New-York tribune., 1912-01-02
MUSIC
A HOLIDAY "PARSlFAl"
Nine. Matzenauer in New
Part.

There have been many petfunctory per-
fornances OF "Parsifar' at the Metropoli-
tan opera House. not always despite, but
frequently because, II Is a work reserved
for production on special occasions. Being
a holiday drama, and not regular feature
OF the repertory. and being. moreover,
work which can be seen and heard only IN
New York and the Wagnerian Mecca IL
might be supposed that particular care
would be given TO its preparation Tor every
representation; but the public has long ago
learned not 10 lay such hatterins uhc-
ton 10 it's soul. On the contrary IL mas 100
often been given haphaZard, apparently on
the theory that its admirers Will remain
faithful no matter what happens Ihe
drama is the last Of oil TO be left 10 chance
IN this manner. and yet II has seldom sur
fered shlpwreck. thanks to the sincerity Oh
,bose who have been charged with Its per-
formance. What astonishing results can at
tires no produced by this sincerity had
striking illustration yesterday afternoon
The hurry -burly Of our operate acuViues
d,a not permit OF a rehearsal OF the work.
vet Il was performed with two sishihca''t
changes in the cast from that OF ias'
THANKSGIVING Day Nevertheless, the per-
formance was superior 10 II. not only In its
mechanical features. which might have
bean expected, but IN all IT'S artisuc'
r,dood tho scene in which New York's rep
resentations have always been unique Vhat
In which the Flower Maidens hgure) mas
soldou ~ ever, been given with more raw
tsbirg beauty; and the singing OF the In
,isih,o cbolrs in the solemn services in the
Tor,nle Of the Grail have never been sur
passed.
The substitution OF Mr.. Hlnshaw In place
Of signor Amato appeared to he venture
some expert nent, but il seemed smalier III
nrospect than the essay OF the part ol
I<undry by Nine. Matzenauer Tor the
Are, time in her life and without
a full stage rehearsal. The formers merits
were largely summed up in the unexpected
a,s,irctness OF his enunciation OF the poetic
49,, ,,h,ch made ND 10 no small extent for
deaciencies I'm his muscal-dramatic utter
ance OF the woful lamentatoh III '"e n''
ac, but Nine Matzenauers Interpretation
of Kundry was nothing snort Oh "ha', !"
common and easy phrase is styIeo re'e'a
ton. There are times wheh the co'i'''''
places of description must be accep'eu ="
serious and lofty sense; and this WAS one
In hoth her aspects-as the loa'hS uan
.s,r of the old English BALLADS anu 'he
sorceress OF the French and German epi'''
mora emphatically still as the hlshiy cum
n,ex creation of Wagner. In which 'he oiu
folklore and epical elements are p'ehueu
With still more ancient Oriental iesehoaiy
ona nbilosophical concepts-she discloseu
,,oornass and depth OF understanding WHICH,
cave q delightful intellectual STOCK 10 STU
a.. ~ the drama and carried their imasi-
-, nd emotions as completely captive
=, s,a ,hoaa Of the unthinking. simply
as 80 and unsusceptible listener. Perhaps
more so, for It Is long since an lHpersohh
t,on on the lyric stage has mace so oeep
and varied an impression. The lovers ot
ortIatic song found much TO reJoice !"
bar voice and singing: but not ifore ''a"
,ha admirers OF dramatic poetry Inc al
.'a,,ncament that Nine. Matzenauer wouiu
-. essav of the part had caused sohie
a,,nrsbension on the part or Vocai cosho-
scsnti The fine contralto quality Oh he'
,.o,ce disclosed 10 the best effect Ill uiuch
,.ou,ao - had created the wish tnat she
II, naver he tempted to endanger IL Dy
.a's a,,h,,,ous upward flights which oner
" ,,rns,stih,e an attraction to our modern
onarat,c artists who have been SO sadly
,,po,ected by the composers OF the last hall
oanturv But Nine. Matzenauer's ghts Oh
vocal quality, 1t seems, are no greater tnan
sor art,stic requirements. and both found
aIoouent proclamation In Wagner's music
IIo. command of the half voice, not con.
fined to the tones which 1t might seem b,1,
n'oht To be beyond her normal range put
ou,77inad Whenever and wherever DRAMATIC
ui.iniiiaU,ation calls for It, is little short OF
uSvonderful and is so legitimately used that
" 'l''ta tn shame all the artifices TO when
IL Puso Paa, uLe Nine. Tetrazzin is compelled
"a resort for her successes ,,. -,
10 o"ParsifaT' was listened to intently ana ana
reverently by fine audience. ana MI graftu Hsrtz
W. We Iess than to Nine. Matzenauer, Mr.. Bur.
r,sn and down to the least signlhcent OF
the Flower Maidens, not one OF Wh9m can
he said TO be insignificant. IL. r. n.