The New York herald., 1922-11-24
Taucher, German
Tenor, Has Debut
in Die Walkuere'
Makes Good Impression and Is
Received With Warm APP
proval at Metropolitan.
BY w. J. HENDERSON.

die waikuere' had its first per-
formance of the season at the Metro
politan Opera House last evening. One
new principal singer. Curt Taucher,
tenor. made his debut and was re-
ceived with warm approval by an
audience which appeared to be largely
composed of persons devoted to the
Wagner drama. Paul Bender. another
OF the new singers, was heard in his
second role, Hamdtn9. Nine. Jeritza
repeated the Sie0Hnde which she made
known last season. The others in the
cast were familiar friends.
Perhaps a word should bs said in
the beginning for the stage manage
mont of Wilhelm Won Wymetal, which
made the fire on Hnndtngs hearth
blaze up at the right moments. the
sword show itself. and tie doors fly
open at the instant ,y,shen the music
ushered spring inte the hearts OF the
lovers. 1t is a piv that his authority
did not also COVE some of the ac-
tons OF Sie0linde and SieGmuftd. who
frequently took the whole audience
into their confidence and addressed
their impassioned speeches to the sub
scribers.
But on the whole it was a good per-
forinance. There was unity of pur-
pose among the singers and excellent
cooperation between them and the or
chestra. Mr.. Bodanzkys reading OF
The score raised some questions, but
these may readily be set aside In view
OF the general fervor and sincerity OF
the whole presentation. It will per-,
haps better satisfy general curiosity
TO say a few words about the new
SieODtund.
Mr.. Taucher is a typical German
tenor. His voice has the character
istic quality and lack of color. He
sang all his music intelligently in the
true German style. He made the text
for the most part clear, often sacri-
ficing musical tone to sharpness OF
enunciation. He did not create any
large dramatic illusion either as a
hunted fugitive. a sudden lover or q
sword snatching hero. No one could
make Illusion with the sword as the
ACT OF hIANlflS IL II Otii NiAt ~ NN 40 S'S
tomarily performed in the opera. A
man could not pull a dinner knife out
of a block of wood In that way let
alone the long, shining blade OF the
incompatible Nothing.
But Mr.. Taucher made good inn
preston on his audience, He had
numerous recalls. Nine. Jeritzas
Sie0linde has not changed since last
winter. 1t is a praiseworthy and SYM
pathetic achievement, which effaces
none of the beautiful memories asso-
ciated with the Metropolitan stage. but
nevertheless deserves a comfortable
niche of its own in the affections of
operagoers. st.
Mr. Bender's Hundin1 was as thor
oughly German as Mr.. Taucher's SicG-
muHd, but il had more of the Illusion
Of the drama. 1t was powerful, sinis-
ter portentous and voeally sepulchral
and unsteady. For the rest 1t need
only be said that Nine. Matzenauer's
Bruennhiide. Mr.. Whitehill's Wotan
end Nine. Jean Gordon's Fricka were
Just what they used to be and that
two of them at any rate showed greater
ability to preserve the lines of Wag-
ners melody than did some other ele-
ments of the cast. ca
DR.. and Mrs. John II. Finley and Prof
and Mrs. Henry Fairfield Osborn were
IN box H. Mr.. and Mrs. William Alex
ander and AIr. and Mrs. Allen Gouyer-
reur Wellman were members OF the
party in box 3. Miss Mary Field was
with Mrs. William B. Osgood Field in
box II. Mr.. and Mrs. Alvin w. Krech
and Mr.. and Mrs. William Fellowes
Morgan were in the FricS box, Mrs
Il. Henry Hartman had n party I'm box
., and Mr. and Mrs. Mansfield Ferry
81 orc rlaaIlah hnrs of a na riu In the AInrrar,