The New York herald., 1922-01-03
sPARSIFAI AND LOVE OF3KINGS
SUNG TO HOLIDAY AUDIENCES
Nine. Florence EastOn i'm the
Role of Kundry' at the
Metropolitan.
by w. j. HENDERSON.

"Parsifal" was performed at the
Metropolitan Opera House yesterday
! afternoon 10 usher in the new year of
| opera. The sacred music drama was
heard by large audience. 1t was again
| given in English, which seems to be the
! order for the present season. Nine.
| Florence Easton was the Hundry The
Metropolitan is fortunate In possessing
more than one competent impersonator
| of Wagner's singular heroine. Nine.
| Easton's Interpretation commands the
| highest praise that can be given because
| Of its remarkably fine dramatic and
| musical qualities.
The singer brings to the part large
| intelligence. which has developed a well
| rounded and satisfying presentation of
| the meaning of the text ana music. In
action Nine. Easton Is discreet in the
employment of gesture. pose and facial
expression. She neither overacts nor
Sights anything. One IS never In doubt
as to the significance of her doings. So.
too. in her singing she delights the ear
with continual outpour of beautiful
tone, while she reaches the mind with
we'll planned methods of expression
The other members Of the cast were
Mr. Whitehill in his touching represen-
, tation of Amfortas;; Mr.. Sembach as
Pdrsifdl, Mr.. Blass as GurnemanS, and
the same company of competent minor
singers usually heard In this work. Mr.
Bodanzky conducted. and the drama
moved through its various episodes with
its customary solemn effect.
Montemezzi's opera, "LAmore del Ire
Re-" was given in the evening for the
first time this season. When This lyric
drama was introduced to this public
there was n chorus of critical praise.
runctuated by a few cymbal dashes OF
condemnation. The praise was based on
the purity of the style, the noble tragic
dignity OF the music which Montemezzi
had wed to the splendid dramatic poem
Of Sem Benelli The condemnation was
aimed at the want of what the objectors
called point and climax in the same
music.
"What changes are wrought" ex-
claimed Carlyle, mot by time, but in
time" Some of the objectors have gone
over TO the majority, namely. those who
admire the work. But a. few. who have
the courage of their convictions and who
remain convicted of courage and nothing
else. continue to declare that "L'Amore
del Tire Re- is a second rate opera by
second rate man. Those who liked the
work when it was produced love It now
and will probably continue to love ii as
long as il is well performed.
III was performed wen on the WnOIc
and in some particulars brilliantly Miss
Lucrezia Bori reappeared as Flora.
which role she created" here. A vision
OF beauty she was in both of the acts In
which she sang and an ideal representa-
tive of the unhappy woman. 1t is m
necessary to describe her impersonation
again. It is familiar TO all operagoers
Her beautiful voice was In excellent con-
dition last evening ard she sang with
exquisite tenderness in the first act and
in the second with an eloquent sweep OF
expression from the GOODNESS Of the scene
with the husband to the final and fatal
outburst Of passion In the scene with the
lover
MIR Mardones was the Archibdido. II
is his best part, the one in which he
reaches heights Of tragic power which
he attains in no other role. 1t is
noteworthy achievement and places Mr.
Mardones among the important oper-
attic artists Of this day. Mr.. Danise as
Mani fredo, the husband OF Ftord, pre-
serts a convincing picture and sings
admirably. He. too. Is potent factor
In the Interpretation of Montemezzls
work Mr. Martinelli's Auito is earnest
and vigorous, but lacking in the dignity
of vocal style demanded by the opera,
Mr. Moranzofii conducted. The orches-
ira generally played well.
The first evening performance of the
new year. which also marked the open
ing of the eighth week, was brilliant
one In its personal characteristics and
formed one OF the most important as
sembles in society. In box with Mrs.
william Watts Sherman were Mr.. and
Mrs Newbold Morris. Mrs. Rutherturd
Sttiyvesant, who recently returned TO
New York from Paris, and Mr.. Henry
F. Efdridge.
In box 8 with Mrs Marshall Orme
Wilson were Mrs. Horatio Nelson Slater
and Mr. and Mrs. j. Nelson Borland
with Mrs. r. Henry Hartman in box
. were Mr.. and Mrs. Nelson O'Shaugi-
messy and Mr.. and Mrs. George Eustis
Corcoran. who have taken an apartment
at 1s2 West Flfty-eighth street.
The Rev. DIR. and Mrs. Ernest NJ
stires and Messrs Benjamin S. Welles
and Franklin A. Plummer were guests
of Mrs. Hamilton Nick. Twombly in bos
IT.
The guests of Mrs. Cornelius Wander
bilt in box / were Mr. and Mrs. Corne- |