Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-08
|JOERNSHEhS|NG
I'm S|EGFR|ED'S ROLE
Third of Wagnerian Opera
Cycle Presented by Com
pany at Poll's.

An excellent performance of "Sies-
| fried" the third in the cycle Of four
operas in Richard Wagner's famous
Ring DIES Nibelungen," was given by
| the German Grand Opera Co, at Polfs
| larger perhaps than those attending
former performances, including, in ad-
| dition to the many faces familiar now
| by their presence at the other operas
newcomers who swelled the audience to
practically capacity house. Keen at
tention and warm enthusiasm were
shown.
"Siegfried" was particularly we'll done
DR.. Walter Rabl, who is conducting
! the entire Ring" had his orchestra
well under command and brought out
all of the by now numerous motives
of the musical score with admirable
emphasis and blending Mines theme,
which is featured in the opening scene,
and the "Wurm" theme, which fore
shadows the dominant action of the
second act, in each case was colorfully
set forth and developed SO as to create
that intangible atmosphere necessary
to make the action convincing as it,
| in turn, on the stage, unfolds the dra-
matte story. There were perhaps a
few moments during the singing of
the Bird of the Forest"--as admirably
vocalized by Dorothy Githens-when
the light, high voice, seemed threat
ened with drowning IN the resonance
OF the orchestral accompaniment, but
for the most part the orchestra was
kept down admirably to complement
the voices.
Anna Schorr's Bruennhilde.
marked advantage earlier in the Ring"
as Loge and, later. as Siegmund. was
very satisfying in the title role of
Siegfried. He is young enough and
of a build that makes his characterize
ton thoroughly in keeping with the i'm
agination's logical Siegfried He was
equipped equally wen vocalIy for this
role and he injected q pleasant and I'M
suspected touch of humor in his treat
ment of the reed pipe bit of stage
business" in the second act.
Anna Schefner Schorr, who sang the
Sieglinde Monday night, was the Bru-
ennhilde last night. Although she was
not the Bruennhilde that Wotan put to
sleep so tenderly in the midst of flames
on that earlier occasion, she was q
completely acceptable Interpreter Of the
role. showing typical wagnerian tones
given traditional yet, at the same time,
certain amount Of individual irtefpre-
tation. Nine. Scforr sang the role last
night in place of Juliette Lippe.
Waldemar Henke gave star interpre-
tatiofi OF the role Of Mime. His hide
GUS makeup was bit of excellent stage
artistry; his actions, too, carried out The
characterization of the crafty dwarf TN
fascinating manner, and vocally, al
though there were times when the
natural rich quality of his voice crept
through he also kept pretty generally
in the cacklf1g quality that Is trzdi-
tionally accredited to Mime.
Other Roles Effective.
Helena Lanvin did the famous Ia
Tnent" of Erda with deep fine contralto
tone, smooth production, and an elo-
quent sincerity In the Interpretation
that was extremely effective.
OF all the cast only Marcel Salzinaer
did not have especially adlnirahle dc
ton. He has beautiftil bass quality
and looked the part Of 'Wota1l, disguised
as THE Wanderer," t0tpeffectio1l. Wer-
ner Kius and Albert Marwick gave their
smaller roles effectiveiy- former be-
ing a picturesque]y fitting brother TO the
grotesque Mime 81 5;4-
The settings were good and thesIight-
ing, with the exception Of the time dur
ing the actual staying of the dragon,
was artistic. At that time there was
too much light on the stage and the
wires which worked the dragon were
unnecessarily visible.
The German Grand Opera Company
will close what is proving an increas.
insly satisfactory Season" of Wagne-
Ran operas hi Washington tomorrow
night when die Goetterdaemmerung'
will be sung by cast that is announc.
ed to include Juliette Lippe as thu
Bruennhilde, Hans Taenzler, as yet un.
heard here, as Siegfried, Franz Egenief
as Gunther, Bennett Challis as Hagen
Guido Schuetzendorf as Alberich, Hide.
/ gard Bartz as Gutrune and Ottilis
MetZger-Lattermann as Waltraute.
A Washington girl, Ruth McIfvaine
who had her operate debut in the roll
of Marta in Faust" produced by thu
Washington Opera Company in 1925
with Chaliapin in his famous Mephisto.
phelean role, will sing the role of ont
of the Rheinmaidens tomorrow night.
The performance tomorrow is scl1ed
uled to begin promptly at an even earl.
Ter hour than these previous produc.
tions-7 pm. H.F.