The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-02-04
"RHEINGOLD" SUNG
BY ALL STAR CAST
.'lrr Ring DIES Nibelungen''
Has Beginning Of Great
Merit.
SMOOTH SCENIC EFFECTS
Ia, Observation-Disclosures Opers

The annual performance Of Wogne's
"r,c- Iaug dos ~Nibelungen" began yes
to-day afternoon at the Metropolitan
,.wi, House. Since the prologue IL
cls'omarily heard only once in a season
though Il is 10 10 given again this win
',-t IL ranks with what are commonly
described as REVEALS. When 1t is offered
WITH certain important changes In the
cas-, and under the baton OF a new con-
ductor Of German music dramas it's
Presentation becomes even more inter-
t,'Ng.
VI. G~atti-Casazza is OF course q
patriotic Italian and therefore cannot he
sfraigned for pro-Germanisin. But
jIst AT the present time. largely by
reason OF conditions over which the inn
r~-csario has no control and patty from
others which have no substantial excuse
20 oN,st. his opera house is actively EN-
gagged in pronu.gating the glor!es of
German art 10 the dctriment OF Italian.
There has been only one other per
foruance in the curr-lt season which
could dispute with yesterdays the nrst
pit.c IN meri, and that was the per
formance Of Die Mciste.singcr." Moth
Jig in the Italian list has risen to such
q level of general excellence. Three
members of tho east. which was Of un-
usual general ability, aided especially
.a bringing about this happy result.
car. Eraun's FdSof was the hest
ever seen ON the Metropolitan stage.
There Was II touching Interpretation OF
the clumsy giants pathetic battle with
me tender passion. While the delivery OF
'le rcTroach to Woidn disclosed with
mote than COMMON pin and point the
root of the whole tragedy.
Nine. Rappold was entrusted with the
role Of Frcid. and the choice was a happy
one. She was the most Satisfying rep
f,,cnt,tive Of the youthful goddess seen
u wears. She looked, acted and sang
'Ue part admirably. Since much Of the
story is involved with FdSoit's desire
'nr FrCid II is important that she should
ro ~histrjonically and unsteady deline-
s'od with conviction.
u is rot news that Mr.. Sembach j. the
bet Lone since Mr.. Van pyck. In fact
no ~ one Of tho best ever seen on the
local stage. which has been benefited by
the presence not only OF Van Dyck but
also of Norl. the original i~npersonator
Of the crafty fire god. Mr.. Senbach
was particularly effective yesterday
both ~ acting and singing, Henry
Scott sang DonHcr for the first time
with credit.
The others need no special mention
row. Tho music drama was smoothly
p'rformcd. Lights. curtains, drops. tho
Worm thunder. lightning and other
WaCuerian aphernalia behaved with
dcCOrum. Even the rainbow. that al
ways uncertain line in the last picture,
declined TO go out. Nusically the pre-
sentation had "A character similar TO hat
found IN other performances under the
direction of Mr.. Bodansky.
Cicarness was the first ard foremost
quality which made the production artis-
tiCal,y significant. for there was at no
time any difficulty in understanding
what the singing actors we're saying.
Rut light and shade and splendid res
outloc ,where that was reIulred) were
lot sacrificed. 1t was Oh the whole a
frely planned and Ski,fully carried out
concentration II ushered in the pom
tstoJs do.uGs IF the t,traloGy in a Mt
: - manner.