The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, April 8, 1905, Page 3

THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, SATURDAY, - MusicEnthusiastsNin GAY CROWDS THRONG THE BIG HOTELS Scenes of Gayety at the Palace and St. Francis. Society Holds Sway at Conclusion of Opera. Boclety folk thronged the Palace and St. Francis hotels yesterday afternoon &nd evening after the opera. The din- ing and grill of the two h morable sight as reds sauntered in to partake of diuner and supper uss Wagner's masterplece. The crowds began to arrive shortly 7, when the intermission of the pera took place. The men changed r efternoon clothes for evening gh the hour was yet early. 2ids and matrons looked re- in dazzling gowns and tted merrily to their escorts while | discussing the repast. | Dinner was served at the Palace Ho- | tel in the palm room and in the ladies’ | erill room. The crowd was so great ) that it was necessary to place tables | n the m grill room to accommo- the guests. The hotel presented lant scene while the repast last- | but shortly before 9 o'clock the | rowds began to file out, and in a few tes the place was well nigh de- rooms otels presented a the fashionable hu big and e of the opera, Again the big d again they meal was ocession to the sted for several Fra s was t at the and gold crowded it of people was party an and - rty, Mr. Keith and at the g and E J. B. Coryell Herman and man and party, { John Zeile and wn and party, ¥, Colonel M. H » briel Hynes and herman and party, F. W arty, Judge and Mrs and party e and party, 3 rty, J. J. Mack and and party, A.| Dr. W. Seward | nd Mrs. W. G. Mr. and Mrs. € and party, Senator G, L. | on and party, J. C. Baldwin Jr. and ¥, Fred C. Kohl and party, William | 1 and party, 2 McCor: y. W. T. | Bowers and party, A. L. Morgenstern | and party, C. E. Bundschu and party, | J. Lippman and party, Sterling Postley and party, Mr. and Mrs. Fremont Olda- | er and party and A. B. Butler and| party. i OPERA IS UIEWED FROM THE BOXES Prominent Society Folk See Initial Production of “Parsifal.” Sl e boxes of the twelve in the:Grand house are held by various thea- arties throughout the grand opera on. In the lower left hand box nearest the stage were: Mr. and Mrs. M. H. de Young, Miss Helen de Young 1 Miss Deane, Miss Constance de oung end Dr. Stewart. In the box side them were Mr. and Mrs. Eugene de Sabla, Leon de Sabla and Mr. and irs. Clement. On the right of the house nearest the . e were Mr. and Mrs. Busch, Miss 4Alexa Busch of Berlin and Mr. Peter Schuttler of Chicago. In the next box were Mr. and Mrs. James Flood and Or Party. On the left hand middle tier xg;nrest the stage were Madame Goelitz, T. Muhlmann and Mr. Hoemer. { They came | Then came Mr. Blass, { knight of the Gral | basso, i [ & lf\\\\ \ iy 18 | SCENE IN THE PALM ROOM OF THE PALACE HOTEL WHILE CROWDS OF GAY OPERA GOERS WERE DINING DURING THE INTERMISSION OF “PARSIFAL.” 7. formance the like of which one will never hear again. One wondered at first just what was the matter, for the play had the luck of the bad begin- ning. The trumpets at 5 o’clock sum- moned a crowd sleepy after the stren- uous opening of the evening before—it is anyway a difficult hour for enthusi- asms. Then the audience was sheep- ishly conscious as’to its gowning. Not & few care to see “Parsifal” as a spe- cial Lenten function. were gowned both afternoon and even- ing, and the rest thought they ought to have been. Then there was the in- evitable sag after the expectancy of the largely, lengthily heralded thing, and the first feeling of “Parsifal” was something akin to disappointment. Mr. Alfred Hertz, who made his debut as conductor here yesterday, at first had evidently not gripped his men. lazily to the beat. The brass happened in politely after the strings, the strings in turn fluttered in after the woodwind, and the rhythm was not. Conductor and men were evi- dently at odds, and one audaciously wondered at the Hertz reputation. magnificent in poise and dignity as Gurnemanz, chief Van Rooy, noble next, as Amfortas, the Followed then an in- t at Nordica's entrance came wounded king. tense mo | as Kundry, the orchestra treading more surely with each measure. And then came Alois Burgstaller, and with him, Ixh«' Parsifal, the reason for the agita- tion and uncertzinty of the perform- ance so far. I do not wish to hear another per- formance of “Parsifal” lfke Mr. Burg- staller’s last night. I never expect to hear one. Perhaps in the circum- stances the tenor could not have sung in any other role. Perhaps, and the greater the heroism, any other role would have been preferable. For, as Kundry sang to the “Parsifal,” “His mother grieves no more, for she is dead,” she sang to the one who only an hour or so before had learned that his mother would indeed grieve no more. It is difficult coolly to consider a performance in such circumstances. The simple heroism of the thing over- shadows for the moment any technical Neck-high these | considerations. But the role of Parsi- fal, sometimes heavily in@licted for its lack of humanness, held last night a weight of tears, a trembling note of grief that brought it pitifully into the human comedy. Small wonder was it that in the Cir- cean scene, the Kundry, half-maternal, half-siren, should accent the mother note. But Mr. Burgstaller, as he is a hero, is also an artist of the first rank. Perhaps he will never again get the plercing note of sympathy that his volce held last night, but it is a volce sufficient to the last demand for the role, smooth, resonant, flexible and splendidly dramatic. Perhaps Mr. Burg- staller will never agaln get quite the same divine uplift in his acting of the Wagner Messiah as he got last night, but there is evident a strong dramatic temperament and a personality singu- larly fortunate in the suggestion of the innocence and purity of the character. He, llke Van Dyck, is tremendously tall and broad in bufld, and should be an ideal Lohengrin. Nordica was the Kundry, and all her old brilllant, “radiant self. I have never heard her sing better than she sang last night, and I've heard a Brunnhilde or two in my time. In the temptation of Parsifal the singer lacks suppleness, lacks insinuation, 1cks what they say Fremstad has in high degree, the regnant deviltry of the character. She is not for a mo- ment the “Rose of Hell,” as Wagner calls her, only as she sings; never for a moment the Lilith woman, the Herodias, the conquering “strange woman” of all time. She is in fact rather a motherly sort of body, but magnificent looking at that, in auburn locks and shimmering silver gown. Her first act, when Kundry comes in clothed in skins, sullen and fiery, was again splendldly conceived and acted, and throughout the part was brilliant- ly sung. % After the temptation scene the re- calls were too numerous to count. The audience went crazy in good old Tivoll fashion, and shouted and stamped un- til it brought Mr. Hertz, delightfully awkward, but apparently very much pleased with the attention. Van Rooy was another among the new singers, and handsomely notable. His Amfortas was as near like life as it was possible to make it, and most EAUTIFUL GOWNS ADD LUSTER | Continued From Page 1, Column cleverly mediaeval and aloof from the rest. He sings in delightfully authori- tative and sympathetic fashion. Then came Mr. Goritz as Klingsor, the magician. Mr. Goritz gave a most ingeniously effective portrait in melo- dramatic key of the magiclan, singing brilliantly through the part. Mr. Blass was the Gurnemansz, and distinguished the role ‘to its utmost possibilities. As I have said, the prelude to ‘“‘Par- sifal” left one unsatisfied, but after- ward, through the Grail music, Kun- dry’s tender chant of the death of Herzelied, the procession of the knights, the sensuously enchanting musio of the flower maidens, the Good Friday music, the interest never waned. One has heard much of the evidences of waning powers in the “Parsifal.” It seemed yesterday the crown and flower of Wagner's genius. Perhaps the mu- slo has not the bite, the grip, the dra- matic majesty of some of the earlier work, but in the richness of theme, in the splendor of orchestration, and again in the subtle weld of scene and word and song, Wagner has done noth- ing more characteristic, nothing finer. <As a picture play nothing lovelier has been seen here. We got before dinner the lake at Montsalvat, the way there—with forest, tree and looming rocks moving before you—to the temple of the Holy Grail. The temple itself, with its fretted golden doors, marble pillars and vista on vista deepening into the distance, is an unforgettable picture. Here, Am- fortas, haloed from above, with the grail glowing like a huge ruby in his hand, stands.’ The magic garden, its blossoms changed into dead stick and leaf at the touch of Parsifal’s spear, is another lovely scenme. Everything, in fact, that can con- duce to illusion has been dome, except killing a real. swan in place of the canton flannel affair that they make such an unconvincing fuss over when Parsifal “kills” it. The flower girls, lightly garbed and lightly footed, look as well they sound. And Mr. Hertz condu to entire admiration. As to the religious side? Schopenhauer, the old Northern Sa- gas, the New Testament, the Vedas of India, such literature as the “Scented Garden” of Sir Richard Burton, the gospels of the early Christian fathers have all contributed to the curious hybrid philosophy of the drama. It is — I"PARSIFAL™ FINDS GREAT FAVOR WITH WESTERN AUDIENCE Continued From Page 1, Column 3. chiffon and white lace over pale green taffeta. Miss Marie Wilson, pale pink taffeta and white lace ruffles. Miss Emily Wilson, pale yellow silk and narrow -black lace insertion. Miss de Fremery, black lace gown with pearls and opals. Mrs. Herman Wicker, creme crepe gown with black satin opera coat. Miss Virginia Jolliffe, blue chiffon cloth gown and white straw hat. Mrs. J. G. Kennedy, green chiffon gown and blue hat. « Mrs. J. H. Plerce, black jetted lace gown and blue hat. Mrs. George Law Smith, white lace robe. ‘Miss Maude Smith, blue tulle gown, ruffled and trimmed with pink roses. - Among those present in attractingly beautiful gowns were the following: Mrs. Russell J, Wilson, pale blue taffeta, with overdress of white lace. again as distinctly mediaeval in fts | symbolism as “Everyman,” while at the same time as distant as the poles from that warm-human brusque, full-; blooded miracle play in its atmosphere. The miracles of “Parsifal” are too veiled, alien, non-human, to wound the most delicate religious sense. Kundry washing the feet of Parsifal offends no more than would a pictured Magdalen washing the feet of Christ in the east window of a cathedral. The Knights of the Grail at the breaking of bread are more humanly aloof than the painted apostles in the Rubens “Last Supper.” In fact, even as far as the scene of the dove descending upon the head of Parsifal almost the whole music-drama impresses as a series 04 wonderful moving pictures set to mu- sic. The only situation in which the play becomes dramatic and human is the temptation of Parsifal, and even here Kundry is the incarnate “strange woman" of the centuries, a type rather than a personage. Altogether ‘“Parsifal,” by any ad- mirer of Wagner, any lover of music, cannot be missed. e Pearls and ruby necklace. Miss Florence Turner, white lace robe over pale blue chiffon, forget-me- nots about the bodice. Miss George Graham, pale pink peau de sole. Diamond hair ornament. Mrs. F. H. Short of Fresno, white peau de sofe, chiffon and lace. Opera coat of white broadcloth. Mrs. Oscar Mansfeldt, pale gray satin chiffon, with band of narrow black- ribbon velvet. Mrs. C. Frederick Kohl, pale blue embroldered silk bodice with walking : skirt of black plaited chiffon cloth. Miss Flora Stern. pink chiffon and roses. 2 Mrs. Turnpaugh, embroidered white crepe de chine. Miss Laura Musto, white mousseline. Miss Florence Musto, white crepe de chine. Mrs. Frederick S. Greenlee, black lace over white. Mrs. Harry J. Lask, white chiffon with embroidered chiffon ruffles. Mrs, F. A. Silton, black net and M-i feta. Mrs. George Boyd, white chiffon sat- in with bands of satin. Mrs. S. W. Marsh, old gold brocade and Chantilly lace. Mrs. R. E. Ladd, white and pale blue ! crepe with bands of narrow white lace. Mrs. Eugene de Sabla was very hand- | | as Mozart's gle tith Fasbionable Throng FOLK IN FOYER TALK ABOUT . WAGNER. i — Continued From Page 1, Column 5. ter and the mechanical and illuminative effects serve to interest those benighted ones who are not qualified to relish Wagner for Wagner's sake alone—for the art there is in Wagner's music—but whose dollars are essential to the pay- ment of salaries. But the time is com- ing when all men and women will de- rive more enjoyment from listening to ‘Wagner with their eyes closed than can possibly be imparted by scenic accesso- ries. When that time comes all men and women wiil approach a perform- ance of ‘Parsifal’ with reverential spirit and there will be no need of suppress- ing noise.” With those words the long-haired gentleman finished his beer and depart- | | ed, to absorb the third act through his auricular organs alome, and a small man of swart complexion puffed a | cigarette of similar hue and disdain- fully said, “Rot!"” He then likened the performance of “Parsifal” to a season of silent prayer, and declared that if it weren't for his wife's new cloak and her desire to display it he would have been somewhere else at that moment. “Yet you impress me as a lover of opera,” I said, noting his Latin nativ- ity. “Of opera, yes,” he said, “but surely this sort of thing camnot be classified with opera as the term is applic1 out- side of Bayreuth. Don't understand me as being prejudiced against the German school of music. Good opera has come out of the Fatherland—sudh ‘Don Giovanni” or Von Weber’s ‘Die Freischutz—but Wag- nerism can never be universally as- similable. I have no fault to find with the singing, the instrumentation or the staging of this ‘Parsifal’ production. It is the opera itself that wearles me. It is unnecessarily tedious in its | present condensed form, and heaven | only knows what it must have been before the condensation was accom- plished. The music themes are too long drawn and the action is too draggy. The story could be just as comprehensively told in one-half the time now consumed in its narration. ‘Wagner’'s greatest fault was his in- ability to know when to stop. Another | glass of Chianti, Mr. Bartender.” It was “Noo Yawk's” edict that the proper feminine apparel for witness- Ing “Parsifal” consisted of skirt and shirt waist, but San Francisco did not unanimously bow to the mandate. Many gleaming shoulders were in evi- dence last night, and in the entr’acte | promenade not a shirt waist was visi- | ble. The masculine lobbyists were of a species different from that which strutted its fifteen minutes between the acts of “Rigoletto” the previous evening. Heavy swelldom was less conspicuous, and music culture nfore dominant. In the preservation of the “reverential atmosphere” neither Queen Nicotine nor King Alcohol was utterly neglected. e il Miss Hammond, pale blue mousse- line de sole, with large picture hat trimmed with pink ostrich plumes. Baroness von Schroeder, superb robe of sapphire blue satin, with overdress of spangled net. Corsage decked with beautiful diamonds. Miss Alice Hammond, gown of pale pink lace trimmed with pink roses. Mrs. Mark Gerstle, stunning gown of heavy white silk, covered with a mass of silver spangles. Diamond ornaments in coiffure and diamond necklace. Mrs. Henry Jones of Tacoma, gown of spangled black net and opera cloak of pink trimmed with ermine. Miss Maylita Pease, gown of white silk profusely trimmed with rose point lage. Beautiful pearl comb in coiffure and neck chain of pearls. Miss Marie Creighton, lovely gown of white lace trimmed with pale green. Opera cloak of Nile green silk and lace. Miss Helen Jones, dainty frock of deep pink lace and picture hat with pink ostrich feathers. G 3 B Carriages Well Handled. To the efficlent work of Sergeant Gorman and his squad was due the absence of confusion in handling the carriages. Carriages from the larger stables and carriage companies were instructed, after discharging their loads, to take a position facing up Mission street from the direction of Third, while private conveyances were lined up down Mission from Fourth. The arrangement enabled two hack loads to be taken away at once and the crowd was speedily disposed of. Runners from the carriage companies took care of their customers, while Sergeant Gorman handled the privats conveyances. —_————— It must be lots of fun to be s rich you don't have to spend a cent ta prove it. e —————————————————— NORDICA T0 THE EVERETT PIANO CO, The EVERETT PIANOS you have from time to time so kindly placed at my disposal I need not extol. They are too great to require my indorse- ment and commend themselves by their most delightful action, . noble some in a white chiffon satin _with | tone and the wonderful singing or sus- pearls and diamonds. Opera coat of taining quality, which supports the pale cream cloth. Miss Frances Jolliffe, pale blue panne velvet and white obera codt. Mrs. Walter Hobart, pink satin chif- fon with bands of white satin, steel gray embroidered opera coat. Mrs. Francis Sullivan, white crepe de Paris with embroidered French knots. Miss Lou Scott, pink taffeta and white lace. Mrs. Frederick Stevens, white silk crepe with pearl ornaments. 8 Mrs. Alexander Stewart of Oakland, cream crepe de chine with heavy lace galloons. Mrs. A. B. Hammond, - magnificent gown of white lace. Tiara of dla- monds and diamond necklace. voice beyond any point I have known. LILLIAN NORDICA. CLARK WISE & CO., 126 Geary Street Exclusive Agents. ‘We are still selling the balance of our stock of Weber Pianos AT COST ‘Having discontinued the for this instrument. The is now our LEADER. s See what we are $295, 2247, 3266, 3244, 3195, 3146. 3108