New-York tribune., 1911-02-14
hN||.S|C,
Yesterdays Operas at the
Metropolitan.

Performances Of operas, or lyric dramas.
by Wagner and Puccini fell together again
yesterday at the Metropolitan Opera House.
Wagners "Siegfried" Is a repertory opera,
and has been represented here before this
season with all the people in the cast who
appeared yesterday, with the exception oil
Nine. Morena, who said farewell 20 the
local public for this season, at least, in
the character of Brannhide. Yesterday
being a holiday tbs drama was made
part OF the somewhat dissipatcd serial leE-
formsnces OF the Nibelung plays. but that
fact did not affect It's excellence except
favoraby. For one thing. u provided "
with more appreciative audience than IL
would have had under ordinary clrcum-
stances, for II was distinctively Wag-
merriam audience one IN hearty sympathy
with the work and acquainted with us
words as well as music. AS 10 the per
fornance Mr.. Burrian seemed to excel the
finest Of his previous performances IN Any
role. Never did his voice ring out more priii-
,antly, never did ne bring more delight to
the music lovers who, in spite OF all tha'
modern music has done to ciscTeoit uue
intonat!on. still cling TO the notion that ~
sing In time Is g. cardinal virtue anu W
sing out OF time mortal sin, from D. iiiU-
steal point Of view. Nine. Morinas career
in America has been an unfortunate one III
some respects. she began II tour year
ago in a manner which raised ner a.
once high in popular favor: but III hediti
nrevented her from maintaining the stahu'
ard and this year she did not attain II
again till yesterday. Then her fine, woh-
anly conception Of the part her huiiia"
tenderness allied with divine dignity won
its way 10 the hearts Of ell who saw anu
heard her, and she achieved success
which must have been as gratifying 70 her
as II was to those who learned 70 admire
her when first she came. The performance
throughout was on high plane SO NO"
one indeed that there can be no dispo-
sition 10 quarrel with the ineScuSao'o
,ous which would 20 a fairer subject OF
criticism If the representations oi y"
Nibelune dramas were serial lh iaS' "H
not only tn name. .,,,,,o,,.
signor Gatti is displaying a scrupui'N'
regard for the rights OF the puoi'V' az
there has been no change In the ISL VI -,
siroers which he has not annouh@e@
a. ear,v as IL was possible TO do So %
there was nobody who needed TO come :,
the opera house last night to near CaluS'
in "Tosca" and find himself di9appoih,eo
The substitution OF Mr.. Martin on %ecou,'
of Mr.. Caruso's illness had been Hia"'
known early and widely. Nine. frems'ao
held a large part OF the popular interest III
the performance, though no prlma oofi'
since Nine. Ternina has been able 10 tax
/ FIRST place in the opera away from sisho'
scottI whose scarpia Is without question:
vocally and histrionically, one OF the hnes'
egures in the contemporaneous 'yri'
drama. Nine. FremstGd, ripe artist tha'
che disclosed herself 10 be long ago. seems
never yet to have set limit 70 he'
/ ambition. her industry or her zeal. He'
irnpersonatlon Of La Tosca last night wa
mellower. profounder, more convincing
than ever, with less elementary rudehes
and more appreciation Of the dramatic a
well as the musical side of the character
And MIR. Martin seems disposed TO follow
In her footsteps. H. T. IN