Metropolitan Opera Archives

Wagner's "Parsifal" had its fifth and last performance of the season at the Metropolitan Opera House yesterday in its traditional annual service as the Good Friday matinee. Lauritz Melchior returned to the title role which had been sung last Wednesday by Rene Maison. The rest of the cast headed by Kirsten Flagstad as Kundry, Friedrich Schorr as Amfortas, Emanuel List as Gurnemanz, Walter Olitzki as Klingsor and Norman Cordon as Titurel, was the same as on Wednesday with Erich Leinsdorf conducting.

With artists who have frequently appeared here in Wagner's unparalleled "Consecrational Festival Play," to quote its designation in the program, detailed discussion of the performance is hardly necessary, except to praise its general expressiveness, co-ordination and spirit, and to mention an impression of intentness and devotion on the part of the artists as well as in the demeanor of the capacity audience. Mme. Flagstad's Kundry has acquired a dramatic persuasiveness which matches its high vocal qualities. The penetrant despair of Kundry's shriek of "Lachte!" late in the second act was a notable example of the tonal and emotional color which is to be found in the eminent soprano's singing. In the same scene Mr. Melchior's interpretation of Parsifal's repentant outburst, beginning "Amfortas! Die Wunde!" was laudable for its intensity and eloquence.

The audience, of which Mayor F. H. LaGuardia was a member, gave the principals warm applause after the second act, but, following the usual custom of the Metropolitan's Good Friday afternoon, departed in silence after the final scene.

Counting Tuesday night's representation in Philadelphia, yesterday's was the third performance of "Parsifal" to be given by the Metropolitan this week. The season's total is the highest since 1919-20, when "Parsifal" revived after the two wartime seasons with H. E. Krehbiel's English text, was presented six times.

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