New-York tribune., 1908-04-19
M USIC
METROPOLITAN OPERA HOUSE.
Wagner's Nibelung Tragedy.

Record can be made. and IT is made with great
deal of pleasure of thrillingIy effective repre-
sentation of "G0tterdammerung'' at the Metropol-
itan Opera House last night. 1t was the close OF
the supplemental Of opera under the admin
istration of Mr.. Conried and what little feeling
crept in which not in harmony with joyous
eiation was that inspired by the thought that the
dramas Of Wagner had not received equally rever-
entail and eloquent treatment all the season II
they had there would have been less talk than
there has been of the decline of popular interest
IN them and less ,iisprase of Mr.. ConrIed's man
agement Barring their scenic outfit. the Nibelung
dramas have been eredtabIy presented. save when
they have been marred by the inca pacty indis-
position of individual singers Many dramatic alb
surdities have been abolished and new spirit
has been breathed into the music. In this weeks
serial representations still more OF the disturb
ing distressing and dssonant elements of the older
regime have been soughed off, and with all their
shortcomings they may be set down among the
best achievements of the last five years. 1t is
not difficult to place the credit for this where it
belongs. The bettterment due TO the part
played by Mr.. Maher and Mr.. Hertz in the dra-
matte portion of the performances. How necessary
II was TO get out of the discreditabe into which
the stage management and nearly everything else
mad fallen was made painfully evident last year
when at the eleventh hour Mr.. Hertz took mat
ters which had been looked upon as outside of his
province into his hands anj redeemed the final
performances OF the Nibelung dramas
Mr.. Hertzs labors plainly evident again last
nfght, but much was also due to the fact that for
the first time this season Mr.. BurgstaIler appeared
with his fine powers rehabilitated. and Nine. LETTER
BuTckhard took artistic stature which
could have suspected her of possessing from her
earlier performances Not only did she sing with
glorious plentude of voice, but with a beauty of
tone and an eloquence OF dramatic expression that
were ravishing. There was occasional rudeness in
the playing of the orchestra but in the unanimously
jubiant apOstrophes of the opening duet (he scene
of the Nornir omitted usuaD and the Rhine
journey Interlude the elemental outpouring of the
instruments was stirring that most critical guns
were spiked. From the beginning the audience, one
that crowded the house, captured, and though
it knew its opera and conscious of the pro-
prieties, it restrained enthusiasm with difficulty
the departure Of the hero in search of new fields
and adventures. Mr.. Hertz cordially
greeted his entrance to conduct the performance
and after every the enthusiasm burst forth like
a torrent. The drama given with the Wal
scene, and in il Mrs Homer sang the recital
with fine energy and much beauty of voice, though
with sufficient distinctness OF utterance to make
the solemn and significant narrative Ineligible 10
all. Mr. Blass's noble voice effective in most
of his work. though his words were occasionally
crushed by the weight of the orchestra. Praise in
a smaller degree still praise. challenged
by Miss Weed as Gutrune and Mr.. Muhlmann as
Gunther The music of the Rhine daughters was
sung by Mrs. Homer, Miss Mattfeld and Miss Lucy
Lee Call the last of whom took the place Of Miss
Bella Alien who was i'll. II. E. K