Metropolitan Opera Archives

The program announced an "Intermission after the Second Scene."
Das Rheingold received three performances this season.

Review 1:

Review in the New York Tribune

New German Tenor Makes Debut Here in "Das Rheingold"

Good-Sized Audience Cordially Disposed, Applauds Kirchoff in Wagner's Music Drama at Metropolitan

"Das Rheingold" was given at the Metropolitan last night for the first time this season, before an audience of good size and cordial disposition. Most of the evening's applause was bestowed upon the new German tenor, Walther Kirchoff, who made his first New York appearance upon this occasion, singing the role of the sardonic and mischievous Fire-God in Wagner's musical fable. Mr. Kirchoff was very warmly received and is entitled to regard his debut as successful.

His Loge is an intelligent and forcible embodiment of the difficult and enigmatic character. Mr. Kirchoff's conception of the part is not a particularly subtle one, and he is prone to overstress the humorous element in it. Loge is not primarily a comic role; and Mr. Kirchoff might well have given greater point to its malevolent suggestiveness. But he made the character vivid and influential. He filled the eye, and, somewhat less pleasantly, the ear; for his voice is not conspicuous for beauty, and Mr. Kirchoff is scarcely, so far as one may judge from his singing last night, an accomplished artist in the use of it. But he has personality, and a sense of the stage, and his singing is a good deal more commendable than that of certain of his associates among the Metropolitan's German wing.

The performance in most other respects was rather a listless one. Mr. Schorr replaced Mr. Bohnen, who was prevented by indisposition from making his announced appearance as Wotan. The Hungarian baritone sang beautifully, as his habit, but this Wotan is a prosaic one. Mme. Larsen-Todsen as Fricka, Maria Müller as Freia, Karin Branzell as Erda, Mr. Didur as Fafner, Mr. Rothier as Fasolt and Mr. Meader as Mime repeated impersonations already familiar. Mr. Schtüzendorf as Alberich achieved the most impressive performance of the evening - an embodiment memorable for intensity and power. Mr. Gabor as Donner, Mr. Altglass as Froh and the Misses Fleischer, Wells and Telva as the three Rhine Maidens completed the cast, and Mr. Bodanzky conducted.

Mr. Thewman's direction was open to question in several matters; but the various problems of stage management that are presented by "Rhinegold" were, on the whole, quite competently dealt with.

Search by season: 1926-27

Search by title: Das Rheingold,

Met careers