The evening world., 1910-12-29
Metropolitan Opera
House Crowded to Its
Capacity to Hear the
Latest Work of the
Composer of "Haensei
und Cretel"-A Recep-
ton FoUoUs.
BY SYL vESTER IA WILING.

L1 OEN lGShlNDEh, p e.
scented at the Metropolitan
Opera House last night for
the first time on any stage. was a
triumph for its composer, Prof. En-
glebert Humperdinck. and for every.
body concerned in the production. II
set a new mark for the genius OF
Geraldine Farrar. II placed fresh
laurels upon the brow Of Alfred
Hertz. II proved again the capacity
OF Mr.. Cattle asazza as manager. 1t
proclaimed once more the splendid
resources OF what Is now our only
opera house. 1t brought out from the
audience. which packed the audito-
rum to Its capacity, such unre-
strained demonstrations as have
never been equalled save at the
premiere OF Puccini's Girl OF the
Golden West" the other day.
The score Is a ms sterpiece OF construc-
tion, mainly OH the Wagner model.
Astounding In frank, spontaneous mel
ody. II has n one great dominating
aria, but there Is "A succession OF beau
tlful arias that fifty reflect the incident
or the mood The orchestra sustains the
action and proclalms the motives with
out cacophony or d~issonance. The pre-
lude to the first act graphically antici-
pates TIE story and elucidates the
themes; there Is fine satire OF the peo-
~. 90 IJ.Hr -,,,, L.. Al. -..fY,l. - aha
second act, while the pathos in the pre-
lude to the last act Is tragic in its
intensity, suggesting Tristan ind
Isolde"
An Anti-cIimax.
The three scenes are beautifully set
and the action is we'll maintained
throughout, but the last act should end
with the death OF the Goose Girl and
the Kings Son. The music and the
spectacle OF the funeral by the Children
are interesting in themselves, but they
make distinctly for an snti-ciimax. The
first and second acts, too, might be cut
several minutes without harm.
The Goose Girl and Her Flock.
When the curtains were parted upon
the first scene in Hellawald. which dis
closed Geraldine Farsar. as the Goose
CIR, reclining lazily upon a bank of
flowers, surrounded by a flock OF geese
that honked and tapped their wings.
there were murmurs OF delight from
all owe: the house. The picture was a
pretty one. Opposite her was the
Witch's hut. low. ~forbidding, with a
raven. clipped as TO wing. moving about
on the steep roof and smoke pouring
out OF an uncanny looking chimney. In
the middle OF the clearing VAS a run-
ming fountain, with a big trough. Be
hind and all around her spread out the
great forest. with gllmpses of the snow
clad mountains towering in the back
ground. Throughout this act Miss Far
rar acted and san always with an
eye TO her flock, which behaved ad-
mira bly,.
Then the Witch enters and scolds her
for ~laZiness. afterwa.d making her mix
at the fountain poisoned dough - be
baked for future use. The Witch de-.
parts and the girls frank soliloquies are
interrupted by the appearance OF the
Kings Son, who has run away from his
fathers kingdom. The two nirt. kiss
at the fountain and fall in love. In a
playful struggle he breaks her wreath.
offers her his crown. and persuades her
to run away with him. But the Witch's
powers prevent her escape and he goes
way alone. Upon the Witch's return
A delegation from lIellabrunn, consist
ing OF tie Fiddler. the Woodcutter and
the Broom-maker, call upon her to ad-
wise them how 10 find a king. She says
the first person to enter the town at
noon next day shall, be he, The Fid-
der effects the release OF the Goose
Girl, whose parents, he says, both
were right royal. Her mock OF geese
fly after her. The shooting star to set
the Goose Girls lily ablaze, for which
the text calls. was omitted last night.
II blazed OF its own accord and the
Witch destroyed It.
How the King Was Met.
The second act takes place on the in
side OF the imposing gates and walls OF
Hellabrunn. on one side Is an inn and
on the other a tribune. The inhabitants
are awaiting noon to disclose to them
their new King. The Kings Son has
found SHELTER in the place. There is 4
lot of action there, including dancing,
with mob scenes well handled. OF
course the King to be Is the Goose Girl,
who makes a beautiful picture as the
gates are opened. On her head is the
crown of the Kings Son and following
her are her geese. The appeals of the
Kings Son and the Fiddler are OF no
avail. The klngly children are stoned
and thrust out inoontinently, together
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