The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-04-28

and the triumph of virtue. As the story
of @Parsifal" is familiar to the general
reader It will not be retold here. But
Wagner, while preserving all its religious
significance and heightening its poetic
color. has invested it with a metaphysical
atmosphere that appeals at once to the
man or woman who delights in studying
mental processes and subtle springs of ac-
ton.
And the music of ''Parsifar is as poetic
and metaphysical as the libretto. The
Grail motive, the Eucharist" motive,
and the Good Friday" spell played by
the orchestra brought pictures to the mind
and played upon the emotions. and in the
development of these themes Wagner
reached the highest level of his intelec-
tual musicianship. Effects. sometimes
pathetic and sometimes weird. came from
the reeds; effects, sometimes sonorous and
sometimes startling came from the brass,
while the strings were passionate in their
pleading. or agitated, or dainty as the
demand might be. 1t was a superb or
chestra of fifty-nine or sixty performers
the largest band heard in Birmingham
with perhaps one exception.
The principals on the stage could not
well have ben improved upon. The cas-.
follows:
kundry 80. ...... Miss Marion Weed
Parsifal ...... ...... -. Mr. Burgstaller
dufmemanz ...... -. MT. Blass
Amfortas ...... 49,. Mr.. Goritz
klingsor -. -. -. go. Mr.. Mulhmann
NIr al t,, md in.
tonation, ranked first; and no one could
have looked "the part" better than he.
He is a great dramatic tenor.
Miss Weed is a fine singer and MIR.
Blass, Mr. Goritz, Mr. Mulhmann, and the
premier flower maiden all won high
praise. The principals not only sang as
superior artists, but they displayed genu-
inc histrionic ability The chorus was
exceptionally good and always kept the
pitch, which is rare in choruses generally.
The performance was conducted with
singular skill and musical insight by Al
fred Hertz.
The scenic investiture of "Parsifal'' was
In keeping with the wonderful care shown
in ~ detail of the performance. AS
eta. 1ene was disclosed TO view some
OF e.zSeeding richness and beauty and
all In perfect harmony with the music
drama. outbursts of applause came from
the audience. One seldom has an oppor-
tunity of admring a more enhancing
stage picture than the flower garden
scene. The elaborateness of this setting
awakened enthusiasm.
The chapel shown in the first act was
also strikngly beautiful, as well as the
transformation scene, after the flower
maidens had departed The desolation and
ruin succeeding so quickly to the wealth
of life, and natural lovellness which pre-
coded, was so pronounced that for a
moment one felt overawed Still, the artis-
tic effects were not forgotten and this
picture, so marvelously wrought by the
artist. the stage hand and the electrician.
was a fitting climax to the sinister WOO
ing of Kundry and the stormy rejection
of her love by Parsifal.
The closing scene of the drama, show
ing the interior of the chapel was also
most effectively staged while the large
male chorus impaired life and color.
The scenery of "Parsifal' had been
widely heralded, but it is safe to say that
NO one was disappointed by the staging
of the opera at the jefferson last night.
Despite the fact that The floor space was
not sufficiently large and that the COM
pany was cramped by the smallness Of
the theatre, every scene was managed
admirably and the stage force of the
Jefferson handled the sets without a
hitch. although once or twice a little
more speed in changes would have been
appreciated.
No more handsomely mounted produc-
ton has been seen in Birmingham. and 1t
is certain that no greater musical per-
formance will ever he heard here.