With Kirsten Flagstad, Helen Traubel and Lauritz Melchior departed from the Met, Wagnerian opera has gone into one of its periodic U.S. declines. From eight productions (including the four-evening Ring cycle) in 1940-41, the Met's offerings of Wagner now run to only about three productions a season. Meanwhile, Wagner fans keep their ears peeled for heroic-voiced artists to build up the schedule again.
Latest hopeful is Philadelphia-born Margaret Harshaw, 41, who is gradually shouldering a greater load of heavy Wagnerian leads. Big (5 ft. 8 in.) and strong enough to brandish a spear handily and with enough stamina to last out a...
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