New-York tribune., 1906-12-30
MUSIC.
METROPOLITAN OPERA HOUSE.
A Performance of "Siegfried."

The lovers Of Wagner's music are waiting long
this season for his lyric dramas as distinguished
from his operas. "Tannhauser' and "Lohengrin
have been vouchsafed them. but none of the
later works-or. rather not until yesterday after
noon. However, there is sometimes much good In
delay. There indications that some Of the in
antilles are being eliminated from the active list.
and If Mr.. Conreds German contingent continues
to benefit from Its enforced retirement In the meas
indicated by yesterdays representation of Ses-
fried" the Wagnerites will have reason to felictae
themselves upon the managerial needs which COM
PEELED them to wait until Fedora and La
Damnation de Faust could be disposed Of before
consideration had for their desires "Seg-
fried received a really impressive performance,
one which lifted Mr.. Burrian upon plane that
he had not occupied hitherto. that advanced Mme.
Fleischer-Edel still further in the good opin
ion of the public which she had in the parts
of Elizabeth and Elsa. that brought new laures
10 Mr. Hertz, and that made the merits Of N1sssrs.
Van Rooy. Reiss and. In a lesser degree. Goritz.
conspicuous as ever they have been. In fact the
representation was the best that New York has
been privileged to hear under Mr. Conrieds
agement, and one OF the best that the memory II
q decade recall. Some Of the credit must be
gwen TO the new stage management, more to M.
Hertz, very large measure to the merits Of the
newcomers. Nine. Flescher-Edel. Nine. Kirlkpy
Lunn and Mr.. Burrian, and most OF all to the fine
spirit OF devotion which actuated all concerned.
There was a spiritual refreshment In Nine.
still belongs IN the class Of 'jugendlich Drama
tische," the German stage folk would designate
her, she brings the womany element into the fore
ground, instead OF the statuesquely semi-divine;
and thereby she wins sympathy. She is moving
and convincing in her mood of tender loveness and
sincere gentleness All artihcislity slips from her like
a robe in her confession of love for Brtnnhdes
awakener. and her naturalness covers her with
charm. Her voice is ample and vibrant with feel
Ing and 1t is to be hoped that she will not destroy
its steadiness by forcing. There is reason why
the Brnnhilde of the latter half Of the tetralogy
should pose and sing like an amazon. Mr.. Burrian's
artihcialities did not leave him in the same degree
but he disclosed remarkably inspiriting concep-
ton of forest lad Siegfred. acted with much 1--WE
tempted TO say too n1uch) understanding of the
Intervals well the externals OF the drama,
and with his companion let his passion pour
like lava stream through the final love
scene. In the gorgeous music of the begin
ming of the first scene of the third act the
voices OF Nine. Kirkby-Lunn and Mr.. Van Rooy
mixed with the voices of the orchestra till all
glorf1ed. No simple word of praise do justice
to Mr.. Reiss's Mime. though It has often been
lauded. With each performance it grows moro
amazing in it's picturesqueness and wealth OF char
acterizaton. He is a nlarvellously eloquent advo-
cate Of the effectiveness Of Wasner's method of
lyric representation.