New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-07-20
MUSIC.
RARBE BLUE.


We COPY from The Spirit0f the Times the fol-
towing outline OF the plot OF Oenbachs opera bOs Of
Blue Beard" which is to be produced tonight at Nib
los:
Contrary to the general impression Offenbachs opera
hero is malignant and turbaned Turk" but upon the
foundation OF said nursery st0rya piece OF French his
tory OF the period OF the ofusades which follows
certain lord In Brittany, named Gil de Retz possessed
Of strong castle and goody number OF sturdy menat-
Of his own species He was reported TO be in habit
enticing women and children into his castle.
.tence 81 Re was even supposed to DO addicted to
baths OF blood, and exercising his eccentric fancy In
e all9 nast@G Before the sh Council at Robnes as
the judges fear of this powerful baron's menatarms
overcoming their horror OF his crimes AZ length md
ca who represented In these days by the prosecuting
Judges with their oowardce and after working up the
hat The IndSes trembed lest thew shold suffer from
the peoples wrathhe changed the accusation and In
dicted the prisoner not as murderer but as sorcerer
burned alive. The plot Of Messrs Mehac & Haling's
hbretto is OF course burlesque upon TINS medleyal
boue they have arranged the matter TO suit the public
taste The opens village ia Brittany, upon the
estates OF Barbe Blue otherwise Gil do Retz and dis
covers pair Of rustic Overs-Fleurette dlle Lambele
and Prince saphir 0lle. Dardgnache Prince being Of
course, rustic In appearance simpiy-whO are
startled in their mutual expressions OF love and de-
vction by the appearance OF Bonlotte mile lrmal'
a shepherdess, who has become the slave OF an ex-
traordinaTy passion for Prince Saphr, who IN no
wise reciprocates the flame Shortly enter Popo
lani DIR Duchesnel, the achemst attached TO Blue
Boards suite and Count Oscar lSlr Lagrlhon, chief
courter at the palace OF King Bobeehe tNr Erancls
friends delighted at their unexpected meeting and
mutually explain the object OF their search. Popoan
comes to choose sixth for his master Blue Beard,
VINO this time wants virgin peasant girl VINO
daughters Count Oscar has come to seek the only
daughter Of the King Princess Hernia by name, who
was lost many years before, when quite q child At
this moment the villagers appear and POpoani
them draw lots for the honor OF his masters hand
and villa 80 rim rinr tho
shouts of cOngaulation, when Count Oscar recognizes
the basket in which the lots were drawn as one be
ownership thereof Fleurette Is indicated 10 him. The
villagers then go out at the Counts request leaving hln
conversation TO be the longlost Princess Hernia En-
chanted with his good Fortune he hurres her OF TO the
Court in palanqun provided for the purpose. AS the
procession moves up the mountain 1t meets Barbe Bleu
coming down, attended by his menatans He Is greatly
struck by the beauty OF the Princess, and determines
that she shall become his seventh wife. His sixth is now
presented to him by Popolan, and the curtain falls on
The first act The second at the Court OF King Bobeche
who discovers, the or conversation with Count
Oscar, great jealousy FOR his wife, Queen Clementne
Mile ueanne Duclos)n fact the Count has acted AS
his instrument in putting away five supposed suitors
OF This wife. The Princess Hernia incensed at
marriage de cOlreidHcc' which her papa has
ranged with certain Prince Saphir rebels against this
disposition OF her hand and heart ignorant that the
Prince is her whlom shepherd He arrives shortly and
her finding her lover in the person Of one she
thought her greatest enemy knows no bounds
great day Of ceremonies at the court and accord
Ing to custom the newymarred noDlemen present them
selves with their wives to kiss the kings hand When IL
the turn OF BOuotte and Blue Beard, however
she kisses the prince Delng SUN as ucu ennoreu vi
him before. This throws the whole court INTO cOnu-
sion which Is increased when she throws her arms
around the kings neck and kisses him on each cheek,
and rushes out followed by her husband ana the cries OF
Indignation from the courtiers. -,-,
The third act opens in the alchemists cave, where
Popolani IN sOloquy, tells that lie has been employed
by Beard destroy his wives as fast as he weared
Instead OF doing this however he has hidden
them In large room, purporting TO DO their tomb and
externally resembling one, his better nature rebelng
against the commission OF so many crimes Blue Beard
appears ard announces TO POpoani that Bouote must
die AT once ho intends 70 marry Princess Hernia be-
fore u o'clock that night that hour having been fixed for
her marriage with Prince Saphr POpOiani consents
luctanty and when Bouotte brought IN by the menat
administers 10 her sleeping draught, and Blue
Beard believing her dead sas forth 10 marry his seventh
wife. Popoani, however, Immediately reviyes Bou-
spring. dscOses the interior OF the aforementioned
tomb where the five preceding wives are discovered at
sumptuous repast He explains To them all that this Is
the proper time TO the King and inform him OF the
OF his subject, casting themselves upon His Ma
jesty for protection They accordingly set out disguised
40 the palace, where the marriage or Prince
Saphr aud tho Princess Hernia is about TO be con-
death of his sixth wife, aud claims the Kings daugh-
ter his seventh wife. Tho king, naturally enough re-
TO him that his army generally and his artillery partcu
lary In much better state than the royal one and
unless his demands are instantly complied WITH he will
under the unpleasant necessity OF knocking the palace
about the kings His Majesty Is dreadfully fright
ened this threat and is at loss 10 know what step TO
take when Prince Saphir deties Blue Beard 10 mortal
combat and the king declares the victor shall receive
his daughters hand.
The fight commences and being carried on with great
fury by the contendng parties when Blue Beard sudden
cries Police The Prince naturally looks around. and
Blue Beard, IN most ungentlemauly manner, stabs him
marriage he IL about TO proceed 10 the contamination
thereof when their attention arrested by the arrival Of
Oscar with tho six victims OF King Bobeehes Jealousy
all disguised Rypses. They finally throw OFF their
masks and discover themselves To the astonhed OF
the wouldbo murderers In order to finish tho piece