The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-06-07

giants do not understand how to use the power
they now possess in the wonderful ring. The gods
and goddesses rejoice ~ seeing Freya again in
their midst. They gaze on the glowing pinnacles
or Walhalla whose halls are prepared for their
ception. Thor swings his hammer and evokes
with II a rainbow bridge, spanning the valley 10
the burg, on which the divine family proceed TO
Walhalla. The curtain falls on this brilliant scene
This, In brief. Is the sketch OF 'Rheingold." The
drama proper commences on the following even.
ing with
"rHE vALKYR"
From the Palace OF walhalla the gods rule the
world, regulate the elements by wise laws and
take care OF the human race But the
gods are conscious OF having attained
their power through fraud and injustice:
they deprived the Nibelungs OF power
and freedom, and the ring and the hoard lie USE
less In the dragons cave. They wish to do pen
ance for the SIM and to this end viii give some OF
their power to mankind Mighty races have
sprung up, descendants OF the gods; in conflict
and battle they gain strength. Odin's wish
madens the valKyrs protect them as shield-mald-
ems, and bear the dead braves home TO Walhaila,
where, in Udin's presence, they live on glorious
life. The nero Is not yet born however, for the
purposes OF the gods. He is to spring from the
race Of the Waelsungs. Finally twins are born
Slegmund and Sieglinda tbrother and sister,
direct descendants Of Odln. Siegmund takes q
vile, and Sleghnda marries Hunding. Both mar
riages unfruiIful. 1t Is the will OF the gods
that the Waesung blood be kept pure.
Siegmund and sieglinda love, aud SiegIried,
the dragon destroyer, Is born. The first
scene in .Die Walkuere" shows US the
interior OF primitive dwelling. in the
middle OF which rises a giant ash whose branches
spread over the roof Outside the storm is raging.
storm.beaten traveller enters the house. 1t is
S,egmund. Sieglinda shows him great kindness,
not knowing him to be her brother. Hunding
arrives, moody and jealous, and he learns from
the stranger that he is Waelsung Brother and
sister know each other. Seglinda signs for re-
lease from the despotsm OF her husband, and
Siegmund, knowing the old prophesy OF good
hero who should spring from pure Waelsung blood,
greets her las bride and sister nine" He escapes
with her, and Hunding follows to take revenge.
BRUNNHILDA, THE vALKYK.
region, where Odin, clad as or battle and Brunn.
.hllda his avorite valkyr. also fully armed appear.
Odin bids her give victory TO Siegmund therefore
about TO depart, however, Frlcka approaches in
her wagon drawn by two rams. She, IS the pro-
ing be revenged and siegmund and
Sleginda punished. At first Odin refuses; but he
aan p gves way Inc next
portance. odin IS fearful OF the approaching end
to tie Rlories OF the gods He Is deslrous that the
knows that only the hero who should spring from
Siegmuad and sieglinda can do this But he
obeys the wish OF Pricka and bids Brunnhilda go
and give Hunding the victory. The next scene is
the most powerful Of the evening. We see Sieg-
mgnd and s sic tired a and weary from the
Hunding. Brunnhilda appears and announces to
Stegmund Odin's decision. Siegmund despises the
him thither. Hunding appears in the background.
siegmund hastens TO meet him. They engage in
With her shed in dsoee
dience Of Odin's commands. She knows the hearts
wish OF Odin is that Siegmund be preserved; but
the old god has, nevertheless, sense OF justice.
Just as Siegmund Is about TO strike Hunding .
deadly blow. glowing red glare breaks through
the clouds tnat have gathered about the combat
ants Odin appears standing over Hundinp. and
with his spear breaks Slegmund's sword The de-
ienceless waelsung Is killed BY Hundlng. Brunh-
TO Siegnnda and bids her nee with her. She taxes
her in her arms, and both disappear. The clouds
ness on the slain Slegmund. He turns TO Hunding
and bids him tell Fricka that Odln's spear has re-
Odin then turns In wrath to look for Brunnhida.
The scene closes.
THE vALKYRs SPEEDING TO wALHALLA
In the opening scene Of the third act we see in
a mountain region a number Of valkyrs at rest.
They gaze over the landscape awaiting their sis.
reenlng through the clouds, each bearing fallen
warrior on their saddles. They are on the way TO
Waaaa wn ona aeir BOOTY Seven are faere
qaI.0plnG through the air but, instead
OF a dead Warrior, she bears with her female
form-Sieglinda. Dtsmounting from her steed
sustaining Sleglinda on her arm. she approaches
the group OF her sisters and asks them to give her
a fresh steed for Odin Is pursuing her: but her Sis
tiers, fearing Odin's displeasure refuse. Sieglnda
pleads to be Killed BY the hand OF Brunnhilda; but
the valkyr tells her that she bears within her q
s'true Waelsung." Sieglinda gains courage ana
strength on hearing these words and prepares to
there where the giant Fafner guards the hoard
and the rlng-ior tnat Is the only place which Odin
niva hor 2iay hrnk wnrd
and tells her that the child she will bear will some
day weld it together again and that. that he shall be
thanks the Valkyr and departs.
THE APPROACH OF oDIN
M Is The G before the
hilda conscious OF her disooedence, falls at his
feet, saying Here. father, utter my sentence"
Odin announces her fate. she is expelled the
society OF the gods. Her powers as WalKuere are
taken from her. The other Vakyrs leave the
scene and Odin ana Brunnhilda are alone. Odn
pronounces the sentence. .'Here, on this noun
tain, Danish thee; in delenceless sleep | close
thine eyes. The man who finds tnee on the way
can wake thee, and thou art his" Brunnhilda
sinks TO the ground aghast. She raises her head
to Odn and asks If her sin is great as to deserve
she not do what he, the God, wished in his own
hearth She had understood only to love what he
cannot retract the sentence. But, at Brunn.
hllda's pleading, he promises to give her
protection IN her sleep, to surround her rocky
couch with fire, so that only the bravest hero can
awaken her. The leave taking OF Al-Vater Odin
from his favorite yaKyr is a beautiful and even
affecting scene. Deeply moved, Odn kisses both
her eyes. which sink together; he leads her TO
messy hIllock, ABOVE which broad-pranched pine
rises, and under IT he places his burden Once
more he gaZes, full OF sorrow upon her, closes her
helmet and covers her with the steel shield OF the
ValSyri. Then, turning away, he invokes the fire
ing flames. O1ln leaves the scene slowly. and as
the names shoot up around the sleeping Brunn-
hlda the curtain fails. Thus ends the second day
OF the tking.r
] have seen these two music dramas performed.
The two following have not been put the boards.
In the two foregoing evenings we are introduced
to the 'Siegired,o whose adventures are told in
the '.Nibeungened.u Without this Introduction
the Stegfried legend would be fragmentary and In
comprehensive NEUROLOGICAL symbolical charm
Is lent TO the entire Ring by the scenes we have
attempted to describe. | shall endeavor to tell
the story OF the two following portions as briefly
as Is possible and yet do justice to the subject.
sTEGFRIED THE THIRD DAY..
In the opening act OF the third day 5egfred ap-
pears-a youthful, heroic form. Seglinda reached
the smIthy OF Mime Aberch's brother, and died.
after Siegiried's birth, first committing to Mime