Metropolitan Opera Archives

"Die Walküre" was sung at the Metropolitan Opera House yesterday afternoon in presence of a large and enthusiastic audience. Fräulein Slack was Sieglinde, and supplied a commendable representation of that personage, although in the impassioned scenes of the opera she was scarcely as dramatic as Frau Krauss. Fräulein Lilli Lehmann repeated her portrayal of Brünnhilde, a performance that, like Fräulein Lehmann's other efforts, grows constantly on the spectator. This artist does not rank with performers whose exertions produce an immediate and vivid impression. Unlike many of the best known prima donnas of the day, however, the simplicity and earnestness of her acting and the refinement and finish of her style as a vocalist, revealed, not in a single impersonation, but in all her work, enable her to make a steady advance in the good-will of the critical listener, and it is safe to predict, if the experience of the past fortnight is worth anything as an indication of what she will accomplish during the remainder of the season, that ere long the Berlin favorite will have quite as strong a foothold in the affections of the New York public as she has gotten abroad. Yesterday, as heretofore, her Brünnhilde was distinguished by intensity and significance rather than by theatrical attributes, but it was no less forceful on this account, and the histrionic excellences of the effort, as well as the prima donna's admirable singing, had prompt recognition. Fräulein Brandt and Herren Stritt, Fischer, and Lehmler reappeared in familiar rôles, and the performance as a whole went capitally. Mr. Walter Damrosch conducted. The arrangements for this week are that "The Queen of Sheba" will be repeated tomorrow, "The Prophet," with M. Sylva, Wednesday, and "Tannhäuser," with M. Sylva, for the first time this season, Friday. Most people will be glad to learn that Meyerbeer's opera will be somewhat reduced in length, and everybody will welcome the tidings that Fräulein Lehmann is to be heard in it as Bertha.

Search by season: 1885-86

Search by title: Die Walküre,

Met careers