New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-11-19
MUSIC
GERMAN OPERA AT THE METRO
POLITAN.

Die WaIktrA'' was performed at the Metropol-
itan Opera House last night recognition thus neins
given Wagneran and German opera-the TWO
terms have become almost synonymous-on the sec
Ond night the first under the new regime
The representation had some notable features out
the scenery which il sadly needs "as hot
among them So far az the pictures on the staze
were concerned ali the advantages which lhe per
Torrance showed over those. Or the last Few years
came from more careful and intelligent manage
ment. Grateful recognition of this ought to nave
been mixed with the admiration for the slnehs
and acting of the principal performers Whlch vas
published every tirlA that the curtain was drawn.
Praise was also challenged by the playing OF ne
orchestra and the directing OF Mr.. hertz "n'Se
hand was less heavy than usual IN the lFrlc Vor-
tons especially Of the first act, and who was con-
vincing well sympathetic in his reading o. NE
score.
There we're newcomers in the cast. and 20 them
all the detailed discussion in review OF the per
Torrance might with propristy he devoted were
mt For +be fact which it is 2 pleasure 10 record
that il was from the old members OF the company
that the excAllences we're chiefly due vine. ga
skis BrJnnhilde. Nine Fremstad S1esinue sn
Nine. Homer's Fricka gave out the high hSh's %
the pArforn,s nee from a musical point OF View
) their only worthy companion among the stTahseS
being the Wotan II Fritz Feinhals rms shee'
comes to replace Mr.. Van Rooy. The SUBSTITUTE
was not necessary. but If it was - BE- made II i
goo,l thing for the Wa4nerian list that Il vas 20
fortunately accomplished. Herr fPinh8ls wa -
respect of action and diction the best eNemp'at "a
dramatic sinsing concerned in the perfoTH'iCe- -
was he that supplied the want left by even tie od
members Of the company of whom praise has al
ready been spoken The deficiency was distlnctiess
of utterance cIea- and eloquent enumeration "a
the words. without sacrifice of the nus'e- II
follows the latter day tradition IN preSeh''"7
needessly reovish and irascibe conception OF ne
gods character but to that we have grown accHa
toned. 1t is possible 20 feel compassion Tor ne
saddest of the divine company Implicated IN ne
Nibe7ing tragedy. but a Wotan who IS perpetuaily
and udicroIs He sacrifices the dignity which
ought TO hedge the royalty vnll as the dlvinlJy
king OF the gods. But the matter need not De
upon; If a question of Interpretation whlch
has been much discussed. and long pienary
inspiration comes from Wahnfried we are likely
TO witness such manifestations Of the divine
wrath Herr Feinfas exhibited last night me
exhibition could prevent the splendid voice, ne
fine vocaIizaton and the free plastic acting Of me
newcomer from receiving large and warm admira-
ton.
The debut or the new wagneran tenor who
comes from Vienna. Erik Schmedes. Tas a less
gratifying incident The most persistent reflection
which his singing provoked was that if. has
been said he is one Of the tenors on the
German stage to-day then the German stage is in
4 parious way. II might be best to reserve juig
this case but II does nor seem possible
that such vtcousness Of vocalization. such m
steadiness Of tone and impurty of information such
lack Of clarity IN enunciatfon married his per-
foru7anCe last night can De due any airy
and passing cause. Mr.. Hinckley, the American
hasso. who the Hundins # the representation
wed with Herr Schmedes in emitting his tones in
distressfuI puffs and contributed 70 the disaDpoint
ment Of the evening. Other recruits in the Metro
poIitan ranks who looked its footlghs for ne
first time last night were Mesdames Mary Randa
Malta van Niessen-Stone and Rosna van Dyck but
their voices heard only in the chorus OF
Talkyrfcr helping 10 make ensemble that was
thriiiingly effective The audience was fine one.
n. F.. 4.