New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-11-17
FREMSTAD'S TRIUMPH
A Notable Representation of
Waqner'S "Gotterdammerung."


Few representations are given at the
Metropolitan Opera House which do not
| All the audience with a keen sense Of ar
tistic enjoyment; but II is only once in q
long while that an audience leaves the
theatre with swelling hearts, nerves
| a-tingle and imaginstions exalted, as was
the case yesterday afternoon. after the
! first Of this seasons performances OF
| 'G0tterdammerung" The world knows
that there are great singers at Signor
Gattis command. that no operate insti-
tuition In the world. indeed. has so many
| fine voices az that domiciled In upper
Broadway. The world knows, too. that
great deal OF what il called popular mu-
steal culture Ii summed up in admiration
of singers and their voices. But II is not
SO widely recognized as II ought TO be that
there is a large element OF sound under
standing, real appreciation and lofty
ideallsm also dominant among some OK
our artists and a large portion OF the
local public,
II was the meeting OF these factors
which made up the sum OF yesterday
notable occasion. For four hours the
audience was held In thrall By great
art work, In the representation OF which
every agent was inspired by something
more than the desire TO win Individual
| recognition. The performers were not
all equally potent, but the most impor-
| tant of them were one In jealous labor In
behalf Of the drama which they knew to
| be far removed from the ordinary We
! hicles OF entertainment. There is great
deal OF talk in Germany OF the part
which the Bayreuth festivals play In the
| moral and patriotic uplift of the German
people Much Of the inspired preachment Is
bombast and an unlovely affectation, but
| that the festival performance makes Tor
artistic earnestness Is unquestionable. II
is equally unquestionsble that the Ger
man performances at tho METROPOLITAN
Opera House have done great deal 70
raise. establish and steady musical taste
In this community. Great as is inc
worship OF the Individual singer In Ne"
York, IL is easier to imagine season
without a Caruso than one without the
works which have come TO be representa-
tive O., the German lyric-dramauc art
II lsa striking phenomenon Also 'ha'
Tho snirit has been creative IN Two
fold way. II has not only developed the
apprecintivc public II has also developer
tho anprecIatlye artist. In the high lights
OF Yesterdays performance stood TWO
American singers-Mme. Fremstad ana
Mr.. Griswold. To them Bayreuth' ib
high priests and its pilgrims might wen
come 10 do obelsance. II Is not easy 10
describe in coolly calculated terms what
the presence OF such an artist as Nine
Frerstad means 10 the real lovers OF the
lyric drama. She Is a revelation that
challenges ever-Rrowing wondernent' as
we'll as ever-growlng admiration. Ne"
York has seen her development from
simply seryiceable member OF the Metro
politan company into q lyric ragedienne
OF the highest rank. No more amazing
than her growth in dramatic power (and
almost as ,nexplicable) has been the evo-
luton OF her voice and technical skill.
Admiration for the noble beauty OF her
voice is now paired with admiration for
the sheer fneneSs. ripeness and flnish or
her singing From It's purely technical
eide Il IL all but nawless Those who IN
derstand tho technique Of the art must
marvel at the manner In which she has
developed It. so as not only 10 make Il
challenge wonder for its own sake. but
also 10 make IL the perfect vehicle which
Il has become for the higher proclamation
in which 81 Is now employed.
II IL now q commonplace 20 speak or
good vocal art as necessary 10 the inter
probation Of Wagner's dramatic music. II
was left for the local institution TO teach
that truth 10 the world. however, and It's
finest exenplar is the wonderful woman
who sang and acted tho part OF Brunn-
hide thrice wonderfully IN yesterdays
representation OF the concluding drama
In the Nibelung tetralogy. II was per-
Torrance that fascinated and thrilled
and awed, In turn-8n impsr sonation filled
with an intensity OF earnestness the like
OF which has not been seen here since
Nine Fremstad herself revealed IL the
first time To discuss Its details would
only belittle IL Two thousand people
showed their wondering admiration for 1t
by calling the singer before the curtain
more than a dozen times
Nine. Fremstads companions were
those who were associated with her In
last seasons performances OF the tragedy
Herr Burrian. Mr.. Griswoid "a Hagen OF
splendid fibre dramatically as well as
musically), Herr Well. Herr Goritz and
Mines. Fornia, Homer. 6parkes and Aiten
They must all be included. as we'll as the
choristers. the instrumentalists and Mr..
Hertz In the large measure OF praise so
gladly given 10 the performance by the
ene audienrs Great credit Is due 20 Mr..
Hertz, whom Mime. Fremstad brought for
ward 10 receive the grateful piaudits OF
the audience. II was reverential read
Ing which he gave 10 Wagner's score and
one beautifully effective in It's graded
dyno nics But It would be nne thing
for the serial performances OF the Nioe-
lung plays In the spring II tho ends OF
the orchestra were hooded. With all OF
Mr. Hertz's care the volume Of orchestral
sound was frequently too great yesterday.