The evening world., 1915-02-19
Ring Cycle
At the Opera
Brought to End
By SyiUester RGvltns.
. oETTERDAEMMBRUNG." At

NCoElrhRDAEMMDf'oNe' "'
VI the Metropolitan Opera
blouse yesterday afternoon
brought " q close this seasons cycle
If the rNebciunsen Ring There Was
u large audience. az there have been
large audiences throughout. and there
was plenty OF applause and there
were numerous curtain calls after
each act. Nevertheless the presenta-
ton fell far below tho artistic level OF
the other three music dramas. In fact,
less inspiring performance OF The
Dusk OF the Gods" | do not recall.
Rudolf Berger. as Siegfricd, was
disappointment from the moment he
appeared. There was reason. lie
was suffering from bronchitis or
plcurisy. or both. This was not
known TO tho management any more
ih,n to the public until after the per-
Torrance was begun. Otherwise, II
may he taken Tor granted. JACQUES
rrlus, whose engagement is finished
hut who has not yet sailed, would
have been invited to sins tho part.
Melanic Kurt as Brunnhildc made
tho most OF the lyric qualities OF her
voice. which IL II beautiful one; but
how short IL fell OF depicting the 10,
anl grlct and rage and despair. ard,
wiihll. the majesty OF Wotans
rrvoritc daughter turned into woman.
only to become a deserted and out
ragcl bridc And how unconvincing
vas her action and h9w artificial were
her poses In tho grcat second act! An
old subscribcr who. between tho acts.
took issue with me said: Remember,
this woman liz very young. within
hvc ycarS | predict that she viii have
become the greatest Brunnhlldc and
tho greatest isolde that hos ever
rraccd the operate stage" Sincerely.
| hope he lis right.
To continue the tale OF disaproint-
mcnt. Vera Curtis. to say the least,
was an indifferent Gutrune, the
Gibichuns princess who Joined In the
conspiracy TO cnsnarc Sicgfricd. With
Rita Forna, who has given satisfac-
ton in the mart. still on the conpany's
roster, why the substitution? Last,
hut not least. in spite OF Mr.. HertZ's
hardest efforts, the orchestra was not
at its best. probably from tircdness.
Some ner,f- racking, dourful notes
came from the orchestra pit at the
beginning Of the funeral march.
There were bright spots. however.
Carl Braun as Hagen was sufficiently
sinister in appearance and in action,
and lie sang with such n deep, power
full and tuneful voice as to satisfy the
most exacting. Otto Goritz, Just out
of hospital. was as good an Alberich
as he ever was. and that means much
.Margarete ober as Waltraute Wa
eloquent in her telling to Brunnhilde
Of wotafi's decline and in her plead
ing for the ring; and she and Elisa
beth Schumann and Lenora Sparkei
made az fascinating q trio OF Rhine
maidens as we have seen and heard
for some time. Finally. there was JOY
to be found In Giulio Setti's tunefp
and we'll trained chorus.
Puccinis "Manon Lescaut" was thu
nights opera, well sung and acted
before a large audience that mani
testify enjoyed II. The familiar cast
included tucrezia Bori. Giovanni Mar.
tinelii. Antonio Scott and Andrea d
Segurola. Mr.. Polacco conducting.
DR.. Karl Muck and the Bostof
Symphony Orchestra, at their concert
In Carnegie Hall last night, gave ar
inspiring exposition OF Brahms'i
beautiful first symphony. The house
FUN OF cultivated and fashionable
music lovers, became az enthusiast,
as an opera audience. called out DR.
Muck several times, and insisted upor
the standing Of the whole orchestr;
> TO share In the plaudits. Bach's con
certo in d minor. for two vlolins ano
string orchestra. gave Messrs. Witel
and Noak, the principal vioiinists. I
chance to display their virtuosity o
which they took full advantage. They
too, got thefr half-a-Ininute Of recog
milton when II was over. Beethoven'i
overture to Collins tragery "Corio
lanus," and his "Leonore" overture
No. 3. completed the programme
Something Of the appeal OF the latter
perhaps, was sacrificed to brilliancy.
Emma Calve made New York re
appearance at Aeolian Han yesterda,
afternoon in a concert for the beneh
Of the Lafayette Fund and Frencl
Red Cross. She has retained muc|
and added 10 her mannerisms. In tn
Carmen" habanera. for insta nc,
which she sang fascinatingly, thes
were too much in evidence. Compo
sitions by I.alo. Gounod. Martini. Mis
trail and Deroulede also were on he
programme. She was assisted by N
GusikoK, vi0llnist, and Frank LaF1g
was her accompanies II tho piano
The audience was not large. thank