Opera at the Metropolitan Opera House: Siegfried

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Event Type: Opera
Conductor: Anton Seidl
Performers: Metropolitan Opera House Orchestra and soloists [see below].
Date and time: November 9, 1887 at 8 p.m.
Venue: Metropolitan Opera House

Program

Siegfried     Richard Wagner

Siegfried	Max Alvary
Brünnhilde	Lilli Lehmann
Wanderer	Emil Fischer
Erda	Marianne Brandt
Mime	José Ferenczy
Alberich	Rudolph Von Milde
Fafner	Johannes Elmblad
Forest Bird	Auguste Seidl-Kraus
Director	Theodore Habelmann
Set Designer	Johann Kautsky [Debut]
Lighting Designer	James Stuart, Jr.

Notes 

This was the first production of Siegfried at the Metropolitan Opera House. (1) (5)

While this was the first performance of the opera in the U.S., it was not the first time that the music was performed.  William heard the third act of Siegfried in a symphonic setting at Steinway Hall with the Symphony Society on April 17, 1880 (in the diary he mistakenly refers to it as Götterdämmerung). 

The three newspapers cited here (The New York Times, New York Daily Tribune, The Musical Courier) all gave very detailed explanations of the plot of the opera.  (2, 4, 5)

Performers, director and designers are listed in the Metropolitan Opera House archives. (4)

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The New York Times carried an ad for the opera on November 11, 1887.  (6)

Reviews 

The Musical Courier noted that at this performance, as well as the subsequent performances on November 11 and November 14, “the large building was crowded from pit to dome” and “triple recalls of the artists after each act and genuine enthusiasm were the order of the day.”  The reviewer praised Anton Seidl’s “inspired and inspiring guidance” and noted that next to him, the tenor Max Alvary “deserves the lion’s share of encomium.”  (5)

The New-York Tribune noted that “the Metropolitan people have followed good models and the spectacle in the first act was as excellent as can be found anywhere in Germany.”  Mr. Alvary was praised for his “splendid vigor and freedom of movement.” José Ferenczy’s impersonation of the character Mime was “a pleasant surprise.”  Emil Fischer was “splendidly musical and dignified,” and Rudolph Von Milde “did as much as was possible with the insignificant part which “Alberich” has to play.”  Of Lilli Lehman the reviewer said her “apostrophe to the sun was sung with thrilling power, while the struggle between pride and dawning love had most eloquent exposition.”  Of Mr. Seidl, the reviewer said “Love, knowledge, devotion and enthusiasm were the mainsprings of Herr Seidl’s efforts.”  (4)

The New York Times noted that “Herr Alvary is scarcely an ideal Siegfried, yet his performance last night was surprisingly good.  At times it was more than good.  The young tenor looked the part, save in stature, and sang it with vigor…”  Of Mr. Ferenczy,  the reviewer said “though he sang the part execrably, he atoned for it in part by good acting.”  Mr. Fischer’s performance was “noble,” and Mr. Von Milde and Johannes Elmblad were “acceptable.”  Miss Lehmann “scored a veritable triumph through her magnificent singing and acting.”  Auguste Seidl-Kraus sang “tolerably.”  This reviewer also commented on the audience saying “There is no doubt whatever that the brilliant array of society people in the boxes were extremely bored by “Siegfried” as they are by all of Wagner’s operas.  One-half of the remaining members of the audience appeared to be Germans and they profess to be disgusted with anything not Wagnerian.  The remainder of the house was made up of those Americans who have learned to like German opera.  The listening part of the audience was unquestionably well pleased with the production, which may be set down as a success.”  (1)

The New York Times subsequently wrote of the production itself, that its mounting was “quite as good as that of many plays which are heralded for months in advance as something extraordinary in respect of spectacular attire…”  The reviewer went on to praise the sets, lighting and sound effects. (2)

[dcp/cfl]

Sources

1. “Amusements:  Another Wagner Opera,” The New York Times, November 10, 1887, p. 4.
2.  “Amusements:  Metropolitan Opera House,” The New York Times, November 12, 1887, p. 4.
3.  Archives of the Metropolitan Opera, http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/frame.htm
4.  “Music:  Wagner’s Siegfried,” New-York Tribune, November 10, 1887, pp. 4-5.
5. “Siegfried,” The Musical Courier, November 16, 1887, pp. 319-321.
6. “Siegfried,” The New York Times, November 9, 1887 p. 7.