Metropolitan Opera Archives

This listing for the Flower Maidens reflects the way they were given in the program. In announcements of Parsifal for this season, Marguerite Lemon, already a solo artist with the company, was included among the principals. When the names of the others were not listed, they were described as "The Pupils of the Opera School".

Review 1:

Review of Henry Krehbiel in the New York Tribune:

But the new Kundry was, of course, the chief feature of interest. Last night it fell to Mme. Fremstad to undertake the difficult task. How well she acquitted herself we shall not undertake to say in the midst of yesterday's musical hurly-burly, lest injustice be done to Wagner, to her and to her associates in the part. Her voice gave her the advantage in the first act, over most of her predecessors, except Mme. Kirkby-Lunn, who must also be considered. It left her at a considerable disadvantage in much of the music of the second. But Kundry is not merely a singing role. There is not a trace of the conventional operatic marionette in it, and in the things which mark the line of difference most broadly she was gratifying. Hers is the sort of dramatic intelligence which Wagner calls for; hers is also the intelligence, quickened, warmed, inspired by feeling and whole-hearted devotion. She did not attempt to body forth the first phase of the contradictory character of Wagner's compound creation by vocal explosions in her curt speeches and wildness of gesture, but by eloquent declamation. It was a triumph of spirit over matter, and the lovers of "Parsifal" were made glad.

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