New-York tribune., 1921-12-17
,Jeritza Wins
New Triumph
I'm wv alkuere''
Sings in Nine. Lehmann's S
Old Role Of Sieglinde at
Metropolitan, With Mat
zenauer as Bruennhildc
Whitehill a Great Wotan
Wagnerian Drama Given
i'm German Here for
First Time Since the War
BY II. E. Krehbiel

Nothing was said in the announce
ments of the performance of "Die
Walknre" at the Metropolitan Opera
House last night that it was "revi-
VAL Representations of operas that
have slumbered less than four and
three quarter years have been so desig-
mated with smaller right-sometimes
only because they had been fitted out
with a new scenic investiture or be-
cause an admired singer had under
taken a part in which she was not
familiar to the local public. Wagnsr's
drama had no new clothes to boast of
I've wish it had), but it was sung in
German Tor the first time since the
United States became embroiled in the
universal war and one of it's characters
was undertaken by Nine. Jeritza, who
has supplied the first genuine thrill
that the patrons of the theater have
experienced in long time. 1t was not
the heroine of the tripartite tragedy
who was impersonated by the new
conner. but the character which has al
ways evoked the largest share of pop
ular ympathy-Sieglinde. That prob
ably accounts for the fact that the part
has always appealed to singers who
have real dramatic blood in their veins.
Nine. Lehmann's Old Role
Old operagoers will recall that Nine
Lehman, who grew to heroic stature
on the Metropolitan stage, which Of
fered her the opportunity to cast aside
the shackles which bound her at the
Royal Opera in Berlin, was quite will
ing to dofY the helmet of the Valkyr
j 1r
the unfortunate daughter OF the Vol
sungs because of her appreciation Of
the dramatic opportunities which the
part offers. That is memory Of the
heroic period of the Metropolitan, and
paired with it are gracious memories
of Nine. Eames, Nine. Frem stadt and
others. Traces of that period re-
manned down to the representations Of
the season of 191617, when Nine. Kur
was the Sieglinde, and the Briinnhilde
of last night was the stern representa-
tive Of the moral order, Fricka, who
in the more remote past was ilnper-
sonated by such singers as Marianne
Brandt and Nine. Schumann-H -Heink.
But we must not let the pleasures
of memory usurp the duty which we
owe to last nights representation,
which had Wotan of ancient mold
and fiber in Mr.. Whitehill, who ranks
with the best of his predecessors Of q
generation ago and looms head and
shoulders above the generality of them
Which also had a dominating figure
among the women in Madame Matte
nauer, who was the Brunnhilde of the
occasion, but of whom enough is said
when the record is made, for the rea-
son that her impersonation is familiar.
The Sigmund was Mr.. Sembach, the
Hunding, Mr.. Gustafson (perhaps the
least sinister and forceful representa-
tive of the part that we have had for
q long time. though truer of intonation
than the last-Mr. Iuysdael); the
Fricka Jeanne Gordon, who is rapidly
rising to real dramatic stature, and
who. it is pleasant to say, is not doing
so at the sacrifice of her voice and
vocal style. A capable chorus of
Valkyries completed the list, and fine
intelligence and discretion character
lied the reading of the score by Mr..
Bodanzky.
Another Ovation for Jeritza
And the Sieglinde of Nine. Jeritza-
what of that? The triumphs of the
young artist in "Die Tote Stadt" and