The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-11-27
"PARSIFAL" GIVEN
AT METROPOLITAN
New German Tenor Makes a
Pleasing Impression as the
Guilelcss Fool.
WHITEWATER AS kUNDRY

wagnsr's "Parsifap had its nrst PER-
Torrance of the season yesterday after
noon at the Metropolitan Opera House
The last music drama Of Wagner is par
ticularly we'll suited to days OF religious
observance and for such occasions 1t mas
now come to be almost exclusively re-
served In this city. That public sym
pathy with this employment Of the drama
IL large was shown by the size and de-
meanor OF yesterdays audience, 1t nIied
the house. and its attention TO the rep
resentation was one which showed both
absorption and reverence. As Is Gus
,omary, the few scattered attempts at
applause after tho ceremonial close OF
the first act we're promptly hushed'
Mr.. Ga,ti-Casazza has brought together
a new combination of Interpreters fo'
this season Nine. Matzenauer as htN.
DIN. Clarence whltehill as Amtortds, Can
Braun AS Guvns,adne, otto Goriz as
Hiiuosor and Johannes Sembsch as Par
s,tdi are the chief members OF the pres
en-, cast, or these only Mr.. Sembach ~
ney TO the Metropolitan. where no Ell
fected his first appearance yesterday az
ternoon.
Nine NatzcnAuer has been heard BEFORE
as KurdrV, but only a. alternate To Nine
Fremstad Che will now, OF course, ac-
guire the role AS her own, since Mine
Fram-tad Is not In tho company Mt
whitehill. who has sung An,tortds be-
fore at the Metropolitan, has not been
henrd there since the season 81 l9O9-lV
II should not he forgotten, however thst
lac was the Interpreter OF the suffering
king when Mr. Savage produced the drama
In English and that he afterwatt sang
the part with artistic honor ~ BAY
reuth His performance yesterday was
admirable His voice WAS IN good order
and he sang with confidence and with
beautiful eioauencc His delivery or the
complaint was characterized by unusual
musical beauty and poiguancy or feenhs'
Mime. Naizenauers kurdry Is n Eenu-
! incly great impersouation, ore OF those
creations which will probably become
! tradition. II reaches This dEttrcuon
IN spite Of serious obstacles. No adj
/ rnlrer can he blind - the fact that the
,hy,lcol Illusion demanded IN the second
act is for Nine. Matzenauer impossible
| hut her delivery of the music X so dra-
/ matte I'm the true sense or that abused
| word that she makes her hrndry CON
| vincnE Her, first act is quite ade-
puate though some may wish that she
lid not make kundry'S face 20 r"pulsiVs
/ Wagner calls for a deep, reddish brown
" COtnpleNlol. bl' TT h''- 1lNA st'l' ~
essa-y that the face should look I'M
washed. However. this is a small blem-
ish upon such large and commanding
| work of art this.
Mr.. Scmbaoh made a sympathetic and
interesting figure Of PdrSfdl There nave
been more powerful Pursifdls and son'
with a larger capacity for passionate Ut
terance. But Mr.. Scmhachs agreeable
quality Of tone and his ability To sing
sustained phrase with musical intelligence
are valuable Items in n generally service
abie equpment This tenor. who appears
TO be young, has some Imagination, an'
his lyric speech has the quality essentia
TO the publication Of emotion. He want
yet that knowledge Of stage routine which
will enable HIM To- plan all his action an'
gesture to the best purpose and To NOV
through a role with at least d semblarc
OF authority.
Mr.. Rrauu's GnneptdH. has the nerI
NJ being less rcmot" and more human thai
some other interpretations OF the role
Naturally his voice is at home in suCl
music The general features ~ yester
days representation were good, alhei
some were not as good as they should he
. The solo voices IN TIVE choir of howe
maiders were below the Level o. neces
Sary excellence on the Other hand ther
, Nsre evidences that the Who'll" work ha
been rehslrssd with care. The sc-ner
/
devices replaced by better ones Mr.. ETert
conducted with hs customary outhusia s'r
r The orchestra played wei. indeed in som
places very hcautiru'iy
? IN the evening tho opera was "l.a Ira
viata" \ work "f this type ~ chosen 70
. tho SAKE oc eNnodierrv to follow "par
, sifal" u IL short. needs only three i'm
rurtant singers md can be given wit
, s,ral cnorus and orchestra. That the ol
opera s.il, nas vitality was shown by tn
. good size Of thc audience which assemble
/ 30 hear . THr performance WAS uneve
+. .u mort. "u' sufficiently good as a vhol
= go gi,r 'hc listeners pleasure.
= Frieda II'mp"l - Vioi'ttd, Iuoa Bott
. "a i1f"'do and rasqU1l" Awato a. GiOrOi
Gsrmo,f were ~. tr.cf singers Ms
: Uompc, sang well except in spots wnor
: she INDUCED ~ iuiudi.ious assaults upo
! high tones Fnr example. h"r An, fors
e lu." was hcautiFuNy sung except IN M
last Two measures. ana her "Semrr
I'heIa" had u 'lUe spirit. Nj Botta WA
{ I'm poor voice and was unable 20 sing wit
the ease and freedom which he cNa'hi'o
Ina ia Bnheme" Mr.. AmRtos GcrniOHt
. always excellent, ami MIR Poacco cot
Quoted the performance with a wise IL
:. sistauca upon viNHci.y OF movement.