Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-20
M u SIG
BY HELEN FETTER.

land force his brother Mimi to
shape it into ring and helmet.
Wotan, king of the gods, seeking
a substitute for Freya-given as
hostage to the giants Fafner and
Fasolt, who built the beautiful
Walhalla, home of the gods-f1nds
through Logi (god of fire. the
treasures that Alberich possesses.
They (Wotan and Logi wreSt the
golden treasures from Alberich by
trickery and pay the giants off
with them. This gives Fafner
twho Immediately kills his brother
because of greed, aroused by the
new poSSeSSions) a power over all
the rest of the world. AS Wotan,
Fricka, his wife, and the other
gods and goddesses enter Walhalla
an ominouS mist, symbolic of the
troubles that have come to the
world in this fashion, settles above
the river, where the lament of the
Rhine maidenS still is audible, al
though a beautiful rainbow has
made a bridge for the gods to
tread upon as they cross to Wal
halla.
A COMPLETE contrast to the
"A Wagnerian classics being pro-
duced in New York during the
past week was offered last night,
when the Metropolitan Opera Co.
gave the first performance in
America of Ernest Krenek's jazz
opera, Johnny Spielt Auf." AS
this column goes to press it is too
early to acquire any review Of the
performance. It may be of inter
est, perhaps, to music lovers here
to know that by official admission
the production of this opera has
been the most intricate in staging
and the most costly in rehearsalS
Of any operate production pre-
Sented during the 81 seasons of
atti-CaSaZza's regime at the
Metropolitan. Among other things
that we're unusual requirements in
the equipment for this opera were
a property" automobile, a rail-
road train, radio equipment. and
other modern mechaniSmS, in ad-
dition to such scenic requirements
as an Alpine glacier and a modern
artistic conception of Broadway
with the electric advertisements
a-glitter.
In Munich riot was caused oy
Johnny" and it has been said
that there were many Kisses at its
premiere in Paris. 1t will be inter
eSting to see If anything dramatic
was shown in the reaction of the
initial American audience last
night.
A RTURO TOSCANINI, the Italian
"A king of conductors, who has
had to delay his coming to Amer
lea so as to rest bit before taking
up the strenuous season here, is
said to have declared that Gior-
dano'S new opera, 1.-THE King"
which had its premiere in Milan
January IL, would be the last new
opera that he would set up and
direct. A report of the first per-
Torrance says that:
"The public was attracted by the
sweet music and captivated by the
beautiful scenery and pleasant
action. The success of the pro-
duction was great. Giordano, the
composer; Giroachino Forzano,
who wrote the libretto, and all the
artists who participated in the
performance were enthusiastically
cheered. ToScanini, who conduct
ed the orchestra, greatly con-
tributed to the success of the pre-
miere. seeming to have exercised
all his talent to underline the
beauties of the music"
Signor ToScanini was to have
conducted the second Philhar-
monte Symphony concert in Wash
ington the end of this month, but,
due to his delay in sailing for this
country, ToScanini will not be in
America on that date and Fritz
Reiner, conductor of the Cincin-
natl Symphony Orchestra. will ap-
Dear instead. Toscanini, however.
is scheduled to conduct the third
and final of these concerts IN
Washington.
PNs