and augmented it. It cannot be said that
in all things his Seigfried an offspring of his
Segmund. There a difference in his voice
from which he had bsnshed not only the
dark color with which he published the
psychological character of the i'll fated Nib
lung. and also in his diction. which
more sustained. less artificialiy constrained.
more spontaneous while preserving that great boon
10 the ear correct intonation In utterance he was
always the brilliant young forest lad-eager, ener-
gctic, needless torrentially eloquent splendidly
and convincingly procl3nant. So would he also
have been in action had his astounding multiplicity
and variety of details escaped for even brief
space from the conventions of his Bayreuthian n
mistress It was, TO say the least. astonishing to
note his capacity seize and hold for while the
fancy and sympathy of his audience, work them up
TO glowing warmth and then change them
into amazed and all but amused wonderment oy
attitude or a gesture. which while illustrative
enough OF the passing sentiments, was yet any
thing but manly. Whence came all these feminine
poses and facial expressions? The lad had never
seen woman. These things. however. were over
whelmed by the surge of sincerity and enthusiasm
which swirIed through the performance ana made
it one of the most delightful Vet enjoyed in New
Ybrk- II veritable triumph for the new
conner. Of whose appearances hereafter VIII De
regarded with indifference.
The mood of sympathetic receptivity into Whlch
Herr Burgstaller's impersonation, and the hneiy
poetic work of Herr Hertz and the orchestra put
the audience Injured TO the good OF the ehure rep
resentation. and wen heightened appreciation Ior
all the good features with which the audience was
farailiar-the singing of the ladies mentioned ana
the irnpersonation Of Mime by Mr.. Reiss, IN US
way as finished and characteristic a performance
as ANYTHING witnessed at the Opera House since IL
was opened Even Herr Muhlmann. forced INTO the
trying part of Wotan by the illness OF Messrs
Van Rooy and De Reszke, performed ms task
most acceptably. his voice gaining much IN
elluhony and dignity The audience was large anu
enthusiastic in the extreme.
In the evening the opera was Faust, with Nine
ScheT as the heroine NJ. Salignac as the hero. NJ
Journet as Mephistophiles and Signor Scott as
Talentin Signor MancinelH conducted spirited
performance Conditions at the METROPOLITAN are
Nine Scheff and VI. Salignac seemed somewhat
din1fnurive but that does not mean Inat theS were
TlT1irTerestine The iadys stage talent is unriSld-
able and # her singing does not make Iiit
som that II ought il is because there are TOO many
larger and loyeer voices lingering in the ears OF
the opera goers Of the city