The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-01-29
WAGNER TETRALOGY
BEGUN AT OPERA
"Das Rhcingold" Given With
Excellent Ensemble at
Special Matinee.
SEMBACH A GOOD LOGE

Tho annual performance Of "Dc~ Hrr
des Nibelungen" jcgan at the Mo,ropo'i.
tan Opera House yesterday afternoon.
when "Das Rheingold" had its s,rge
yearly representation II is Unfortunate
that the Nlbelung series cannot be given
with some continuity. The separation o,
the consecutive dramas by a wc.ks In.
terval each time defeats Wagner pur-
poses and destroys his illusions But The
Metropolitan Is afflicted by conditions
which cannot easily be removed. In fact
the operation would be fatal. Hence We
hear "Das Rhelngold" but once IN a
winter while repetltons OF tho other
three dramas are scattered through
procession Of "Aidas" "Carm MS" Ma.
mons" and their kindred.
In such circumstances 1t is especially
creditabe to the persons concerned N
the preparation Of the Ring porfor-
mances that "Das RhCingold" should 10
given so admirably as 1t was yesterday
Tho defects were few and did not sorl-
ousy mar the performance, There was
too much noise during tho course - tie
change from the first scene 10 the sec
ond However, there nearly always Is,
and it was at this point that Wagner
elected to write some of his Eentlcst and
most transparent Orchestrdtion.
There may be some differences ~ opin-
ion as to the employment OF steam 10
hide the supposedly magical disappear-
ances OF Aibcrich in the second scvna
but there cannot be any question that tho
moment he has accomplished his disap-
pearance the steam should be shut on.
This was not always the case yesterday
Naturally the rainbow in the Anal scene
showed signs OF uncertainty when frs,
l,gH 81 htF,s-
erratic. Furthermore It thrust its glor-
fed span across the valley OF the Rhine
while yet the Slebengebirge were wrapped
In the black gloom OF "A thunder storm.
IL takes sunlight to make a rainbow IN
most countries.
Aside form these items the scenic garb
of the difficult music drama was eX.
cellent and the lighting effects were wsll
managed. The stage management was
such that the action OF tue play moved
with smoothness and the series OF pic
lures devised by Wagner had all the
illusory atmosphere attainabic In the tho
atre.
Seldom too has the prologue had such
q well balanced cast Among the prin-
cipal roles only Mr. Sembach's Loge was
new, and It's discovery was one OF the in
spiriting elements OF the representation
To achieve large measure Of success
on the stage which has known the two
greatest LOgcS OF the world, those OF
Heinrich Vogl and Ernest Van DycN. :
little short of "a triumph. Mr. Semhach's
impersonation will certainly not taKs
rank with either Of those mentioned, hIt
II must not he excluded from their poe
gion OF artistic cndeavor.
Intelligent grasp OF the significance OF
the part, no small measure OF the plis-
ITCHY essential to the fusion OF his per-
sonality with that OF the elusive md
sinuous spirit OF FIRE. tolerably mobile
face capable of publishing much OF The
keen ana rapid thinking of the character
and poses and gestures. conventional n
the role indeed, hut skilfuly employed
united with judgment in the use o, toual
qualities and craft In the defamation
of the dialogue. Let II be added that Nj
Sembach also impaired to LoOe'S lyrl,
passages higher musical value than
impersonators of this part usually give
The comparatively extended record OF
the tenor's impersonation is given for ~,
good reason that with an incompetent
LOge any performance of "Das Rhciu.
gold" perfect in all other respects. must
fail. LOOe Is the deus eX machina of this
drama, the master hand which pulls the
strings OF fate attached TO the helpless
gods. He must always convey the flu.
sion of intellectual domination OF the
scene.
All the other important parts were
well done. The memory fingers with
delight over the tragic intensity OF Mr.
GoritZs Alberich, the never failing cum
ming OF Mr. Reiss's exposition OF the craft
and cowardice of Mime. the solid strength
Of Mr. Braun's Wotdn. the musical beauty
of Nine. Matzenauer's Frickd, the clear
and firm outlines OF Mr.. Ruysdaels Fat
| ner, and the dignity OF Nine. Ober's Erdn
The three Rhine maidens, too, were sd'
mirable. They were Miss Sparkes, Miss
, Schumann and Nine. Oher. To complete
! the record. Mr.. Middleton was tie Dom
| Hcr, Mr.. Althouse the Froh, Mr.. Wither'
| spoon the FdSolf and Miss Curtis the
| FreiU
Mr.. Hertz. who was received with long
| continued applause. conducted the work
! At no recent performance under his baton
| has there been such a nice adjustment Of
the balance of tone. The brilliancy and
! pictorial significance OF the score were
| brought out without any observation Of
the vocal parts. and the tempt were such
| as to give to each scene clearness and
, defniteness together with appropriate
movement. The orchestra played with
| beauty OF tone and finish Of technic
/ The audience crowded the house and large
numbers stood through the one long ac'
OF which the work consists. Thus The
presentation of the Ring" series began
with artistic success and abundant public
| interest.