New-York tribune., 1908-12-11
MUSIC
"G6tterdGmmerung" at the Metro
p0litdn.

The last drama OF wagher's Nibeluns tetrslosy.
''trotterdammerung," was brought forward at the
Metropolitan Opera House last night. If the sing
had been italian and the soft, bastard Latin
had been used instead or the rude original tongue
II might have heen called Milanese performance
because ii was produced under the Milanese tnfu-
ences which ofT1cally not only dominant
but regnan al the fashiona bic home ot lyric drama
As IL was, through the excellence of the singing
actors. the orchestra and the conducting OF Slgnof
Toscsninf, il simply a superb performance OF
the work which though thoroughly German IN
subject and spirit represents universal tragedy.
and like all good art, ought % appeal to universal
appreciation. The conductors appreciation OF the
score all lacking but. on the contrarH ruilE
cognizant Of tragic import. was vet fine m
It's knowledge Of It's splendid rnelos, and this
brought out in the orchestral music as II has sell
dom been-not only fits me1o5, but its sonorous
euphony and fascinating elasticity.
OF the singers who represented the characters al
vera new 10 the ira xedy except Nine Homer. who
sang the part Of Of the Rhine daughters:
Adolph MUhlmanu familiar C7untFeT- ara QUO
| Gor1tz, at equally familiar AIber4ch Nine. Fren-
stad was the Briinnhilde. Miss Foruia the Gutrune
Mr. Schmedes the Siegfrfed Mr. Allan Hinck-
ley the Hagen The scene between Wsltrsute and
Briinnhlde which has been feature Of the Metro
potan Opera House for years-a beautiful and eff
fective one--was omitted. but instead the prologue
vas given. and consequently had the three
0ornir represented bv Natalie Ciorski. Nsrv Ran
zenberg and Felice Kaschovska. The Rhine mixes
were Miss Leonora sparkes. Henrietta Wakefield
and Nine Homer. The restoration Of the prologue
caused about much delight among the WaE-
merriam element in the audience the omission OF
the WsItra Ite scene did raEl 81. MusiCaUv. they
may he said to he par. but ever since
the experiment of giving the prologue was
MADE ny Nj SetdI. there has been a feeling that
the difference between the scene representing the
ieutonic tates throwing 4 rope one 70 another.
ana the Greek notion Of The Par-=. spinning
casting and cutting the thread OF fate. was more
provocative Of dersjon tnan poetIcaI emotion and
II has therefore been omitted Tsvo- Of the scene
which enters more directly and impressively into
the drama itself It cannot said that the i'm
preston vas disturbed last night
As has 6oea indicated al the outset there was
H7u'7 to admire in the performance last night. and
large part, perhaps the largest part. Of its eec-
uveneSs was due TO Nine. Frensrad. VINO T4vea led
# not a rev. 9t Least sLpe-bly moving character
as Bruunhilde. part she had esssyed i'm this
drama here before II equally lovely and i'm
pressive from dramatic and musical point Of view
Such are the singers who should preserved the
local stage. matter What interests sway man
ayers. They belong TO the opera-lovi7g public and
must remain their wards Herr Schmedes.s vocal
shortcomings were less disturbing than IN Die
Walkure not because he sang better. but because
he disclosed higher capacity for dramatic repre-
sentatoE. M Hinckey, too. showed splendid
growth in al respects There have been
sinister Hageus. but few more Impressive in their
vocal delivery Altogether. not forgetting the tune
fIl ntXeS it was representation 10 be listened 10
with delight.