The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-01-02
OPERA IN MUNICH.
A New German Opera-"The Heir
OF Morley"
A Musical Romance q la Miss Braddon or
Tichborne.
Sketch Of the Life of Franz Won
Holetein.
MUNICH. Dec. 8, 1874.


The appearance OF a new opera In Germany upon
any of the great court stages is sure to
siderable excitement and interest. operate lifo
in Germany has OF late years become sort OF
musical warfare, especially since Klcnard Wagner
came IN with his grand Revolutionary ideas and
gave o new direction to German operate art.
Though Wagner has founded no true school of dis
ciples, his influence is undoubtedly paramount in
Germany; but those modern composers who have
so far endeavored to follow the path he cut ous
have proved to be simply imtators-that
IS, they have copied his method with.
out understanding his principles. Very re-
Gently wendelin wessheimer, Kapellmeister
in Casse, made an attempt in his
Theodore Koerner" TO produce an opera in the
Wagnerlan manner, out thereby he deprived him
self OF all originality, and Wagner stands, so FAR
with his style, alone and unapproachable. Never
theless, his grand harmonic structures have
influence upon modern German composers as far
reaching as had the music OF Haydn, Mozart, Beet
hoven and Weber upon their contemporaries.
A NEW GERMAN OPERA COMPOSER.
We see this influence very plainly in the works
OF German composer, whose two operas, 1.-THE
Haideschacnt" and "The Heir OF Morley" have
within lew months gained considerable reputa-
ton in Germany. Not that Franz Won nolstein
can compete with Wagner In the slightest de-.
gree, but he has produced operas which
have thoroughly German character.
and, ike the Wagnertan creations, are
set to music throughout, and are carried along
smoothly without the aid OF the annoying dialogue
by which nearly all pre-Wagnerlan and French
operate composers have usually helped them
selves out. Hostein's first opera, the Glide
schacht," is immensely popular In some OF the
provincial towns. In Frankfort it has been kept
in the repertoire for several weeks in succession.
Munich Withdrawn After
performances. The composer, who writes bis own
texts, found a very attractive subject for his
opera, taken from an old Northern legend-a sub.
ject which has attracted such poets as
Holman, Oehlenschager, Ruckert and Others
need not enter into a description Of
this OPERA since 1t has been before the public now
TOR some years. Holstein shows himself In this
nrst work as possessing thorough technical
knowledge Of music, but still lacking originality,
wavering between the hyper-progressive direction
OF Wagner and the more conservative tendency OF
Spohr and his eplgones. 'The Heir OF Morley" Is
generally admitted to be an Improvement on 1.-THE
Haidescnacht," still showing the same lack OF
originality. but deserving the esteem OF musicians
ana opera gOers HOlsteIn's life and musical de-
veopment Is exceedingly interesting, the story OF
which may serve as an encouragement to young
composers.
A MUSICAL SOLDIER.
Franz Won HOlSteln Is a disciple OF MOr1tZ HaupJ-
mann, whose instruction he enjoyed from the year
1858 on. He was born IN Brunswick on the 16sh
OF February, 1926 His father was an officer In tie
duca army, and intended that his son should
follow the military profession. Young Franz was
ana opera Of hls native city; played the piano
little; and at the age OF fourteen began to con-
coct an opera. When Afteen years old he entered
the cadet corps at Brunswick. In lS45 he became
an oihcer. During his cadetsh1p he had written
small opera entitled 1.-TWO Nights IN Venice"
which was performed by his friends at family gath
erlngs. Then he removed TO Lelpslc, when he de-
termlned to take instruction IN piano and in must
Schleswig- Hoistein campaign took him away from
his studies, though during his military experiences
opera. the text OF Which he had cot rom walter
Scotts "Waverley." In 1852, then adjutant Of q
battalion OF landwehr. he was sent 70 Lessen, In
the Hartz Mountains, where he found sufficient
leisure to work on his opera, and came to
the determination OF devoting hts lie entirely
to music. lie asked permission from his iather
TO renOunce the military career, which was prom
sed on the condition that ne should first nave
the judgment Of some good musical composer as
to his talent, and II ne were justified IN taking
the step proposed. So selection was made.
oicer,s MUSICAL abilities. Hosteih took his bio
partltur to Hauptmann. who promised TO give IL
careful study and to give impartial judgments
Hauptmanns opinion was favorable to the young
mans wishes. In 1853 HOlsteln received an hon
0rabe discharge from the military and went to
Lelpsic, where, at Hauptmanns suggestion he was
received in the Conservatory OF Music. Besides
his theoretical and technical studies he composed
In the following ear he retur ned 10 his native citS
In 1856 lie took up his residence at Lepsic. In the
following years he suffered greatly from Ill health,
writing nothing except concert music; and 1t was
only after he had reached his fOrtieth year, when
mis- health was restored, that he interested him
self again for dramatic music. The first fruit OF
this renewed activity was the opera "Haides-
cnacht," which was first performed at Dresden IN
1868. This work belongs now to sixteen German
theatres. AIS second opera, 'The Heir of Nor
ley" was first performed at Leipsc ON the 23d OF
January, 1872, then at Wemar in Apri, 1874 and
at Munich flrst q few weeks ago.
THE NEW OPERA.
''The Heir OF Morley" promises to become popu-
10 GAprn oil nnYhf Tho Cnhi aRf nf mar
is poorly chosen and the music composed almost
entirely OF "reminiscences. The acnon OF the
drama takes place tS,o, few ,Sears vra after
the The p sFoS 81 Ss yara
Morley, Eveline, her granddaughter respectively
mother and daughter of the late Lord Morley;
Viscount GOdolphin, cousin OF the deceased lord
LYDIA Thompson, young widow; William Seyton,
advocate; Charles, marine officer; Allan, an Old
servant Of Lady SARAH Blackstone Judge; then
Iaborers. Morley House Is supposed to be an es-
tate In the North OF England. Vlscount GOdopnin
Is 70 come IN aa on MSrsy
Lord Morley, Charles, who has not been heard OF
since the battle OF Gibraltar, should return. In
English hall. The servants are clamoring
for payment and old Allan, the family but
Ter, VINO belongs as much to the estate
them that at noon OF the following day Sir Godol-
phin Will be their new master, which they refuse
TO believe. Evene and her grandmother. Lady
sarah occupy the next scene then comes Sir Go.
dolphin, who appears TO act as n already In full
possession. Then We are made acquainted with
LYDIA Thompson, beautiful young widow, and
young advocate named Willlam Seyton, though
what business the couple mas TO 90 with the
cannos say a nas me 10 h
makes love to Lydia and accompisnes notn
ing In legal way. though be sings well,
and endeavOra to make some fun William
is sent away by LYDIA 10 fetch her toilet apparatus.
Then LYDIA and Eveline sing together awhile,
when, suddenly. the form OF handsome young
Inf0c III Qd n