[Met Performance] CID:98090



Die Walk?re
Metropolitan Opera House, Fri, January 20, 1928 Matinee





Die Walk?re (225)
Richard Wagner | Richard Wagner
Br?nnhilde
Gertrude Kappel

Siegmund
Walter Kirchhoff

Sieglinde
Maria M?ller

Wotan
Friedrich Schorr

Fricka
Margarete Matzenauer

Hunding
Michael Bohnen

Gerhilde
Phradie Wells

Grimgerde
Marion Telva

Helmwige
Dorothee Manski

Ortlinde
Mildred Parisette

Rossweisse
Ina Bourskaya

Schwertleite
Kathleen Howard

Siegrune
Elda Vettori

Waltraute
Henriette Wakefield


Conductor
Artur Bodanzky







Review 1:

Review in Musical Courier

Gertrude Kappel, the new dramatic soprano from Munich and Vienna, who made such an auspicious debut on Monday with her brilliant performance of Isolde, chalked up another success Friday evening through her memorable interpretation of Br?nnhilde in Die Walk?re.

Here, at last, after years of experimentation by the powers that be at the Metropolitan, was the high-spirited young goddess of Walhalla as Wagner conceived her, qualified by every test to rank with the great Br?nnhildes of tradition. Once she had put the exactions and early nervousness of the introductory "Ho-Yo-To-Ho" behind her, Mme. Kappel sang gloriously, with tones pure and free, with a sensitive regard for the structure of Wagner's thrilling music, with singular expressive power. Her dramatization, moreover, was fit companion to her great singing. Gesture and facial aspect reflected mood and emotion with compelling sincerity. Mme. Kappel was paid the handsome compliment of spontaneous applause, which is not a frequent occurrence in the production of Wagnerian music-drama.

No less excellent, but more familiar, was the poignant Wotan of Friedrich Schorr. A characterization of rare artistic restraint, his performance combined unusual nobility with the tenderness and human quality inherent in the role. Vocally, Mr. Schorr remains superb as always.

Maria M?ller, always easy to look at, was a lovely Sieglinde, thanks not only to her pulchritude, but also to her admirable work as a singing actress of high degree.

The versatile Michael Bohnen was an uncommonly savage Hunding in his highly impressive portrayal. Margaret Matzenauer as the contentious Fricka and Walter Kirchhoff as a most unhappy Siegmund rounded out this unusually competent cast. Mr. Bodanzky conducted an orchestra that occasionally lapsed from grace.



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