, 1873-12-14
GOUNOD'S NEW ACHIEVEMENT.

Writing from Paris, under 'lete Of Noy. IS, the
correspondent Of the London Daily 1e01rnrh
saya, Tho greatcst theatrical sueccas Of thu day
Is nnquestionably "Joanno Arc" producnd ut
tho Gnitc, 1t IL far nbovo tho avcrago Of tho
pioces for Which tlia theatro Is celebrated In
fact IL belongs to tho highest class NJ dramatic
art 1t lB q tlso-act tragedy i'll velao, and ia
onricl'od with music wrltton expressly ~ tho
ing lofty paco III ltaraturo and music, Jcat1le
u'Aro" PRESENTS III tho ,Mlycntitions attractions
which hayo mndo tho Cato tho most popular
tlra.re In Paris. Tho scenery Is admirably
picturesque !; there nro proceasio'a aud appari-
tfons to feast tho eye, MD thoro IL o charming
ballot to delight tho numerous cnAH OF people
wllo Gun appreciate no poet;.y ht Tue p9aty o.
tho piece. I hava heard "Joau1'e Fare" calieu
frcre religiuSe, md thore III sonlo trns' as wnll
rs much ili-luturr In tho humorous dutlnttion.
lady told Inc that when ss!e cao into tho tile
ntro III tho midst Of tho lnalo to tho second nct
aho thought tho opora was transferred to the
"Squaro dcs Arts OF ftotiers" while petit cypre
coniltic to INC hs confession tint whnt lie dis
liked was tho verse, because 1t reminded him oP
tho Theatre Fraucais-tlIo poor gonl1Icat1 having
no idea Of tho bitternola Of his own sur
castn against h!mBelf. havc not the
slightest intention Of innio.ing upon
your readers u list Of all tho phys Which lsavo
been written upon tho subject uf Joan OF Arc.
sr no nSy y bo sgSe o 9 I'll ' oeann 1iSe so
very low years after the martyrtlom Of the un..
happy heroine. Schiiera plny ip familiar to all,
attitlonts OF German literature, md It is proba-
bio that many pooplo may leco'!ect Milo. PATHS
appearance iii mail armor as tho only noticeable
feature Of Voreli's " Giovanna d'Arco." whon
this pretontlouH opera was produced Mt tho
Theatre Ventndour come five or six years ngo.
There mny nso be somo fow Englislhmen who re-
would not DO galvanized into lifo oven BY thu str-
pondoua goniuB Of tho grnat Rachel, whose yo11ng-
cut sistor now suAtains tho character in tho new
play ut tho Gnite. Nor need 1 attonlpt to
been strictly adhorod to in NJ. Burbior's story. 4
nero mention Of tue locality III WHICH each oct
tnKoH place will suffice to mark tho prosrcsa of
tho talo. The tirst actpassns in Jednne's cottage
ut Domromy. and 1t IL chio'ly iil!od by tho loYe-
making OF young sSain wl,o only mates one
ceting appearance In tho latter part Of tho plny.
Jeanne, of course, turns doaf ear to hia SUIT,
md her budding purpose Of joining tie armies
Of her King is strengthened by tue apparition OF
St. Margaret and s.. Catherine. who. clothed II,
long roles, approached her from above, and
breathe words Of encouragement iii her
ear. The appnrition il managed after
tho fashion OF tho. apothooss OF Gre'che,,
and tho two Bents sing o duct to tho accom-
paninolt OF organ aud Invisible chorus. Tho
musical part OF this bcono in written In styo
which N. Gounod has ,nado his own ntltl it
wonilE bo still moro efecllyo If ail tho singing
ing, tho oxtroulo realism Of thu appartion sorae-
.Slht tlotractcd from its impressivencss but tins
| objection would bo considered hypcrcrticul by
the great nlass OF spectators. 1n tho second act
| We nr1 at Ohnon mud VIC SEQ tho sau Hpcctnre
| OF Charles w. forgetting III the arms Of Agnes
Sorel tho inatilation of his country md tie sui-
| fortnEs Of his nub1 1ccts. Jeanne appears, and
| succeeds first in gaining tho Kings m1strcss on
or saS aa n stlinE a ihe Gn Sy
ja,s against tlo listonors ideal Of his heroine,
no less tlinn aSuinst history, in this jnxtaposl-
ton Of tho pure Maid Of Orleans atld tho courtc-
san, bur tho eccnc gvcs good opportunities OF
dcolamuriou to both. Tic uct opens with l'rct-
ty nllal aud choral rosraln. snng by payoi nlsfl
closes with magnificent lusrtial chorus, Dicn
lc veut," which excited genuine enthusiasm.
| Still moro mustery, and vustly more Original,
is tuo dance-innsc WHICH opens tho third net,
which takes place Oh the Bridge Of Orleans, tho
Gurtitications looming III tlo background. Tho
| soldiers sitg chorus with captal refrain.
| wl,ile their libnules dance highly character
ist,c ballet. festivities being occasionally inter-
ruptctl by the descent Of III arrow shot from tlo
English camp and the discharge of a
culSerin at tho aSgressoys. AL this
scene is admirably managed, ii. mock
nvral-proccssion celebrating tue denth OF o
cialIy clever. Tho not il ta'ten III, by serics III
discussions between Jeanne a1nl the yarious
French chiefs, whom she eventually suba,lcs to
her inspired will. The scone ~ brought to a
nowcrrnl conclusion by choral prnyer to tue
God Of DatsIeH. III tl1u fourth act wo are at
1itcilns, whelo tho King is about to ho crowned
Jeanne. oppressed With tho sollBG Of her coming
fate, meets her parents, aud is anxious to rotur
with them to her village home. But tho King
reminds her Of her oath not 10 rest tilt the encm,
il ropulsed from France. nnd le insistA Oil lel
entering the cathedral on his lott hnud, on II,
canal footing with his Queen. The secont
tablcau, reircsoating tic grand facade o.
tlc cathedral, IL ono Of the 1ineat I have
| ,rfi, nnfl In ttll0f
with the knights aud warriors, Tho Eagos at't
courtiora, WHO hnye marched ill., procession to tht
portp,, wiere they are met by thc rricats ant
iuccnBo-bearcrs, whle orchestra aad chorus ,jo1
| in trit1nlplMl coronation mnrch ts oxtitotyt!a.
rilv impressive. Tllo last uct, also. in the twt
tnilca,ix passen Mt Rouon. 1t opens in n plison
whore tic English soldiers ara indnlglng IN
spirited dtintEg chorus with q capital refinin
.sC'cst lnrgcnt do franco qni payera," whll'
Jeanne bolnd will chains. is asleep. Tile eaintcs
indos nguin appear to her in bodily form, chant
iug I. lynn, which II. Cou,loa las coyerl
woIAed in combination with tho song Of tl
10 mako tho lnuitlen rceunt hor !o1csiea
the oontlomnation'tn death by tire, nnd the t'na
, roy0ltiug attempt upon her virtue by Warwick
Lastiy, NO have tho actual funeral pyfo, oil th
n,arkct-place Of Noaci'-a inaryeluiAly well
devised scone. In tho mulcho fnnelno til
celestial melody OF tho annts IL effectively nlte.
nuted with tl,n principal Honbro, solemn phlase
Jfa,ao ii, bo,lr to tile stake, Tho tire il Lighted
. and, III tho e1ncs burst fort]l from under ho
foot, the louycns ahnye hor opoll, 1snt tliheoE
, | tic noble army Or mu1syrs waying their pain
brancllos in volcano Of their Bistct.
, Tho tcndcr will pcrcoiyo tilut "Jeanno d Arc
iB in reality mo1ern vtrato'l OF ! miracle ria
rot oil hX eyery necessary that can charm tl'
} higher oltler than lilo swoltand-blcklcr> plec
/ wl,ich It has succeeded, und,, IL it
, tlls!ig,red by excees Of digrehsyo r,'nto
It at least psoHonta III non'e iit:lt te nolot