New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-11-24
MAGIC FLUTE"
A GORGEOUS SPECTACLE
Revival of Mozart'S Opera at
the Metropolitan a Triumph
of Production.
BEAUTIFUL STAGE PICTURES
Emmy Destinn, slezak, Lam
kow, Reiss, Goritz and Bella
Alien Win Applause
Hertz Conducts.

II the only handy records are correct
e6ozart's opera "Die Zauberfote' had It's
e,.h n.rformance in New York yesterday
aftarnoen although it is 121 years old.
,,pnere have been performances OF II
Irlsuto Nagico" dating back to the Ola
days OF Marlmon and the Academy "
Music and The Magic Flute was PROV
s%dv heard here as long age as lSSd--We
have neither time nor inclination 10 IA
Aulge in historical research-aho a ie"
times aftervard; but the present genera
1ion Of operagoers had heard ohlE lo'i
performances of the work which the ms
ltorians look upon as the hrst rear 1Ol
man opera In the language winch gives II
That UNIQUE distinction before that OF yes
terday afternoon in the Metropo"'Sh
Opera House ,-.,,o-
III Flauto Magico" is not Die Zsuoe'-
asts" neither is The Magic Flute Tvs
Easvstires dIsis." performed loEg years ago
Ia pals was not DIE Zauberfote' nor
y,vos thu French ia Flute enchantee'
hsozarts opera is sui gSreriS, and theFe
he. nevsr been a more striking Bit OF
Eronv IN the operatic life Of New York
t,ban that sxsn9plified By the poor per
Efoymapcss OF the opera when 1t was mace
I. sost,,rs ~ the German list by Manager
tCanrted and the excellent performance
Eof It's music when it was ai'er"aru suns
I'm Italian under the same management"
mr. GRAY. to whom is due the lnSusur"-
ttIcn of the system which Mr.. Gstt Is pui-
lsu,ng. did notable things with us Ihusi0
Ialse. but IN order TO do 1t WAS ooiseu u
lysIegate 10 a very subordinate POSITION
E+ba element which was 1Tst in the mlhu
Iof the original creators OF the work-the
sspsctaoular. In pTe-Metropolitan DAYS al
manner of shreds and patches OF seener!
had 10 serve the purposes OF the s'@e0
manager, for then, as always ulL Ess'ei
lday. Mozart's work Was show piece lo'
the norid soprano who chanced 70 De 'he
star attraction Of the company Mrhe'
SembrIch was the cause OF the prouu0
ltions of Nessrs. Grau and. Conrleo. AHs
isu.picion lies near that the EFFORTS !"
nro,ide a successor to hCr--frst IN Selma
Kuytx and afterward ia Frieda Hempe4-
b.vs uut II into Mr.. GRtus head 70
.ss what could be done with the opera
bv ana of the gorgeous outhttinsS when
have bosn undertaken, almost always sue
csssfullY by the great operate institu'
,fons ~ Germany for century past. II
WAS not an ignoble ambition; no less
genius than Goethe tried his hand al Il
when he filled a position in Weimar llK'
that filed by Mr.. Gatti here, and aid no
hesitate to plan the scenery himself ah'
even 10 make vain effort 10 Wilte
SEQUEL TO the work. Evidence enough
how strong a hold the singular hotch
notch of fairy tale. buffoonery, spectacle
ingenious melody and magnificent musi
has always exerted upon the imagination
Of artists connected with the stage
Mr.. Gatti was disappointed in his so
prano. The woman who was 10 have beef
his Queen OF the Night fell ILL., Tn
exigenc!es Of his repertory forbade hin
10 wait with the production Of the oper
till Fraulein Hempel should arrives /
required courage and conviction, whic
some OF his predecessors. had, to 6rlh
out the work without a prima DOM
assoluta in the role heretofore con
sldered Of FIRST Importance. II was
conviction that the work was immeasura
bly, greater than the singer heretofos
looked upon AZ its raison d'etre. II Wou
be interesting TO speculats upon OF
alternative which was open 70 the maj
lager. The Queen Of Night thoug
che presents an enigma o.the student.
a profoundly significant, a really trag
Azure in the play, As a rule this fact hS
escaped notice, because few have care
10 look upon the opera as anything b.
2 disiotnted phAntasmagoria, which WI