The sun., 1908-04-14
"DGS RHENGOLD" PERFORMED
WAGNERS SERIAL DRAMA BEGUN
AT THE METROPOLITAN.

The Opening Representation One Of the
Best Ever Given At the Opera House
through Its General Exeellence-DiD'
pei Makes His Last OGclaI Appearance.
One Of the best general performances Of
'Das Rheingold' ever given In the Metro
politan Opera House was that OF last night,
which ushered In representation OF Wag-
ner's serial drama, 'Der Ring des Nibilun-
gen." It's sXcellences did not consist In
superiority Of individual Interpretation, for
we have had most Of the artists In the same
roles before. Those who we're new were
not better than their predeoessors and In
the case OF LOge we have had several more
interesting Interpretations than that Of
Mr.. Burrian, exhibited for the first time last
night.
This new 'Rheingold' was good because
Of the general and well sustained excellence
Of its musical treatment, while scenioally
Il was more smoothly and picturesquely
oArried forward than this unfortunate work
usually is. Mr.. Hertz conducted, and he
deserves warm praise. The score was read
with abundant color, With life, vigor and
warmth, vet the orchestra was az no time
permitted to drown the voices.
The effect OF the conductors moderation
OF the tonal volumes was most noticeable
in the first scene The three Rhine maidens
were Miss Alten, Miss Weed and Nine.
Kirkby-Lunn, who sang their music with
good intonatlon and with intelligence,
Their singing came out far better than "a
the rule, and 30 did the rude raging OF
A II naHiNuA that the ai0niNCnnCo
OF the scene became more than ordinarily
clear.
The good playing Of the orchestra. CON
tinued through the performance, and mr.
Herts's tempt were such az to prevent the
work from moving heavily. II may be
questioned, indeed, whether the wonder.
fully expressive narrative Of Lo1e would
not have gained some weight by a slightly
slower movement. But possibly the tempo
was that which the singer, Mr.. Burrian,
desired II Sc, lie may DC said to have
sacrificed his vocal opportunities on the
altar Of artistic conviction.
Mr. Burrian's LoOe was exoellently done
in 30 far az the reproduction OF the only
genuine and warranted Bayreuth oackle
was concerned But. this evil spirit was by
no means the subtlest Of the beasts OF the
field. even though he did for a moment ct
his entrance suggest the appantion OF
Z
brick busted HAmmerstein about TO SOW
dissension among the children OF the Metro
polltan OF Walhalla. But he proved TO be
a heavy footed, Teutonic LOpe. by whom
the spirit OF the wavering fire had passed
without an inhaming touch. Honest lago
alas!
There was a new Donner in the person ol
I Mr.. Waterous, who exhibited sturdy limbs
and voice. Nine. Fremstad contributes
the beauty TO the scene, for she was lovely
| Frickd in appearance and voice Mr.. van
! Rooy's Wotdn revived memories OF his best
| days, while the other singers repeated Wha'
| they have done here In other days. -,
The light effects were managed mucf
better than they usually are at the Metro
! poltan, but the stage hands all ought to g
/ TO the Manhattan next season and learn IRON
| the aPelleas ct Melisande' performances
! how 10 make dark stage changes without Q
! sound. Except for noise, which was less
/ than il used 10 be, the changes were vel
made. That from the Rhine depths to the
, view Of the newly completed Walhalla was
really admirable. The newly elected director
! Dippel, made his last official appearance az
! Eroh. But Of course he may have TO sins
SieOmuRd or Siegfried before the end Of th'
! week