New-York tribune., 1910-03-31
A REPETITION OF WAGNER S
COMEDY.

The belated inclusion os WasnNrs cor-
edy In the seasons repertory at the Metro
pOiitan makes a half-dissatistied reflection
Why was not so interesting an Offering
vouchsa fed TO us before The performance
last Saturday afternoon and the repetition
last night have but served 20 vhst the
appetite FOR more. And this despite the fact
that. II II 10 permitted 20 distinguish and
discriminate where a beautiful piece or
work IS concerned. Stgnor Toscanini Is
not. after all, quite the impeccable inter-
prefer OF this masterpiece that ne -. say,
OF Tristan" The explanation is not OBJ
scure No doubt II is true that art is arr,
mathematics is mathematics, but in
music AZ ali events, ne accident II birth
NAV sometimes have next 70 lrreparabl
consequences. This Italian artist dealings
With Die Meistersinzer provide a case
in point. He Is indeed an artist. one OF
superb accomplishments. but IN modern
Milan he has been able 70 grasp all the
inspirations in the vorId-savs that " six
teenth century Nuremberg.
His path has been made easy, In sense,
as regards Tristan" for It Is one worn
smooth by The experience % all man
kind. The appeal of that great compost
tion IS the universal appeal Of tragedy. The
musician of almost any nationality may
gain Initiation into its spirit, the spirit Of
the grand passion in all ciimes and in all
ages Wagner there rises 70 the plane Of
the almost depersonalized figures in ere
ative art, and. as Mr.. Dannreuther has
said OF Beethoven, speaks 10 every listener
in his mother tongue. II IS not surprising
therefore. that Signor Toscanini has sue
ceeded I'm drawing extraordinarily close TO
f,a II aF Triz An in
dammerung." also. he has held the key TO
his problem by virtue Of his possession Of
artistic resources accessible TO all com
petent conductors. But to the last subtle
secrets OF Die Meistersinger'' his sense is
sealed. for they are local secrets tied fast
10 the heartstrings of the German people.
Il has been extremely interesting 10 OBJ
serve this fact steadily coming out In an
otherwise eNquisitely lovely performance.
When II Is the business OF the orchestra
To sing In Die Meistersinger il Is
always singing-SlgnOr TOscaninI achieves
the mere enrayishment OF our ears BY cut
ting down his Instrumental forces. too he
has considerably heightened the purely
scnsuous effects Of the score. The overture
IN mis- hands was moving in It's rich. mellow
eIOdUence. and again In the prelude 10 tile
third act his effects We're marvellously al
l-rinS. But last night, as on Saturday the
conductor constantly kept The alert listen
er IN "a mood OF critical observance Of the
dramatic proceeding They were good.
VERY good. for the present cast * well chp-
sen. but they Were IN a measure C-ibbed.
AHMED ana Coufned-deprived Of some
thing Of that susto. that wholesome seuti-
menJ which - insepa-able from the genius
OF WaSHer's most Teutonic work II brims
over wlrh the German idiou- The SAVIOR OF
II Is a. the SAVIOR II the fields and orchards
OF tho Fatherlaad. Those Nho sins IL. using
tae.r native language ana living over again
the emotions anu manners OF their natural
home require IA peculiar sympathy in their
orchestral leader 'rhev need a kind OF ar
tistic elbow room kind of free guidance.
SiSuor TOscauini-s cues II not precisely
repressive 40 any axe want the instructive
readiness which oae would prefer He Is a
dominating. not q cola aborating, force.
And yet so Tar does he penetrate 10 the
charm and lie OF the music that. IN the
very moment OF wishing that his insight
were deeper il l. possible 10 subside into
happy enioymeu:. This mar not bs alto
yether the comedy OF Weguer. but il is stiIl
enhancing. sui a miraculous texture OF color
ami melody. Moreover with such singing auC
acting a were supplied by Nine Gadski
Mr.. Slezah NJ. Goritz. NJ SOONER and
their Jealous. colleagues. IL weVe captious
10 let delight wait upon criticism Though
Signo- ToscanIu. may be- .mpe-viods o.
Waguer's hImor, - Is vividlv alive to
much If the beaut.- in Die Meistersinger." "
II was golden. II not Vholly luminous
evening. adding a welcome memory 70 the
closing week or crowded season.