New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-02-15
FAUST" TRISTAN"
AT METROPOLITAN
Poor Performance of GOu-
nod Opera, Though Mr..
Gilly Sings Well.

Reverence for Goethe has led the Ger
mans to deny the title Of Faust to the
opera which Barber Carrie and Gounod
cOncocted out of the great German poet
dramatic masterpiece. They call ii Mar
gerethe." The work which was per-
formed at the Metropolitan Opera House
last night was scarcely entitled To he
called even that Judged by the artistic
value Of the character best enacted ana
best sung it should have been set down on
the bills as Valentine" for all Of the
best-deserved guerdons went to Mr.. Glil!'
who played the part Of Marguerite
brother Yet Miss Farrar, Mr.. Martin
Mr.. Rothier and Miss Fornia, to mention
none of the lesser members Of Mr. Gatu 5
company, were in the cast. Time was
when Faust" was striking feature oil
every season at the Metropolitan opera
House. Because of its very eNcelehce
1t became almost wearisome through the
frequency of its representations. innings
have changed since then. circumstances
compelled its postponement this year III
the middle of the season and its hrst
performance was at a Saturday night
popular" Some OF these 'populars
have challenged comparison with the pest
of the representations on Subscription
nights. but not so on this OCCASION
Faust" was reeled off as ,perfunctorlly
as it might have been in provincial
town. 1t was a pity, for Gounod opera
is masterpiece and the Metropolitan
Opera House. great and dignified instr
tuition. ought to be jealous OF its reputa-
ton and pay respect to every work in its
repertory under all circumstances. MI
Haeemann conducted.
But the afternoon witnessed very
different grade Of Offering, when Tristan
und Isolde" received its third presenta-
ton of the season, with Rudolf Berger,
for the first time in America, as Tristan.
Mr.. Berger's heroic figure and style were
evident at his two previous appearances,
and they stood him in good stead yester-
day In the first act he was dramatically
superb. in figure. in dress, in action but
far less enthusiastic things can be said
Of his work i'm the love duet, where his
hard, driving tone, destitute or nuance
or Of delicacy, contrasted oddly with the
exquisite singing Of his companion. II is
evident that Ar. Berger has most of the
requisites for d tenor of the first rank,
but as long as ne continues to sing solely
in the declamatory style so prevalent In
Germany he will fail to reach the heights
which are his by the right given him by
nature. Wagner can be sung, and being
sung. he becomes no less Wagner.
The two chief delights of the after
noon were the conducting Of Mr.. Tosca-
mini and the singing and acting OF Nine.
Fremstad. Nine Fremstad's voice had
not been i'm the best condition this sea-
son. and Of late rumor had been flying
10 the effect that this decadence was
permanent. But yesterdays perform
ance sent those rumors into the shades
of oblivion Nine Fremstad has never
sung with greater purity OF tone or
grace OF expression than she displayed
Yesterday. and i'm the Liebestod she
positively SURPASSED herself Dramat-
ically her Isolde is one Of the chief
glories Of the Metropolitan, a glory that
never shone more brilliantly than it
shone yesterday.
Nine. Opci : bl"H-"1He - iHtei cSt4"e'
for what can Nine. ODER do that is not
interesting? But a times the doubt
creeps in that she perhaps believes in
the presence Of two Isoldes and thereby
attempts TO metamorphosize the serving
maid into a queen. In this she succeeds
which. however. does not help either
Brangaene or the opera Mr. We'll was
u urwenal and Mr. Braun King Mark.
The audience was noble one.