The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-16
die MEISTERSINGER
AT METROPOLITAN
Wagner's Comic Opera Given
for the First Time in
Present Season.
MUSIC CNEVENLY SUNG
The Lyric Character Of the Score
Not Brought Out IN
Perfection.
MUSIC UNEvENLY SUNG

wagners comic opera Die Meister-
singer" was given at the Metropolitan
Opera House last evening for the first
time in the current season. An audience
Of moderate size and enthusiasm was
present. The retntry Of the work into
the repertory ought to have called forth
a larger demonstration OF public interest,
but II Is by no means improbable that
there was lack OF faith In what was to
come. This distrust was not without
reason, but II was certainly exaggerated
The performance was on the whole one
In which intelligence and sympathy pre-
dominated. with Mr.. Toscanini in the
conductors chair and the cast presented
by Mr.. Gatti-Casazza this condition was
! assured. The treatment OF the work by
all concerned showed devotion TO the
highest artistic ideals and a large under
standing OF Wagners purposes. But
there were some regretta BILE deficiencies in
the delivery Of the music. deficiencies
which lessened the lyric spell Of the music.
/ operagoers need hardly be told that
the most important parsonage unsteady
| in this work is Hans Sachs. This role FOR
some reason not quite clear is restored to
| the hands OF Hermann Well. a German
Wagnerian Interpreter. who knows the
German traditions and cherishes most of
, the traditions of the vicious Wagner
singing OF q quarter OF IA century ago
| There was some very fine Wagner sing
| ing then, too but II was not highly APP
proved. There was "A vague theory that
Wagner could not and ought not to be
| sung lyrically.
Now the musical soul Of Die Meister-
singer" IL lyricism. and IL is the new gospel
, OF this which opens up the fountains OF
| the soul Of Hans Sachs and sets him to
fNs.fA me- NJ p.. .,f
his dry and hard quality of tone, his brit
| tie method OF enunciatiOn and mis- wans OF
/ vocal nuance Mr.. We'll fails to disclose the
| true Hans Sachs and hence works much
! harm to a performance of Die Me!ster-
singer"
! IL there were no other singer available
/ for this part, the matter might be dis
I .ssed with an expression OF sorrow. But
since a more lyric HdHs SG"hs Is obtain
! able without going outside OF the present
| company, Their. can be only wonder tina;
MIR Well is not supplanted. lie il In
| telligent and earnest ana his sachs com
| narris respect. but II docs not satisfy.
others IN last evenings east We're Nine.
! Cadski as Era. Mr.. rrlus as WdIthsr, Mr..
! Braun as Po0ner. Mr.. schlcg.l as hoth-
! nsr Mr.. Reiss as Ddrid and Mr.. Goritz
az ReckmesSer. Mr.. Urlus did not sins
| AZ well as he did at the beginning Of his
New York engagement. and indeed AT
times last night ne too did injury To Wag'
ners sensuous melody.
| Nine. Gadski was the same earnes,
Eva as OF old. and MIR. Gori,zs Beck
mssscr loses nothing as the seasons go by
MI. Braun's Pogner was dgn.fed well
sung and well sustained throughout tn.
| evening.
Mr.. Toscanini conducted with great en-
thusissm and his admirable orchestrs
played with splendid tone. with elasticity
and color. Hut II H. indisputabl. thai
there wer. times when the .nstrume nts
part was too loud. i l. a pity that Mr.
Tvscanini cannot go back "A dozen row:
behind himself when ne - conducting and
hear some OF his "Me.st-rsng.r" ",
would certainly use the soft pedal oft.uei
z he d!d this.