The first week of New York's Metropolitan Opera traditionally gives debutant singers an occasion to be heard, boxholders an occasion to be photographed, critics an occasion to be lenient. Critics did not have to be lenient when, on Dec. 21, Manager Edward Johnson opened the season with a rattling good performance of Die Walkure. They were unable to be anything but enthusiastic when, two days later, Kirsten Flagstad sang Isolde with the miraculous freshness they had learned to expect from her. They were grateful to Manager Johnson for brushing up the ragged Met...
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