Metropolitan Opera Archives

The season's only performance of "Das Rheingold" was given on the afternoon of Feb. 16, the second of the special Wagner matinees. The usual rapt audience gathered almost on time and sat breathless. In spite of some shortcomings, the performance was one of the most magnetic which the opera has had in many years. Mr. Bodanzky conducted with devotion and, save for some ragged work in the brass choir in the prelude, the orchestra played smoothly.

Of the singers, honors, high ones, go to Maria Olszewska who was the Fricka of the occasion. Not often has such a vivid, vital performance of the role been given. Mme. Olszewska sang the music gloriously and, though wearing a highly inappropriate costume, quite out of key, was, both in action and gesture, a queen of the gods, indeed!

Unfortunately she did not find her masculine counterpart in the Wotan of Ludwig Hofmann, for, although he stood around majestically, he was less effective vocally than in other roles he has sung here, and less concerned with the dramatic significance of the part. Hans Clemens's Loge followed a definite line which might have had more of the crafty malevolence the character is meant to depict, but which was well sung.

Mme. Branzell delivered her one scene with splendid, sonorous tone, which is all that Erda can do. Gustav Schützendorf's Alberich was, as usual, a performance as near to perfection as one is apt to hear. Emanuel List, a new Fasolt this season, was excellent. His powerful voice suited the music admirably and he invested the ungrateful role with definite dramatic meaning. Marek Windheim was a good Mime. The Rhine Daughters, Editha Fleischer, Rose Bampton and Doris Doe, delivered their ensemble with precision and excellent tone. Of the lesser roles, Arthur Anderson was a very good Donner, Dorothee Manski a capable Freia, Alfio Tedesco a colorless Froh and James Wolfe an adequate Fafner.

Search by season: 1933-34

Search by title: Das Rheingold, Ring Cycle [55] Uncut,

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