New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-03-24

.,rance mower: louder and louder they grow; anu
however many voices or separate songs ne hears'
thu oyerpowerng clear swelling sound appears as
a.. ono great forest-melody. This melody viii
never cease to haunt him but repeat 1t OF mum IL
ia cannot: TO hear it again he must return to the
woods on Summer night. Would it not be folly II
be were to catch sweet woodbrd, so as TO tram IL
at homo TO whistle fragment of that great forest
nelodyi And what would ne hear if he succeeded
which melOdyw
"Ioheugrin" does not represent tho full develop
ment of Wagnor's principles, for he has departed
still further fom the Older models in Tristan una
Isolde" and further again in the Nibelungen tetia'-
ocy and he believes in the possibility OF lnuenQ''o
progress in the same direction Stl u ILLUSTRATES
all those points of his theory which we nave uo
scrihod above and furnishes complete key TO that
strong and growing tendency in modern music
which we know as Magnetism The nero IS one Oh
4he guardians of the Holy Grail and the legehd OF
Che bringing of this precious cup TO earth Dy anges
who commit it 10 the custody of chaste ana fath1ui
knights is the subject of the beautiful ana famllar
Introduction. The long, soft chords in A MAJOR.
a,nnded in the highest octave of the vio-
Tins. give place after few measures
"a an exquisite melodious phrase, which
Wagner styles the Grail Motive" and which runs
In various forms and changes all through the OPERA
like one silver thread penetrating and combining
with the diversified figures of elaborate brocade
s.The slender sound as from distance beyond dis
t,nce grows" and it is not difficult to imagine the
pctnre which Wagner tells this overture was in
fended to present, of angel forms floating down
from the far off heaven with the sacred vessel IN
sbeir hands light and harmony gathering around
them ,,,.
Three angels bear the Holy Grail,
with folded feet in stoes or white,
On sweeping wings they sail 5"
until with an outburst of all the splendors OF the
orchestra the Cup Of the Lords Supper is revealed
60 the world; and then the music fades. and the
heavenly hosts recede. Tho curtain rises upon
6eld on the banks of the Schedt, where Hing
Henry of Germany has assembled the mobiles OF
Brabant and Saxony to consult with them upon
affairs of state. the scene opening with procarna-
ton by the Herald. In this council Frederick ron
TeIramund accuses his ward, Elsa of Brabant of
the murder of her brother, and claims the govern
ment of Brabant for HIMSELF partly as the next OF
kin, partly in right of his wife Ortrad. Elsa is
summoned TO trial, and the voice Of the Herald
brings to close a scene which contains no rbythmi
cal movements, bat an abundance of vigorous dra-
matte writing III the style which Wagner subst-
tutes for the conventional recitative Elsa
now appears, with her train Of fe
male attendants and the instrumental
gentleness aud grace introducing new motive
which recurs again and again in the most beautiful
manner in subsequent scenes Called upon for
her defense. Lisa tells. in exquistely melo-
dous strains. of knight whom she has
seen in dream ard in whom she will
trust as a champion. He is twice called by the
Herald, in the midst OF a superb cOmmingling of con-
trasted phrases-the prayers of Elsa the reproaches
of Frederick the ordinations of the people, and
the bare of arumpets on the stage. As Elsa
utters the last words of her supplicatIon the
accompaniment suddenly passes into q modif-
cation of the Grail Motive; tho people call out
in surprise; far off on the river. o boat is
deserted. drawn by swan. and bearing knight
with flowing haxen hair and white plume
and shining armOr. AS 1T comes nearer Elsa
recognizes the hero of her dreams; the music
changes to a magnificent chorus of wonder and ex-
ultation. and LOheagrin steps upon the shore.
There is moment of silence. and then
Lohengrin d,smsses the swan in the beautiful
melody so familiar to us through Mr.. Thomass con-
cert selections. Accepting the wager of battle and
pighting his trOth to Elsa who is TO be the prize of
victory, LOheRgrid explains to her in a solemn and
impressive passage the condition of their union
she must never ask whence he comes nor what is
his name and when she gives the promise he
breaks forth into rapturOus exclamation of
love. which actually thrills tho house. An
invocation by the King leads into THE famous
quintette and chorus, which has always seemed to
US the most nspirting composition OF Its kind in all
contemporary musc-a composition whose effect is
altogether Undesirable. Frederick is Overthrown in
the conflict but his life IS spared, and the first Act
ends with q second grand quintette and six-part
chorus.
The second Act represents the citadel of Antwerp.
7 ia nj The windows of the Dalace illumi-
patod and festive music is heard within. Ortrud
and Frederick, crouching on the steps, abased and
consuming with rage upbraid each other for their
joint msfortunes, and Ortrud. who seems to repre-
sent the dabolcal principle in the drama. discloses
her scheme of revenge which is to fill the mind of
Elsa with doubts and fears until she has asked the
forbidden question. 1t is scene Of extraordinary
dramatic truth ard vgor and of enormous technical
difficulties Elsa, appearing at the balcony, sings
charming little meditation, and is afterward
costed by the treacheYOus Ortrad, whom she CON-
passonstely invites to her apartments the scene
closing with exquisite duet, marked motto
nanq,dllo ma non leatO There is now
grand spectacular scene as day breaks the trumpet
sounds from the tower the soldiers and people issue
into the square, and the Herald attended by his
trumpeters announces the outlawry of
Frederick and the approaching marriage
OF Elsa and the Unknown, henceforth
TO be styled Protector OF Brabant. The familiar
Professional Music occurs here the long train of
women issues from BlSas apartment and files along
the gallery and around the square toward the church
Ortfxd forgetting her feigned humility, attempts to
take precedence of Elsa at the door of the sacred
building tsunts her with not knowing her hus-
bands name, and accuses the knight of practicing
magic arts. The entrance of tho King and Loheng,in
with gorgeous reinue, and of Frederick, who comes
to repeat the charge of witchcraft, completes the
drauo,;o o,.o,,IIa TnLe,or,a diada IN dafapd