The New York herald., 1921-12-17
WAGNER'S DIE WALKUERE' IS
REVIVED AT THE METROPOLITAN
Nine. Jeritza Sings the Role
Of Sieglinde for the First
Time Here.
BY ". ). HENDERSON.

at the metropolitan Opera House last
evening and was given in German. 1t
had not been heard since March, 1917.
it was then performed with Nine.
GadsE as BruennhHde, Mime. Melanie
Kurt as SicgltHdo, Mne. Matzenauer as
Frtcfd, JACQUES Urlus as Siogmuisd, Mr..
Whitehill M Wotda and Basil Ruysdael
as Hundsng.. Mr.. Bodanzky conducted.
Ihree OF those concerncd in that per-
formance were engaged In last evenings
revival Mr.. Whitehill WAS again the
Woson, Mr.. Bodanzl1y conducted and
Ame. Matzenauer. long ago risen from
the mellow depths OF contfaito to the
golden heights of soprano roles, was the
Brucanhilde.
fhe other singers were AIoo. Jeritza
as ste2t'nao, Miss Gordon as frclea, Mr..
senDach rs Stegmlad and Mr. Gustnf-
soh IS ItiIdfag There is substsntiai
srouhu Tor suspicion that the audience
was quite as much Interested in the
revelations 10 be made by Nine. Jeritza
rs Ia the new production upon which
considerable labor and study had been
bestowed. Nine. Jeritza IL by way OF
peing an operatc sensation and THIS
is q sensation loving world. In which
great dramatic art works. espocially
tlose or sombre moods. rank below pal.
pitatlns human personalities, particu-
A1ity tlosc OK tno f9rnale sex.
Nevertheless the revival OF die Wal
kue1o' void surely have made an I'm
preston on tho public mind even II the
captivating vienncse artist had not nm
personated tho daughter OF the volsunrc.
when such a music drama has been
absent from tho repertory for over four
years it returns with "a triumphant dem
chstrauon OF its inherent power The
great audience which assembled 20 hear
II last night was much moved. and after
The manner of audiences bestowed its
thanks upon those who delivered 20 Il
the message OF the ar, WORK But 70
Richard Wagner lad been I'm the house
he would have been the hero Of the oc-
easion without doubt.
Demonstration for soprano.
Aime Jerltza. however was made the
ontect OF q special demonstration after
the first act. Tier Sierliade was deserve
ing OF emphatic approval. but II was not
because IT was a completely satisfying
performance. Dramatically II was ad-
nlirable. filled with the inexpressiblo
grace of lovely womonhood. significant
III every utterance from fear TO passion
from tenderness 60 triumph. IL was in
telligcnt. direct, unmistaksole. But tho
music was not wholly within the scope
Of the singers vocal art. II seems likely
that Nine. Jeritza had insufficient train
ing in the fundamental met thod OF tho old
bel canto, without which no one hss yet
sung Wagner in a satisfactory manner.
The phrases of SigCifsdc are long and
broad and deep. and they demand
sustained legato Of the nobest type.
Few conternporaneous singers know how
TO spin the tone" as the old masters
taught It, but without knowing how they
find graver troubles In Wagner than in
Pucciui What is said Of this master
applies equally to Mr. Sembach as
sigrsund and Miss Gordon as Fricka.
They were commendab,e in action and
in their conceptions OF their roles.
Nine. Matzenauer had sung BrpeRn-
hide before She. too, was admirable
without exhaustins the possibilities or
her role. Mr.. Whitehill's WotdB wac
in the end tho most heroic Individual
figure in the performance. The music
drama had been carefully prepared.
The scenery, not new, was effectively
treated in the matter OF lighting. Even
the elusive sword revealed itself at tho
right moment. Mr.. Bodanzky knows
aow TO conduct "Die Walkuore. This
is q topic that calls for no discussion
now The return of the great work was
very welcome and the performance. Dc
spite its shortcomings, was sufficiently
good to give great pleasure.
Rossini's Opera sunn.
Rossinfs I'll Barbiere al Saviglia"
was sung for the first tirnc this season
al the Metropolitan yesterday afternoon.
The performance was in aid or the
Greenwich House Music School and was
to have been made especially important
by the first appearance OF Tfttta Kufro
as member OF the Metropolitan forces.
singing the role Of Figaro But the dis
tinguished barytone had been suffering
for some time from an affection OF the
throat and had not sufficiently recovered
to undertake his task.
Ills removal from the cast apparently
had no evil effect on the receipts. Tor
the house was crowded and the standing
room could not have held more hearers
had Mr.. Ruffo sung. His place was
taken by Mr.. de Luca. whose gay and
viyaciors impersonation OF the barber Is
well known TO opera goers. The RoS.itp
was Miss Nina Morgana. who sang the
music tolerably and acted with industry.
il not with infectious spirit.
Mario Chamlec was the AlGidGird.
Music OF the kind given by Rossini to
this ardent gentleman. especially that
o. tho first scene, is not Quite in Mr..
Chamlee's line. He sang il somewhat
heavily, but better than might have been
expected. Tho art OF horid song is not
assiduously cultivated In these days. 1t
is customarily left TO "coiorature"
sopranos. The period when ail singers
vere required to master II is gone. and
that Is a pity. for ii Ia one of the es-
aentials OF a free and flexible vocal art.
Mr.. AIardones impersonated Don
Bdsiiio with some JUNCTION and much
sonority. OF tone. his delivery Of the
"Calumnia" air evoked prolonged APP
plause. Mr.. Malatesto as Or. Burtoio
discharged his duties according 20 the
traditions. Mr.. Papi conducted. In tho
lesson scene Miss Morgsna sang the
waltz from Gounods "Mireilie," n num-
Der fitting out well into the scheme as
those usually ctc-er
One OF the notable audiences OF the
season greeted the revival oc " agner'a
opera ut tho evening performance. With
Nrs. Lawrence Townsend IN Box 1 were
Mr.. and Mrs. j. Philip Bernhard M,sa
Richardson, Jr.
With Mrs. Ganbrill in Box . were
Mr. and Mrs Giraud Foster. Mrs Rich
ard Stevens. Messrs. Stuyvesant Fish
and William G. Reick.
Mr.. and Mrs. Sumner Gerard, Mr.. and
Mrs, Philip Rhjnelander 20 and Miss
Genevievc Clendenin were with MIR.
Frnsier Jellke In Box 1s.
with Mrs. Frederick Pearson In Box
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