News

Cambridge Residents Slam Council Proposal to Delay Bike Lane Construction

News

‘Gender-Affirming Slay Fest’: Harvard College QSA Hosts Annual Queer Prom

News

‘Not Being Nerds’: Harvard Students Dance to Tinashe at Yardfest

News

Wrongful Death Trial Against CAMHS Employee Over 2015 Student Suicide To Begin Tuesday

News

Cornel West, Harvard Affiliates Call for University to Divest from ‘Israeli Apartheid’ at Rally

"DIE WALKURE" TO BE GIVEN IN YALE BOWL THIS EVENING

Gadskl, Shumann-Heink, Kurt, Sembach, and Metropolitan Orchestra in Production.

NO WRITER ATTRIBUTED

Wagner's opera, "Die Walkure," will be presented in the Yale Bowl at New Haven at 7.45 o'clock tonight. Mr. S. Kronberg, of Boston, who staged the performance of "Siegfried" in the Stadium a year ago, is in charge of the affair, which will be conducted along the same general lines as was the opera last June, but enlarged. Many noted singers are to take part,-Mme. Johanna Gadski as Brunhilde; Mme. Schumann-Heink, as Fricka; Mme. Melaine Kurt, as Sieglinde; M. Johannes Sembach, as Siemunde; Clarence Whitehill, as Waton; Carl Braun, as Hunding, and other Metropolitan stars.

The expenses entailed by the production of the opera will be well over $25,000, including cost of the stage lighting effects, stage settings, scenery, and many minor details, all of which will result in one of the most brilliant and spectacular effects in the history of opera staging in this country.

The stage will be 90 by 25 feet, and the proscenium arch will have an opening 80 feet wide, half as wide again as the opening of the largest operatic stage in the world. The size of this opening insures a perfect view of the stage from every side of the Bowl. Every one of the 20,000 spectators will have an equal opportunity of hearing the performance.

Curtin to be of Steam.

Perhaps the most interesting feature in the construction of the stage is the steam curtain. A pipe will extend across the entire front and whenever a curtain is needed the steam will be released from openings in the pipe, forming a curtain-like cloud from the foot of the stage, rising to a height of 40 to 50 feet. The effect will be that of a drop curtain.

The stage has been shipped to New Haven in sections, hundreds of pieces being required to contain the various parts which were so designed that it took only six hours to set up the entire stage, complete in every mechanical detail and ready for the performance.

The lighting of the improvised opera house will cost $600 or more. Experiments have been made daily, so that the desired effects may be obtained.

Stage Close to Audience.

In commenting on the production Mr. Kronberg said, "As to the coming performance of 'Die Walkure,' I can say that many technical difficulties have been solved by the aid of previous experience.... In the Harvard Stadium last year the stage was 425 feet away from the first row of seats. While this still permitted the audience to hear the singers perfectly, the orchestration was not loud enough. This time the structure of the Bowl allows the stage to be placed within a short distance of the audience and the defect in orchestration has been corrected by the addition of more violins. The number of pieces in the orchestra will total 102. In addition to this the orchestra pit has been constructed over a hollow wooden structure which acts as a sounding box. Another innovation is a curved screen, in front of the footlights, which will throw the volume of sound to the last row of seats. To insure an unobstructed view of the singers by those on the side seats an apron has been extended nine feet out from the front of the stage and upon this most of the singing will take place. The scenery will be placed some distance in the rear of the stage proper. In this way a perspective may be obtained such as is not possible in an ordinary theatre."

Want to keep up with breaking news? Subscribe to our email newsletter.

Tags