MUSIC
COVENT GARDEN OPERA
[THE THIRD PERFORMANCE OF " TRISTAN:1
Fon the third and last performance of Tristan of the present Covent Garden Season, Gertrud Kappel was the " Isolde." It was inevitable that we should compare her performance with that of Frieda Leider. From the point of view of pure singing Leider gave us a greater sense of security, although in the last act Kappel sang with beautifully modulated tone. As an actress she convinces more by physical compulsion than by intelligent movement. Her arm gestures were parti- cularly disturbing. In short, her performance was big without being great. The most impressive singing of the evening came from Luisa Willer as " Brangane." Here was the art of sostenuto perfectly displayed. If Rudolf Laubenthal had supported his unruly voice half so well, his " Tristan " would have been memorable. Herbert Janssen's " Kurvenal " was finely done. And the production ? Well, we have submitted so long and patiently to insults that we have lost the moral right •to protest. But, even now, can we not destroy for ever that devastating 4` business " during the working of the love-potion ? We associate love with welling youth and -a great power. To " Tristan " and " Isolde " it never fails to bring a kind of creeping paralysis.
Elam MAINE.
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