[Met Performance] CID:7350



Götterdämmerung
Ring Cycle
Metropolitan Opera House, Mon, March 11, 1889




Götterdämmerung (8)
Richard Wagner | Richard Wagner
Brünnhilde
Lilli Lehmann

Siegfried
Max Alvary

Gunther
Joseph Beck

Gutrune
Louise Meisslinger

Hagen
Emil Fischer

Woglinde
Sophie Traubmann

Wellgunde
Félicie Kaschowska

Flosshilde
Emmy Miron


Conductor
Anton Seidl


Director
Theodore Habelmann






In this season's performances of Götterdämmerung, the following music was omitted: the scene with the three Norns in the Prelude; in Act I, Scene 3, the scene between Brünnhilde and Waltraute; and Act II, Scene 1, with Alberich and Hagen.
Götterdämmerung received twelve performances this season.

Review 1:

Review in The New York Times

METROPOLITAN OPERA HOUSE.

The first performance this season of "Die "Götterdämmerung" was given at the Metropolitan Opera House last night, and brought to a conclusion the first complete representation of the Niebelung operas in America. There was a very large audience present, and the applause was warm. The interest of the evening centered in the debut of Herr Alvary as the mature Siegfried. Owing to the fact that this tenor is so uncertain in his first assumption of a new rôle it is hardly fair to consider his work last evening as a basis for criticism. There is no doubt whatever that when he is more at ease his Siegfried in the final drama will be much better than it was last night. If it is not, it will not be possible to set it down as one of his happiest achievements.

Frau Lehmann was again the Brünnhilde. It is not advisable to undertake to say anything new about her delineation of this character. Praise has been exhausted on it, and there are no adjectives left for use. She sang and acted with tremendous earnestness last evening, and was successful in arousing the audience to enthusiasm. Herr Fischer appeared once more as Hagen, a rôle which he treats in his customary masterly style. Herr Beck came forward for the first time as Gunther and was acceptable. Fräulein Meisslinger sang Gutrune's music creditably. The Rhine maidens were Fräuleins Traubmann, Kaschoska, and Miron.

The drama was subjected to considerable cutting in order to bring it within limits conducive to the comfort of the audience. In addition to the Norn and the Waltraute scenes, which were not given last year, the Alberich scene was also omitted. Moreover, Herr Seidl had cut out many short passages here and there. The work of the orchestra was admirably done throughout the evening, and it hardly needs to be said that Herr Seidl conducted with fine skill.



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