Metropolitan Opera Archives

At the Metropolitan Opera House yesterday the matinee Wagner series got round to "Der Ring des Nibelungen" offering its initial drama, "Das Rheingold," for the first time this season. It is pleasant to know there will be a second Metropolitan performance of that work of a unique beauty the last Saturday night of the present month.

Yesterday's showing was distinguished primarily by the Fasolt of Ludwig Hofmann, the Loge of Rene Maison and the conducting of Artur Bodanzky, even though the eminent batonist was not averse to hurrying a tempo or two.

Mr. Hofmann, imposing of presence and sonorous of voice as befitted a giant, delivered his lines with remarkable clearness and eloquence. Mr. Maison, though a bit ponderous for an ideal fire god, supplied a picturesque and incisive impersonation, but I would plead for a more sensuous treatment of the great monologue, "Immer ist Undank Loges Lohn."

The veteran Wotan of Friedrich Schorr was a sadly bedraggled divinity, who had trouble whenever his music ran high. More considerate passages, however, were uttered with the old majesty. Karin Branzell revealed a Fricka, who was both stately and amorous. Dorothee Manski, Paul Althouse and Julius Huehn were respectively a Freia, a Froh and a Donner of earnest endeavor. Anna Kaskas did nothing desirable with Erda's warning.

To Emanuel List was allotted the black giant, Fafner, safely except that on the open stage he abandoned a huge ingot of his ill-gotten gold. Adolf Vogel and Karl Laufkötter appeared as the chief dwarfs, Alberich and Mime, both uncommonly successful as vocalists, if not as punchful interpreters.

Susanne Fisher, Irra Petina and Doris Doe were an uneven trio of Rhine Daughters. Mme. Fisher, their leader, was more successful when her part ran high than in voicing Woglinde's key speech, "Nur wer der Minne Macht entsagt."

Search by season: 1937-38

Search by title: Das Rheingold, Ring Cycle [62] Uncut,

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