[Met Performance] CID:98740



Siegfried
Ring Cycle [49]
Metropolitan Opera House, Wed, March 7, 1928 Matinee





Siegfried (139)
Richard Wagner | Richard Wagner
Siegfried
Rudolf Laubenthal

Br?nnhilde
Elena Rakowska

Wanderer
Friedrich Schorr

Erda
Karin Branzell

Mime
Max Bloch

Alberich
Gustav Sch?tzendorf

Fafner
William Gustafson

Forest Bird
Editha Fleischer


Conductor
Tullio Serafin


Ring Cycle [49]








Review 1:

Review of Pitts Sanborn in the New York Telegram

'Siegfried' Takes Its Place in the Annual 'Ring' Series

Elena Rakowska Strengthens the Cast with an Effective Br?nnhilde

In the appointed course of the annual "Ring" series "Siegfried" came in for its second performance of the season at the Metropolitan Opera House yesterday afternoon. Again Tullio Serafin conducted, and the orchestral execution was once more distinguished by the engrossing qualities of musicianship and dramatic expression that had made the earlier performance an unforgettable event. In particular, the last act, throughout which the genius of Wagner flames to high heaven, stood out in burning and irresistible revelation.

The cast gathered strength on this occasion from the presence of Mme. Elena Rakowska as Br?nnhilde. Vocally she was somewhat uneven. In the earlier speeches there were moments of effort and uncertainty. But even in the course of those nervous measures some phrases were delivered superbly.

By the time that Mme. Rakowska reached the "Ewig war ich," however, she had herself well in hand, and thenceforth the good prevailed. Her delivery was cast in the grand mould, and at times, especially in certain high passages, she attained a splendor of tone - an authentically Br?nnhhilde tone - that no other impersonator of the awakened goddess has approached hereabouts in many a long year.

She played the part, too, with intelligence and feeling, if more in the manner of the Latin stages than we are accustomed to in New York. The sublimity of Br?nnhilde, both in her first repulse of Siegfried and in her ultimate surrender, she showed that she comprehended her role . But her make-up - especially her wig - might be improved. Nevertheless, the sum total of her contribution was impressive.

Mme. Branzell did uncommonly well as Erda; Mme. Fleischer rather less well than before in her voicing of the Forest Bird. The men of the cast, Messrs. Laubenthal (Siegfried), Bloch (Mime), Schorr (the Wanderer), Alberich (Sch?tzendorf) and Gustafson (Fafner) were quite up to their customary levels.

Altogether this cyclic "Siegfried," if not in every respect perfect, was one of the outstanding artistic achievements of the current Metropolitan season.



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