New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-02-01
Opern-TEe NeIusko of Devoyod,

we shall take occasion to remark che stand.
ard OF = new school OF composition and
Instrumentation. BIT. = possesses a meri.
approaching TO .ha. ot the hishes: ira red V.
The merit is n.t HneQualIv iiy!ded-we
may ay-distr.5uted between M.ve.bear.
Scribe ana thos. artistic. wao :, u.e :.
French term. ''create the caa- .ctecs." The
Immense augmentation o: orchestra! and
choral effect. of Meyerbeer and hi. follow.
ers. GoHnod and Ne!mentau. with the thun-
deroUs Herman professors who have beaten
/ pianos TO pieces II illustrations and yaria.
sions o: ,has. writer's. have SO entirely
changed the style OF the earlier. and per.
| haps more meOdious composers. that really
| when one returns 20 hear 'Don Juan o.
LA Dame Blanche after Faust" LAfri-
caine" OK "Eo'ani." one feels. az may be
supposed. an inebriate. who. having gone it
too strong on fourth proof Seignette brandy
| straight, has been condemned to . course of
! weak gros
Certainly ~ sIo'i perfection .. melody
| and harmony can be imagined in mortal
! execution as the yoea. solos and the instru.
I menta: effects 0. the orchestra in '.L'Afri.
| calne- 10 distribute the !us. compliment
properly i: may se said that. with some
Amos. impesceptible imperfectons. the or
chestral accompaniment as organized at the
Opera House gives the fullest effect to the
grand work OF the great composer.
The literary portion of the opera is due
to NJ. Scribe. and for plo: and eifec. 1t is
yuav L.
made the medium
There II one contradiction about
~ 'Atgica!ae:" the.. i, not an African in it.
There are :wo slaves. like Inkle and
iarico. sensitive and emotional they are
native East Indians-one a princess. the
other nooie and hereditary counselor of
her royal house. The Princess Selita Nine
Furseh- adier' has been appropriated by
'osc'. and has become deeply attached
TO him. Not only does her counselor
Nslnsha .Devoyod) !. condemn thi. relation
as degrading TO her rank. but there has
mingled with III. devotion TO he: honor
passionate love. which renders him doubly
indignant toward Iasr.
The iress AMI demeauor Of this noble. !
man Is worthy OF the barbarian king. 70
whom he was allied. He has chosen the ,
darker complexion o: the mountaineer.
and Indeed remind. one OF the invaders !
undes T.mouv. or Bensalec Mahomeian !
III :lli dress. The complexion of .S.'ii. is |
nea.e. that Of Southern India In naughty |
and graceful! bearing and c!ci. dress and |
Accomplishments. Devorod resembles the |
description OF those Eastern Princes en-
counteced by tho English in tho Sepoy !
mutinr. Jun. Bahador wore a dress es-
timated at :30c.o0'. His Goa: consisted Of
the skin Of d wild animal. richly trimmed
with headband. o: pure gold. His givdle
was studded vita precious, stones. and
his :coUser. were Of fine cloth o! gold.
pom M. :lrbau was cow Oi yubles. then
N from: plate OF pure largo
diamonds. with largo wavin. plume"
Iher" was in the same campaign o: resis.
Fa'!ct 20 the f.agi.si, invaders an Eastern
Princess. the Rhanee OF .Ihansie. Her age
lid 40: exceed twenty: and in the uniform
u !; mounted officer she conducted tho |
moVe'nen: of the cavalry on the field of
'wa.io:. wher. che shared all :hs
ianse:. y. :ls battle. She was
l:.iei by shci! or bullet. and her
'ody. surrounded hya guard. was burned
on the field cs he. Ga,!ng. that it might not
'r pcotaned by :he touch Of her deadliest
neiny. the Feringhee. or English. Here
Fe:e specimens of the proud. patriotic and
desperate princes OF India. They arc worthy u.
he study and presentation of the brightest. :
lte.!ec' OF the written or acted drama.
IAe frs. display OF loyalty and jealousy 4
y ..ctrSrO occurs :u the scene where
et'f' watches the couch of :Iuseo. .Neasfo
eba:e. with i;s love OF vengeance and the :.
at!Ve :nagnanini:y which veyo.ts at tho ~
lea OF staying his enemy sleeping. Rage and \
aired gain the mastery. and he yushes for.
ard to stab IG:ro. Hs s interrupted by
eafo. He 1esists. demonstrates. alternately c
elding obedience to his Queen. and again Il
addene6 Wit, the sight of his enemy in
$ power. .&i,so is compc led TO awaken
osco. and .Nsius'o. :oi!ed and iumiliated. 6,
ow!y quits the room. y
We have the authority OF . frencf, author .
this trait o! tatalism in the Indian char. -
ter II is strongly Illustrated by Ns'usio. 7
Jet homme est sur !e point d'accomplir :,
!: odieuse enterprise Sa conscience lavev. o.
:. car II: meme "a fatalite peut rendre ia
uscIence inuette. Gn moment il nestle, ="
ais bientoe son sang froid reprend is ies- :,
s. Dune main ferme il resaisit un poi :"
ara gulL await iaIsse echapper. 'C'etait on
rIt. on. Tel etat mon destin:' dit-il, et vi
cr' de la conscience nose plus Sc taire 81
tendre. Such was the struggle.
'!ls demeanor in the tempest scene Is I @,
laliv characteristics. He reioices at NJ,
, dangers which appail others. He as oh
mes the superiority of his native courage u,
er the Terrified mariners. and invokes the To
ris OF the storm with delight almost
loolical. We have never seen this scene
oicted with more force. nor as that cele- it
tied song been given with more power of an,
ce. beauty of expression. or more gran alb
lr of movement. ha'
Ino scene IN which IuSco has been the
en- prisoner. and is saved upon the inter ira
ton of the Princess .Selika. ano ther con- ani
occurs between love. loyalty and ven. ne7
ncs. Again the authority OF his he. Of
'tary queen proves stronger than all anG
ev considerations. She demands that he the
: what he knows 20 be the truth. He har
eavors to avoid and evade it: she presses hig
command: he revolts: again she imper. pen
ely demands obedience. and after a sue
ggle. marked with every demonstration tina
Int 40 lai | .,