New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-12-31
MUSIC
A PERFORMANCE OF 'sIEGFRIED
German and Italian Representations at
the METROPOLITAN.


noon. II was the sixteenth German repre-
sentation out of total OF forty PERFORM
ances since the season opened on the thir-
teenth day Of last November. IL there IL
yet a specifically German party amongst
our opera-goers the record ought to be
gratifying TO II and convincing as to the
| kindly attitude OF the present administra-
ton toward that one of the three schools
to which the institution, with It's broad and
| catholic spirit, Is devoted.
If there Is any ground for factonal COM
plant II ought to come from the lovers OF
French opera who have been privileged TO
hear that language only twice-a single
performance each of Faust and Ar
mide." or course, there is another point
Of view besides the merely statistical from
which the case can be viewed. There can
be no Disgusting the fact that the personal
| equation is still so large a factor I'm our
opera that the participation or non-partici-
patton in "A performance Of Caruso has a
larger significance (as slgnifcances are
popularity measured than the merit OF any
| opera This factor fans heavily into the
| balance in favor of Italian opera, for it is
Caruso who makes possible as many repe-
from his point of view OF Aida" La
Fanciulla del West% "Paglacci," Clio
conda," and two or three other works
which a part OF the great tenor's roper
toire, but but in which. when business con-
alterations are urgent, other singers can
take his place.
But the German contingent has reason TO
be proud Of the fact that the operas 10
which II Is devoted do not rest upon the
adventtious help of any single singer but
make appeal on their own artistic merits.
1t may be a little discouraging that Wagner
is so predominant in the German list, but
for this their own conduct is largely, though
not wholly, to blame. Only three German
operas, outside Of those composed by Wag-
ner, have established themselves in the cur
rent list and one of those-Thuille's Lobe
tanz"-is likely to have as short a life in
the repertory Of the Metropolitan as the
only other strictly German novelty produced
under Mr. Gatti's management, viz. d'Al-
bert's "Tiefand." We cannot count SINE
tana's "Bartered Bride" in the German
list, except on the score of the language in
which 1t has been sung, but "Hansel und
Gretel" and "Konigskinder" are in all
come to stay. Herein the German novelties
Of the last few years have a great advan-
tage over the Italian, for IT is doubtful II
anybody will be daring enough to assert
that La Fanciula del West" will hold its
own any length Of time without Caruso
"Germania" could not do it. even with
Carusos help. and "Villi' and "Wally" were
sibbering ghosts after the first perform
ance.
The absence Of French operas is de-
plorable. and so is the fact that the Ger
man element In our proud institution should
rest so heavily upon Wagner few ex-
periments in both departments might pro-
duce valuable results. If I'm nothing else, at
least In instructive experience; and eclectic
tastes would doubtless no entertained with
Gluck's "Alceste" or "1phisenia" Berlioz's
"Benvenuto Cellini" or Les Troyans,"
Weber's "Oberon" (Which might he at
tempted in the original English with the
dialogue turned into recitative), or any
one of half a dozen German operas which
made deeper impression I'm their native land
than did "Lobetanz." Nor need Meyerbeer
be forgotten; TO neglect the best oc his
works is either an affectation or a tesfi-
mOniHm pGuperfdftS on the part OF our opera,
so far singers are concerned.
But, so long as these things cannot be-
the general public ought to he no less
grateful than the German contingent that
such performances as that which "Sleg-
fried received yesterday, under the en-
thusiastic direction Of Alfred Hertz, are
possible. How this strong, vrie music
made the Puccinan memories of the night
before shrive up. How the orchestra sang
It's stupendous symphonic song from be-
ginning to end, and how naturally and
buoyantly the raised speech of the charac-
ters foated upon the melodic flood. Nst a
syllable uttered by Burrian. Reiss, Gdritz
and the rich voiced MatZcnauer was lost,
and If there was less distnCtness Of utter
ance in the cases OF GadsN (who sang be-
cause Fremstad is still i'll, wherefore Nine.
Matzenauer will make her first essay as
Kundry at to-morrows performance Of
"ParsifalD and GTiswod, there was yet a
plenitude of musical tone, which brought
its own rich recompense. II was, in truth.
a mastery performance, and its cast de-
serves to he perpetuated: