The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-03-01
ADAY OF GERMAN
AND ITALIAN OPERA
Gadski Takes the Place
Of Fremstad 40
Bfunnhilde.
NINE. METZGER'S RECITAL
The Hamburg ContraltO Shows
Her Art in . Long
Programme.
NINE. METZGER's RECITAL

Programme.
Metropolitan Opera House yesterday after
noon. Nine. Gadski. instead Of Mime.
Fremstad. Was the BrvsahNde. and in
spite Of the fact that she was not In the
beet voice she produced plentiful tone
and save an effective impersonation. Nine.
Homer. who was indisposed earlier in the
week. made her first appearance Of the
season. singing Waifyaute. which is not
one OF her greatest achievements
The role Of Hagen had been sung In
prsvious performances BY Carl Braun. who
not long ago completed his engagement
and sailed for Europa In the natural
order Of things Putnam Griswold. the la
| nnentsd American basso. who was taken TO
his last rest yssterday. would have sung
the part. Allan Hinckley. a former mem
Der Of the company and now with the
hiladelphia- Chicaso forces. appeared as
the darkling Nibelung. and put TO his rec
| ord a performance of no large importar %.
The other members Of the cast were the
came as at the last previous performance.
In the evening Puccinis "Girl of the
Golden West" was performed The cast
was the customary 0ns except that Mr..
Martin instead Of Mr. Caruso represented
the desperate beloved OF the matchless
girl II was Mr.. Martins first appearance
hero in the role. Unfortunately he was In
very bad votoe and sang with difficulty.
with poor quality OF tone and sometimes
on the pitch. In these conditions his anx-
iety In regard to tone made his acting I'M
usually artificial and inappropriate. What
his real johnson 10 win better be judged
at subsequent performance
Tho presentation Of the opera a.
whole WINS ragged and uncertain. Even
Emmy Destinn was In poor condition and
sang in a manner below her standard
Perhaps the funeral services Of the morn
ing were the cause OF the general condi-
ton OF unhtnees and want OF spirit Sing
ers are sensitive people and a death in
their number il hard on their nerves
Nine. Metsser's Recital.
Ottilis Metsser. contralto from the
Hamburg Opera. gave q song recital yes
terday afternoon in Aeolian Hall Nine
Metzger was heard here last season with
|
. favorable impression. but when the
inner qualities OF her art were not so well
disclosed - they were yesterday. Her
programme was not well arranged mas
much as u furnished too many songs OF
sombrc mood and therefore wanted
variety and contrast. But Nine. Me,zger
demonstrated conciusively her claim to a
place In the front rank Of ncder singers.
Her voice 10 genuine contralto oi
depth and power and having q good
range Technical faults were noted. espe-
cialiy . tendency to force tones In tn.
lower part Of the scale.
on the oeher hand technical excellence,
were numerous. Nine. Metzser knows how
TO impart much variety OF quality to he,
voice. thereby hll!ng her SONGS with ex
press!ve tints and enriching her remark
ably good dynamic nuancng with IN,
added charm of color. Her enunciatioI
proved to be OF the highest finish fl
French and English. AZ well as in Ger
man. Her English indeed might wei
servo a. q model TO our native singers
30 clear. 20 natural and % refine was Il
Her phrasinS showed n keen feeling 70
the meter and the rhetorical balance o
the text. as we'll as for the mus!ca
structure.
Her interpretations were all stronsI,
dramatic in style. She knows well hos
to I'LL the uttersnce with emotion and I,
impart vitality TO her delivery by artist
disposition Of emphasis and tone. In
SIGHT. understanding and feeling marke,
her singing. and when humor was re
! CURED. A. in schumAnn's "KaTtsnisserin.
It was provided abundantly. but withou
loss OF dignity. In short Nine Metzger'
recital was one Of tire most noteworth
heard In this crowded season and tn
singer should ~ no future appearance
want for . large audience.
. The society Of the Symphony Concsr,
: for Young People with Walter Damroscl
oonductor. gave its annual programm
made up Of excerpts taken from the work
Of Richard wagnsr At Carnegie Hal
. we'll selected In order to furnish educa
) tional Interest and they Included orches
) trail and vocal specimens taken from fou
, | OF the masters operas. Horatio Connel
| barytone. was me assisting artist.
! An important part In the entertainment
!, ment In the list, was the explanation
- feature.
This consisted Of the remarks az mad
9 BY Mr.. Damrosch relative to the mus
Z and the double interest he impaired I
thcm through his illustrations. which wei
|; 80 hnely given at the piano Folklore,
y Its legends and stories and the vast rcali
!. of wagner's wealth In musical theme
u was each In turn . source richly draw
!. from - suited his purpose In giving II
y outline Of an operas content
The orchestra was first heard In N
q overture to '.rhs Flying Dutchman." Tn
. received q fine performance and WAS 10
lowed by the "SpinninG'' chorus from III
!. same opsrA-
II The other numbers for orchestra wei
+ tho overture TO 'Tannhaeuser," the pr,
n Iude 10 "LohenGrin' and tho dance
o the Apprentices and Professional Of n
10 MeistersinGer." act Ill.
a Mr.. Conneli sang from 'Tannhaeuser
ID two two songs Of Wolfram. "Blick ic
umher." and TO the Evening Star" AT
10 later ne was haAsd In the Prize Bons
n from "Dis MslsesrsinGer"
n He made . good soloist for the o.
n casion, ~ he uses his voics we'll and M
q clear snunciAuon. He received man
m recalls
;, WEDDINGS.