The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-01-27
WAGNER'S "RING" COMPLETED
oGOTTERD4MMERUNG" HEARD
AT THE METROPOLITAN.
The End Of a STORY Begun Three weeks
AEO-An Unsatisfactory Way to Give
the Gycie-Nir Dippcl as Siekfried
and Nine. NOrtllca SIS Brunnhilde.

Three weeks ago a lusty, though one
eyed god named Wotdn stood on the banks
OF the Rhine contemplating a palace which
two stupid giants, too ignorant to know of
labor unions and too dull 10 think OF going
on strike, had completed for him at the
hour named in the contract. This WotdR
endcavored 20 beat the giants out Of the
price Of their labor. and in so doing intro
duced -ln into the Norwegian Olympus.
wo weeks ago last night this fool
18Th god tried to get himself out OF
mis- scrape by starting race OF
rortals who should act as free agents
and atone for him VIGOROUSLY. He
failed ANONYMOUSLY and was compelled
10 part from his favorite daughter, putting
her 20 Sleep on bald headed mountain
surrounded by day and night fireworks.
one week ago youthful hero forged
syori 7mote dragon and a dwarf, talked
~ bird knocked the head of the one
eved gods spear climbed the hill, buoked
Ire fire found the girl and married himself
o. har out Of hand.
Last night this same hero forgot himself,
tried 10 marry the girl to another man and
himself to another girl, was properly killed
for doing so, and burned up on funeral
rvre built by the girl which pyre sent
flames clear up to Walhalla roasting the
one eyed god. together with his entire
family and good job too
Thus Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelun-
rcr wound its disjointed way from Thurs
day to Thursday and came to an end in
the blaze Of scandinavian glory at a late
hour last evening. The fire looked very
cheerful indeed and many people must
have wondered why Wotdn ever wandered.
IL + hard indeed to be serious about
pres entation of the Ring dramas when
given $ they We been at the Metropolitan
Orera House this season and are gong 70
10 presented al gain To hear these works
i'm TINS manner is far more unsa satisfactory
than would be TO read one OF Gaboriau's
closely woven detective stories in serial
form.
he Nibelung drama has one great
unity unity Of action There is one
central plot the commission of a crime
and ia punishment. HOfdn sins and drags
Gown all Walhalla with him to destrc-
tion This is the story Of the drama. All
that occurs in Die Walkuere. "Siegfried"
and Goetterdaemmertlng" is incidental to
this It Is one huge tragedy. OF which
these are the three acts and Das Rhein-
gold is the prologue.
Therefore the four plays ought 10 be pre-
RentPt IN a SuCCP SSlOn "a ClOSA as possible.
The ideal performance occupies four con-
secutive evenings This was Wagner's
design. II is in truth almost impracticable,
because ae sh and blood cannot stand the
strain To sing WOtdr through three suc-
O. -siyc DAYS and Brunnhide in the same
fashion j. some ding too much. To have
different impersonetors destroys the unity
Of lmpr ssion.
In the Metropolitan Opera House it
might he practicable to give Der Ring
de- Nibelungen on four succeeding nights
The schedule OF subscription performances
invites this scheme. Unfortunately. how
ever. Art and Mammon are at war in our
lvrio institution. The house T. in a measure
the toy of people who desire and can pay
for the most expensive amusement SignoT
declared that Wagner was not amusing
Great artists great dramatic poets, great
composers seldom are.
Society has declared itself opposed 10 !
the sombre spell Of the Wagnerian drama.
T. will suffer and be strong under an occa I
sional 4Meistersinger" or "Tannhauser.
and will be even cheerful through one act 7
az -IOhengrin. but there il stops. And /
So the great dramas Of the Ring have 10 be .
s0Vn vide through a month OF delay and (
distraction and the splendor of their glory /
dimmed for the sake Of amusement pro- /
vied for amiable persons not seriously /
inclined
I5stnisht' : performance Of Goetterdaem-
r0nrng- WAS paved with good intentions,
trt It was not wholly happy. Mr. Burg
s'aier vas ndisposed and Mr., DIPPED sang
'irs'rifd INTEL gently, correctly and sin
corely hu' without sufficient tone. Nine.
y 3rd IN Brunphilde was admirable IA con
cenfion and in detail, but she has sung 1t
with more opuent voice than she did last
nicl'
N>s Walker vas cold and phlegmatic
az W1prdu'e The other members Of tho
ra-' vera Miss Weed as Gufrune. Misses
Ralph Milford and Alien as the Rhine
daughters Mr.. Mailman az Gunther
and Mr. Bla=7 as Hagen The orchestra
WIS IN q most unhappy state. and the brass
chor played valia1tlv out Of tune and
With coarse tone The wood wind was
none too good and in fact things instru-
norfnl we're generally ragged and I'M
krmo' Mr. Hertz conducted.