New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-03-04
aDAS RHEINGOLD."

Nj Grau having attempted several times with
more or less success. 20 present Der Ring des
Nfbelungen" in a truly reverent spirit, u
became necessary for Mr.. Conried 10 do the
same As Mr. Grau usually did he waited
until the end OF the and put It on On
ts sequence for the two middle parts have
already been given entlties) outside OF the sub
scrfption. Like Mr.. Grau IN the last years or his
reign he announced that the usual cuts would bo
made but as a sop 10 true wagnerites he promised
new scenery Both OF these promises vii! be full
filled For the rest, the reverent spirit his casts
are as badly mixed os MI Grau's ever were.
last night came "Das Rheingo,d." that queer
mixture OF the sublime and the ridiculous that
serves as a prelude to the tragedy proper. The
bald truth 3 that in way did the performances
provide new sensations such as might be found In
general excellence. There was new scenery, but II
aid not impress ore with its qualities o. illusion
Tho FIRST scene. showing the bed Of the Rhine, did
not differ materially from that provided in past
years and in the management OF the lights and the
handling OF the Rhine Daughters one saw few signs
OF the thorough rehearsing which MI Conrled
rrornised would be Of the features OF his man
areuent True the lump OF gold was much larger
than that provided by Mr.. Grau-Mr Grau had no
.ParsifaI TO supply his nuggets-but II burst into
q blazs 1ust as II used In the bad old days OF
stsrdoun II was a meticulous lump-not knowing
whether TO CLEAN or not one did not see the sun
light gradually seep down through tho waters of
the river There glare Of light and then the
intermittent flaming Of the gold. Nor was there
much illusion about ine Jnltc OdubhheiS AAey
ware so obviously swung about in cradles hung by
sucb a,rtghty cleaning wires. that II needed very
fresh imagination to get the picture Wagner in
tended.
or the waIhalla and Nibeheim scenes. all that
nsed be said IS that they were adequate without
being astonishing in any feature II required much
effort on the part OF the stage manager and his
assistants to set them. Judging from the confusion
OF sounds which came from the stage during the
transitions. but the changes were made on time
and distressing delays came to set Mr. Hertz in q
furry.
As for the performance itself. IN only few in
dividua instances did II rise above mediocry. The
Rhine Daughters-Marion Weed. Paula Ralph and
Miss Poehlmann-will not make one forget their
predecessors, Schumann-Heink, Schen and Bride
well Nor does Mr.. Goritz. eXcellently as he sang
Alberich, quite take the place OF Mr.. Bispham-
But Mr.. Burgstaler's LUCE was pleasant disap-
polntment His impersonation lacks the fine mall
ice and the significant pantomime of Van Dyck's.
but Il is light footed mocking and elusive, full OF
color He sang the narrative with great feeling
for its signihcance and with much tonal beauty
perhaps too much. Other newcomers in the cast
were Miss Fremstad a most picturesque Fricka:
Nine Seygard. Freia: Miss Walker. Erda. and
Mr. Kloepfer Fasolt The other singers well
known in their various parts. Mr.. Van Rooy sing
ing wotan; Mr.. Reiss. Mime; Mr.. Blass. Fafner:
Mr DippeI Froh, and Mr. Mdhlmann. Bonner.
Under Mr. Conrieds curious arrangement Mr..
Hertz is conducting 'Das Rhelngold" aud "G6tter-
dau,uerung" while Mr.. Mottl takes die waIkure'
and ''siegfried" There was plentiful evidence OF
lack Of rehearsal much OF the orehestra's work
was rough and ragged None the less. Mr.. Hertz's
reading Is spirited and colorful. ana such Is 10
~ commended