New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-03-30
MUSIC.
wEBER's OBERoS.


The production of Weber's romantic opera
O, Oberon last night at the Academy OF Music was the
crowning feat OF Madame Parepa Rosa's somewhat re-
markabe season. Forty years ago used to be played
at the PARK Theater sort Of musical drama Except
in that imperfect and mutated form had never before
last night been heard in New York aud 1t had only once
been heard in the United States that was few weeks
ago at the Philadelphia Academy where was given by
the Same company sort OF dressrehearsa for the
performance in this city. Naturally therefore II crew
last night q very large audience, In which the musi-
cal culture Of New-York represented TO an
unusual extent Tho Ibretto Of "oberon." written
by Panche, follows with only distant and haltihg stops
the poem wielsnd's from which the plot is borrowed
There is this to be said It, that II is not absolutely
lnane and the music written for the words not
the words for the 1t presents, however, but
Ineffective story and confines itself 80 closely
the fairy machinery that there IS little OF that human
interest remaining which seems essential to an
| impressive dramatic composition. Wielands poem
is the story OF a Paladn who. banished I'M
justly by Charemagne ia forbidden to return until
he shall have performed unheard Of feats in the very
palace OF the Caph OF Bagdad and by the assistance OF
| the Fairy King Oberon, and the fundamentally OF a
magic he enabled to perform them His adventures
complicated with deeds OF knghty prowess,with the
love OF the Caph daughter with shpwreck. captivity,
other blessings and msfortunes, and are
crowned with triumphant return 10 the court OF his
| sovereign. In the opera have only the little affair
| at Bagdad, a trihng episode OF pirates, slavery,
and desert island, and great deal OF the enchanted
horn, with consequent irrupton 81 cOudbone fairies,
Sir Huon r Castle is the gallant knight. and the task
he has to do Is explained In the first by dialogue
between (Mr solIa) and Puck Miss Warden),
who are help him the enterprise. That task is to
enter Caph court at festival kiss his daughter
and cut off the head OF the intde Emir VINO shall be
found his left hand Weland to be sure. exacts Of
Sir Huon two other achievements, namely he
must persuade the Caliph to send Charlemacne
as mark of friendship four Of his teeth
| and "a lock his beard These conditions.
however. Mr.. blanche does not impose upon his hero.
| The killing Of an Emir OF course was trfe and
when remember that SU Huon sings tenor. tine kiss
ing OF the daughter Rei:G MADAME Rosa might seem
trihe too The real difficulty is getting safely home
again after this What audacious not to say rude.
behavior Here ObcrOn Puck, and the enchanted horn
to the The lovers go away somewhere in a
boat ReizqS maid Falima Mrs Segun does likewise In
company with SIR Huons squire SherdSmin tMr. Lau-
rence). They shipvrecked and found island
! by a OF pirates, who remark. BY Mahomet!
| here is splendid prize bag" and carry Rei=a
| of their chief. Sir Huop offers to fight them.
but suddenly feels tired aud goes to lie down little
while. He does not wake up for about a week. During
that interval Oberon has conveyed him to Tuns where
Fatma and Sherasmn already piung in slavery, and
Rei-a ia Just landing, consigned to the Emir Alman-ors
harem As matter Of course the quartet meet in the
hints objection 10 their all gong home to be married.
and bids has mnons bind the rascal and cut him into
small pieces Puck trips in sounds the enchanted horn,
aud sets whole OF Tuns adapcing SaltatOry spasms
OF the awful kind seize the fierce Emir himself
and clouds last shut In the scene while the turbaned
guards courers and female slaves in the turmoil OF
sort OF Arabic Shoe Fly. The mists break away, and
rosy visions OF bliss crown end OF SIR Huons troubles
Here is q theme any may see which invited the
composer the widest and most romantic strains, and
no composer could have been In sympathy with 1t
than Won Weber The music OF efand breathes through
every measure the lovely overture to the spirited
finale The popular accustomed to strictly rhythmi-
cal forms finds at first difficulty in catching the
meaning of 1t ALL but listens the beauties grow
distinct and the opera seems like lovely musical
reyery. There melodies, however upon which the
least cultivated rest with delight The opening
chorus OF the most etherealy delicate pieces IN
the modern operate reperory the duet for Resd and
Palma All. happy maId!" the hDales OF all the four
acts; Fafipa's arias "a lonely Arab maid" and "Oh
Araby, dear ,Araby;" the familiar Mermaids song a
duet between SherdSmi aud Idttma. and prayer of Sir
Huon's. certain TO be popular wherever they are
heard while the famous OF Relzas ocean thou
mighty monster" one OF the most magnificent
pieces Of musical defamation that know
J or. n, composition, this last number
grand, its delivery by Madame Rosa
Is not superb She has been heard before in this
city, and has always reused by it less enthusl
asm, but with the additional effects OF action and
scenery we think she makes OF her greatest tr
umphs In all that she did she admirable and she
added last night to her part the Mermaid song
which sung behind the Mrs. SeguIn is fortu
nate In this opera, as she in 1.-The Marriage OF
Figaro in having the most attractive arias and several
OF them and in having also part which gives opporu
nifty for piquant style OF acting She recalled
after her best pieces, and made all through
very decided hit. Mr. Castle sang his music
e1celenty, but in many scenes there IS need
without which the sounds nat, and here Mr. Castle
sometimes failed Mr.. Laurence in unusually good
voice the beginning OF the fourth act he introduced
song arranged from piano sonata OF Webers gave
it with excellent style and expression. Mr.. Hall, in
small part was really funny. Miss Warden had little to
sing Mr.. de sofia the only one whom We cannot
praise he had not much sing either few words OF
special praise due TO Mr. Carl Rosa for the admirable
playing Of the orchestra. which, In "Oberon" has in
deed splendid do. and something, too. must be
said Of the new scenery Of which there several
very effective SETS including by the seashore,
distant view OF Bagdad, Oriental river view looking
very much like the Canal and various places in
fairy land which are laid down the maps. There
were also and brilliant dresses, and most present
able array OF chorus singers. utility people. mlnions,
slaves dancing girls and all that sort OF thing.
THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC REUNION.
Il