The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-12-04
WAGNER'S TRISTAN
AT METROPOLITAN
S;,th Performance of German
Opcra Reached i'm Middle
of Third Week.
MERITS OF PERFORMANCE

va-n,r's Tristan und Isolde" was given
o. Nh, Metropolitan Opera House last eve
,irr This was the fifteenth performance
~ The current season and six of these nave
boon devoted to German works. TINS
,bould be convincing demonstration OF the
c,thollclty of taste possessed by the pres
On, imprsearo Whether there may not
no danger of Offering too much German
oocrs 10 that important part OF the pubic
oairh is unalterably hostile to 1t because
of IT, serious character is question which
,.,,l In all probability be met by Mr.. GATH
,as,zza 1t speaks well for the liber-
INV of the directors OF the metropolitan,
= well az for their business acumen. that
mo, do not permit themselves To be dis
.u-bed hv the complaints of that large
number " persons who go to the opera TO
he amused and not TO be thrilled
For alt these Tristan ind Isolde" Is the
las, word in gloom. on the other hand.
tr that larger body of music lovers who
regard opera as digniaed form OF art.
nj. work Is an embodiment OF the noblest
.ieal, that can be brought within the ex-
rrcssiv" powers OF music. II wears per
nan. better than any other Of Wagner's
works not only by reason of the elemental
CHARACTER OF It's story. but also because OF
mo balance Of qualities in its music.
Gabriel d'Annunzlo, In his perfervd de-
.crir,iou ~ this opera. says: Up from
n. symphonic depths the melodies emerged
and developed. lnterrupting one another,
-.placlng one another. mingling. dissolv-
ing, melting away, disappearing In order
10 reappear." This sentence points to
that feature OF the Wagnerian system
,carr ed to It's logical conclusion in this
work. to which most violent objections
were formerly made, hui which provides
hat endless variety and contrast neces-
IVY to keep the works ever fresh.
However. comment on the extraor-
,lnary contents OF this unique music
drama might wander ON to indeterminate
,ength. while more 10 the immediate pur-
nose is some description of the itemsi OF
asst evenings performance. II was one
OF robly planned proportions and made
A profound impression upon the great
audience that was present Those en-
gaged in it had been heard in their vari'
Jus parts during recent seasons. Mr.
Toscanini conducted and under his bator
he combined forces of orchestra and
singers were carried along by master
harl and produced an ensemble OF must
cal beauty and power.
Nine GadskHs Isolde is an impersona
ion in which she IL wont to achieve some
- her highest artistic results. both vo
cally and in acting. Last night she wa.
\ unusually good voice and gave an I'm
persona,on of the Irish princess marked
nv remarkably fine declamatory skill
Her singing in the love duet disclosed
much tonal beauty and was impressiv,
through an exquisite feeling In the nuanc'
Of expression.
Mr TRUSS Interpretation OF the rot
Of Tristan was vital one in the utter
ance OF much that IL genuine in musica
beauty and in the great love duet he als'
IL. .,tf .t,Nx al
tent Of The scene. The other principal
were Nine. Matzenauer who as Bran
0qcne gave superb display in voice an,
action; Carl Braun. who was excellen
- Roenio Mdrke. and Mr.. We'll. VIII
made a good kurrendI