Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-17
T q E T n E A T E r.
New National Theater.

As a production "Parsifal," the last work
of Richard Wagner and considered by him
the greatest of all his efforts-this music
drama as presented at the Natlonal
Theater last evening by Mr.. Henry W..
Savage's company was the greatest ever
witnessed on local stage. From the very
beginning, at $50 in the afternoon. until
the final fall of the curtain at II O'Clock,
there was a succession of stage pictures
that delighted the eye and made one marvel
at the point to which stage mechanism has
been reached. The hut of Guernemanz, the
temple of the Grail, Klngsor's castle, his
magic flower gardens and their disappear
ance are all veritable triumphS of the
scenic painters and the theatrical me-
chanic's art. Mr.. Savage was determined
that there should be nothing lacking to
give this work of the great master of
music an adequate presentation. He gath
cred about him a cast that was fully COM
petent a chorus commensurate in vocal
equipment and in numbers equal to the re-
quirements of the score, and large or
chestra of skilled musicians The story OF
"Parsifal" need not be told, for 1t has
become familiar to every one Its pre-
sentation and Interpretation in song and
action, with the necessary accessories, is
what concerns the present. 1t was sung
In English, and in most respects the
enunciation of the text was so clear and
distinct that it was easily understandable.
The cast last evening was of a character
to inspire confidence in the vocal resources
of this unique and extensive organization.
Nine. Kirby Lunn was the Kundry and she
brought to the part a keen intelligence,
great dramatic power in every situation
and the wealth of a glorious contralto voice
of splendid range and great purity of tone.
Whether in the flower garden where she
sought to tempt Parsital from his purpose,
or in the last act, when she bathed the feet
of the returning pilgrim as an act of pen
nance, there was nothing lacking in the en-
bodiment of the character as Wagner drew
It, Sig. Pennarini was an ideal Parsifal and
sustained his conception of the role con-
sistently throughout. His stolid beholdng
OF the elevation of the grail, his resistance
to the establishments of the flower maidens
and his thrusting aside of Kundry and then
his return from his pilgrimage bearing the
spear which had pierced the side of the
Savior and which had been taken by King
sor from Amfortas, and his touching
OF Amfortas' wound with that spear which
restores him to perfect yigor, and his final
lifting of the grail were all performed with
perfect understanding and appreciation of
the Wagnerian idea
These two sustained the burden of the work
ana, since on their shoulders, had they
misconceived their roles or been inefficient
III the Interpretation. would have been the
responsibility of failure it is but due that
credit for the remarkable briliancy of last
nights performance should be largely
theirs.
There were others who contributed ex-
tensively to the satisfaction of the repre-
sentatlon. Guernamans, the priest at Mon
salvat, who was finely interpreted by Put
nam Grswold was an impressive figure
and delivered his score with remarkable
clearness of enunciation and with a full,
rich, resonant bass voice. Homer Lind of
this city was the Klingsor and his treat
ment of the magician. who is really
sort OF melodramatic villain. was dramat-
ically, as well as unsteady. artistic and eff
fectlve. The part of Amfortas was we'll
presented by Franz Eggenieff, and all the
minor parts were in competent hands. The
Hover maidens were graceful in their
movements and they sang well.
Mr. Rothwell, the conductor. had his
large force of musicians under splendid
control, and the work of the orchestra was
III the highest degree praiseworthy
The large attendance included those
prominent in official and social circles. and
there is every indication that there Will be
a great desire to witness every presen-
tation of this remarkable work SO long as
it shall remain here.