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Yesterday's opera matinee of "Die Walk?re" held a large audience faithful to Wagner against other holiday attractions and offered, incidentally, an absorbing study in prima donnas. Maria Jeritza, abandoning some of the sophistication acquired for her last performance of Sieglinde, disclosed herself once more the pluperfect pupil of that school which permits the actress (singing or otherwise) to think of Christmas presents or like irrelevant matters and yet give the externals of a potent characterization. Hence we had Jeritza, apparently quite casual but nevertheless and convincing and vital Sieglinde through her complete mastery of stage technique and her primitive exuberance of song.

On the other hand, there was Florence Easton as Br?nnhilde, lost in her part, recollected in every phrase, her mind entirely occupied with Velsungs, Wotan and Walhalla, singing in fine voice?And we had a handsome, conscientious English woman valiantly assuming a heroic role - excellently well, but nevertheless a role.

Such observations and subsequent conjecture made the interest of the matinee. Otherwise it was a routine performance keyed somewhat above the ordinary, and ennobled by the finest Wotan Mr. Whitehill has sung in many a moon. Miss Telva's Fricka was comely, free from shrewishness, but lacked structure and dignity. The Siegmund was Curt Taucher and lesser parts were given to Mr. Gustafson, Mmes. Howard, Anthony, Hunter, Ryan, Wakefield, Fleischer and Roessler. Mr. Bodanzky conducted courageously in spite of an indisposition.

Search by season: 1926-27

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