New-York tribune., 1871-04-07

knight, and insists upon knowing who he Is
Not 10 you viii I answer" p the kiighrs
repiy; seven tho Emperor aud all hi,
princes must refuse TJcro Is only ono whom
have no power 10 deny. E'sl. do yOu g.. st me :"
Lisa waver. Tie Emperor md the kno Is protest cir
confidence in LohonH.n. OrrJJa11 F.jeirleh redonbs
theireyli suggestions. Love ami fam triumph ~ last,
and the act closes to solemn move neut, ia which tn,
strains Of tho orgla within tho church mlagla Sia
the song Of the bridal party before t.ie doors
Tho introduction 20 tn last lcs 70 the well Known el.
ding music, and when tie crtalu we The pro
cesson its return from tho church osocrting tho
happy pair to the bridal CHAMBER r. guest NOV On
to tho strains OF the nupa sOag ana u dies ava, in
the distance th.ro follows a tendr loyc-lict u
far more delicate asi santm .ytI fiis0r taan
is usual In Wagncrs music. But eni3o jiy has
done the work which Orriis malice c0Ii aOt accom-
psh Elsa does Inl,trlsL hec love, but s. canDOt
bear that he shoul keep secret f.Jn ucr sac pEses
the forbidden question Before u f. src = Fisirch
and band OF dsaf ,cted mobiles bIss ItO tie apart
ment with drawn swOrls. Tlcy deceived the
knight cannot bo harmed b. tacm. Tlo C)uut killed;
the others sue for pirdOn. L,hengiu calls tlo ring-
women, and bids them conduct Esa to the Imperial
presence. "There viii answer ne a3ys, Ia sjsrOWfJi
tones, land show TER husbands rank"
The next scene, the German eneampmcnt tac banks
OF the ,heldt, opens with gr4nl ml.cI fOiJWol by
st grander address from the Emperor G, his arm,s,
and a patriotic Outburst from TIC as3oro1'e. hosts.
Hither come Elsa and the ulklJwn Knight IN f.low-
ing the action Of this last sccuc we racc inlend
all who may see 1t hereafter q turn their eyes
res0lutely away from the dreadful non suse which.
In the ubTetto sold ut the tlcatcr !s printed
under the false pretense Of being translation OF the
German text. The conclusion OF the story which We
have already outlined the disclosure Of Lob agrins
namo and rank the announcement that having
told his secret he must return al once 10 tic city
Of tie Holy Grail, and the sad parting o. tie hus
band and wife, are touching and poetic IN the
very highest degree Perhaps there are few hns finer
In all Wagners writings than the disclosure OF 1he
knights secret He tells the story of the Holy Grail in
a low voice recitative, bali spoken, nall sung while the
orchestra accompanies him in phrases coguen tI sug
sou but as the narrative proceeds The Intensity of tho
defamation rises reaching a clma1 Win &c npal
nouncelnent Of the name OF "LOaeugIn.' lie pro-
peses the victory OF the German arn and restores thu
missing Gottfried whom Elsa accused - ering
But far away in the distance IS hear again bc song Of
the Swan, the enchanted lss ap-a, upon tie river.
and with agonlzed cry Elsa bsnolls LJlCngrn borne
away to the celestial city, where
"All pall'd in crimson samitc and around
Great angels awful shapes and wings and eyes,"
the vessel OF the Holy Grail is watched forever by
hearted knights.
so end. an opera which, despite the Jack u clear
melody, despite the frequent slcra'e Of musical forms
to dramatic conceptions despite the hardness OF tie
phIaslng and the occasional mOnotcly Of important
scenes, prononnce OF the most elective OF
modern lyric compositions. That it owes greet deal
70 the beautiful legend with whose mystery 1t
is so fully In accord may be readily under
stood. great deal OF the charm of the poem
hangs about the music. and must have warmed tie
composers heart with unwontcd Tenderness, ana bent
his pen 20 unaccustOmed grace. great deal OF the
effect on the first night owing nlso to an
UNEXPECTEDLY good performance. TIE conductor, MI
Neuendor under whose direction the work has been pro
dueed has evidently bestowed upon both caro-" intel
ligence and enthusiasm, and the result D. al1i1ht IN
one 0f those spirited performances |nci arc SOHO
fines much more important for the success e. an opera
than the excellence Of individual sing rs In principal
artists who take part In the representation al the stat
Theater are so well known that no edbo 20 Criticism
upon them Is necessary. II Is enough O. 'y that NOT
withstanding all shortcomings, the gen :2 oiiect Is
even more than satisfactory and there 80 cons lc"ous
merits which we hardly anticipated. Nine L'chtm'y
executes the trying music OF her role witt fceuo'n ana
certainty. Mr. Habelmann is always at Lone IN
romantic characters and he natura ~ invests the knighI
of the Holy Grail with the charm OF n i'tnresqne
presence and graceful action. lie + wen -uied also
wth e msc & ana % on M0o1y nn Mr. WE Yeuporrs a sianos
in taking the difficult intervals, u on the hH ISn, o
exSasabIe mme. Frieferici has an ungra'c pas
yocay-that is TO 1t contains no music which eau
the dramatic writing and she i1t,rpI,s i SlJs
more praise for Intelligence, zeal diguihed bearing and
knowledge Of the music than for Ihelr yoees htuer oi
which was in the best of Trim TIE chorus Was lmper
feet on Monday, but will improve as II becomes more
familiar with its work The orchestra Is strength
ened with Of the best material IN the city,
aud Mr. Neuendorf enjoyed the first night the honor
of call before the curtain, which be richly deserved
There are some gorgeous dresses and tnrc' ven ar
ranged scenes and the stage bu,iL oss is all effectively
ordered.
The cast Of the opera Is as follows:
Elsa Mnc. Lichtmsy
Lohengrin ~, a. ,s l',rhg r
Emperor Henry the Fow er .........Nr FIlnosrh
Frederick Won Teramund. Nj. Elrrlng
Herald. W