New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-12-26
MUSIC.
Wagner'S ''Rheingod."

Lamentations over the defects in the representa-
tons of the prologue to the Nibelung tragedy at
the Metropolitan Opera House have been as hu-
nerous Of late years as records OF the representa-
tons themselves Last season it was SAID mat
"Das Rheingold" never had so poor performance
at the Metropolitan Opera House as that when
took place on March .. except the first, five weeks
before To that discouraging plant e still Ieore
discouraging addition must now be made AesteI-
day afternoons presentation was tncouparaoIy
bad The discouraging feature in the case les IN
this, that the programme continues on the DOWN
ward path, despite the fact that many OF the per
formers implicated in the mischief are adIIlraO4S
qualified to participate in a model representation
Unfortunately, there is only one Lady VINO can oe
included in this merit Est-1iiss Fremstad whom II
delight yesterday to welcome back 10 d
field Of effort in which her superb natur1 slIls
and artistic requirements shone all the more re-
splendent since they provoked comparison with ner
recent striving in the character Of Brunnhllde TN
"Slegfried), in which she did such violence 10 her
as cause fear and CONSERVATION among her
sincerest admirers and well w1shers. But the Ia1e
roster is large In song and action MI Burg
stallers Loge is as finely conceived, as thoroughly
wrought out and as convincingly expressed a
dramatic character his ParsfA IN Ine
midst of conditions which were a Illumination
to our proud operate institution and vexauon
and grievous disappointment to every wagner
lover in Yesterdays audience luckily NOT
rurnerous) he yet brought back intervals Of poeuo
Illusion by his representation. thoroughly me IN
its musical elements, thoroughly fntellg1ple ana
eloquent in its defamation, thoroughly persuasive
in its embodiment Of the hooking and hluslVs
spirit Inherent in the evil principle of the play
Mr. Van Rooy Mr.. Goritz, Mr. Dppel MI MUM
mann and Mr. Glass have disclosed their fndlv1oual
capacities in many performances OF Das rIe1n-
gold,' and what there was Of merit IN yesOeruaS
representation was due to their singing and acting'
added to that already Iauded. in spite OF suon
bungling of the stage management as MAJ. ~
wonder whether or not 1.-THE Ring Of the NiOeL-
ung'' ought not be piously and permanently puI
under the protection Of Mr.. Savage, whose Io[cSS
would certainly bring more honest Devotion anu
greater intelligence to the task OF interpr
But ever in this praise of the men who nave shoNi
their knowledge and skill, word OF snrprIse mus
be spoken in the case OF Mr. Goritz, VINO at INC
Climatic snena Of the curse the real psychological
moment Of the prologue, and one OF vast L-po''
for the entire tragedy, dropped into vulgar Il9to
drama and to the utter destruction OF the soleIhS
of the scene Injected outbursts Of hoarse laasli'
n. oser+o+tvss Of the Rhine daughters tine
nE,ssas csu Ralph and Aulford) were palnIullS
cacophonous in song. For their sehseleS
hay1or and disregard OF all the actfon "ll4oH So
their first scene significance they were n0I
snongfbIe AS usual, they hung helPiesSly pen4
- a,,,o,,s AZ the end of the wires which nave
+alre1 tho place of the old swimming Iilacii :
and were terked about with cornplete ui 1 :.
waener's purposes Always their pros'eSS -
backward and Alberich accomplished ms
,seic gold without provoking sign OF conslerNa
80 4rorn them so far as their actions were Gun
oo-,o6 The rainbow in the final scene was saoIs
vr,nkIed and for the greater part as rerulsen' as
| q heap OF brickdust- To Nine 'acopy we. :.
| .,,ad +I,A mart Of Erda. TO Miss weed lhat u
| &c srd n a Herr FRANKIE pftiful weakling'
| that Of bonner. Mr. Hertz conducted with more
+bsr his usual discretion and variety OF romance
but his orchestra wofully discordant' eSpsoiS'
/ ~ in the prelude
"HAENsBL IND GRETEL."
! Appropriate to the season was the performance
| az s'EIansel und Gretel" at the opera IN the
! evening. The gracious fairy opera was sung pE
49, 800 or+ists as at the other representations this
| season but Mr. Frankie conducted. There was
Noticeable lack Of elasticity of tempo and express