The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-12-25
Richard Wagner's Sacred Music
Drama Produced Before I'm
mense Audience.
PROTESTS OF NO AVAIL.
Performance Began at 5 P. NJ. and
Two Hours Later an Inter
mission for Dinner Was
Allowed.

and some enormous practical difficulties,
Richard Wagner's sacred music drama,
"Parsfal," was produced at the Metro
politan opera-house tonight before an
immense audience. The production was
the first public performance Of the drama
away from Beyreuth.
1t was not only the most momentous
event in the whole course of American
operate affairs. but 1t had great agnif-
canoe in the history of International art.
NEW ERA IN OPERA.
One of the immediate results is to ele-
vate New York's operate stage in its pos
sibilities. at least to level with the
greatest in the world, even with that of
the vaunted one of Beyreuth.
1t need be no longer said of Metropol-
itan Opera-house productions that they
rest for their title to excellence upon a
star system" They to-day graduated
from that phase for good and all. The art
of music drama" may hereafter look to
New York, if it will, for the realization Of
its highest ideals.
"Parsifar' embodies the severest de-
mands upon artist, stage and management
that Richard Wagner ever made. When it
Is realized that the work is an idyll rather
rather than string of dramatic events,
some understanding may be gained OF the
dlHlcuitles which were Surmounted to-
dav
1t may be said at once that the per-
romance. viewed as a whole, was as fine
as any the drama has received at Bey-
svuon, ana that In certain particulars 1t
surpassed any previous mounting
10 give the work the Metropolitan stage
was rebuilt, elaborate mechanical appli-
ances and lighting apparatus were pur-
chased and the musical centers of Eu-
rope were ransacked to secure a corps of
experts for this department To-night's
performance amounted to a triumph for
Director Conried.
In the opinion OF every one who has
made the 'Parsifal pilgrimage to Bey-
reuth. to-nishts performance surpassed all
those previously given.
ST. LOUIS REPRESENTED.
To-night's audience was brilliant and
came from Boston. ST. Louis. Philadelphia.
Washington, Baltimore, Chicago and
other cities.
., me performance was begun at o'clock,
me opening of the drama and that of
each OF its acts being heralded after Bey-
staircase va o -----.-A
The first act. ending at o'clock. was
borrowed by recess for dinner. The
pefIo ddnaI was resumed at s:45 o'clock
While some used the long intermission
20 arive nome, as rule dinner was taken
at restaurants 10
Considerable annoyance was caused BY
the fact that the play began too soon for
evening dress. and ended long after the
time for donning evening costumes.
Men as a rule assumed evening clothes
from the outset as the easiest way out of
the difficulty. though a few frock coats
We're to be. seen here and there The
tendency of women's dress ran the other
way; h1gh-necked gowns prevailing dur
ing the afternoon and a sprinkling of
dinner.
The attitude Of the audience. all things
considered, was reverential and attentive.
1. is safe to say that most people were
impressed. Applause after the first act
vas successfully Kissed down. but after
1t and the principals were brought repeat
ediy before the curtain amid boundless
enthusiasm.
The cast at all important points was
strong, three at ieast Of the principal &C
tors having learned their parts under the
tutelage OF Frau Wagner These were
herr Alois Burgstaller as Parsifal, Nine
| Milka Ternina as Kundry. and Herr Blass
Amfortas, NJ Marcel Jornat the titurei.
| and Herr Otto Goritz the Klingsor
MYSTICAL ATMOSPHERE.
The mystical atmosphere which pervades
| "Parsifal." its medieval flavor, climaxes
Of religious exaltat!on. set It apart from
every other work written for the modern
stage. Not only are mastery artists re-
CURED, and great company of we'll
drilled minor personages, but Wagner pre-
scribes scenic spectacies Of startling
| sort.
.Parsifar' is an idyll rather than an epic
| yet 1t needs the finest dramatic resources
to people its pictures in a way that will
| convince. Herr Burgstaller made an adj
mirable Parsifal. Herr Blass. Gurnemanz,
| an old knight, who takes Parsifal to the
Grail Temple, thinking him the prophesied
.guileless fool was not altogether sat
/ isfactory.
His embodiment lacked the exaltation
and the benignity which Scaria and VIE
| gand gave to the part at Baireuth. Meas
| ured praise. too, must go to Herr Goritz
! for his Klingsor was but a mild-mannered
| magician. Van Rooy's Amfortas was the
best thing he has ever done. He pictured
| admirably the wounded King OF the Grail
| sick unto death, tortured alike by the an
guish of the spear thrust in his side and
the torments of remorse; and in the greai
scene where. forced to perform his office
ft<ac he nff NJ