New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-08-17
"SIEGFRIED.n


is entitled tine Twilight of the Gods"
"SIEGFRIED."
The last scene of 1.-THE Walkyrcnn closed with Q
double tragedy. Brynhild, favorite daughter Of
Wotan, said to be the ideal type of womanhood
after which Wagner searched in all his previous
works, had died in her defense of Siegmund and
Slegnde. True to her womans nature, she had
been touched by the misfortunes of her earthly
brother and sought protect him against the wrath
of his indignant father Failing in that effort, and
seeing the unfortunate pershing from paternal
blow, she turned her sympathies toward the sorrow-
ing Sieglinde, mounted her upon fleet steed. and
transported the future mother with her unborn babe
to the distant forest III the midst of storm of light
ming and thunder. Then followed the tragic Ride
of the Walkyren," where in the midst of its wild
songs and weird beauty, the enraged Wotan APP
peared called up the God Of Fire. and doomed Bryn-
HID to sleep Oh earth until awakened by Giant,
whom she should wed after he passed the iiane She
remained true to the ideal she embodied even in
these her last hours, and while pleading that only
hero might summon her TO be his wife. persisted in
cloud of flame. Two persons mad thus fallen in the
drama but the idea tragic only in that indi-
yiduals had persisted Those who suffered, says DIR.
Hueiier were representations of that human essence
which aspires and struggles but does not die eter-
nally. Fate had doomed them, but they were the
real conquerors The soul of being unchanged
by tire or sword.
Sicglinde sole Survivor of the three unfortunates
retired To the forest. where her child was born and
called Siegfred, hero of the drama performed~yes-
teriay, and from whom it receives its name. A
Dwarf named Mime, brother to Alberto, who will be
remembered as the original pOssessor of the Ring.
aud from whom Wotan had afterward treacherously
a.. 81 tho oil nf linda vUbn
after her delivery committed her child 10 his care.
and died. The Dwarf. already forming plans by
which to possess himself of the Ring and treasure,
readily accepted the of Slegfried and began to
instruct him his purpose. He toiled alone in his
cavern at night, in vain effort to forge powerful
sword, with which the young man might STAY the
dragon Father the present pOSsessor of the treasure
Siegfried was child OF nature, his homo had always
been IN the cavern, and he knew little of the world
and its dongs But he was born to a great purpose.
He was full Of impulse and gayety but in his hands
lay the power of securing the salvation of gods and
men from the curse of gold That task it became
his mission to achieve Growing distrustful Of
Mime and nourishing at last bitter hatred for his
face he one day forced him to tell the story of Sieg
lindcs life and of his own birth. On learning of the
sword Distress. which Siegmund that eventual
night in which Seglinde had conceived her son. had
wrested from its place, the young hero took up the
weapon and went TO the blazing forge, where with
fire and hammer and merry song, he reformed the
weapon into glistening blade
Confident then that his purpose could he gained,
Mime directed the young man with the instrument
of his purpose TO 20 toward the cave of Fafner.
There he met Alberto, whose hope of reco, ering the
Ring had not persisted, and the cOvctous Dwarf
sought to use him in furthering his own designs.
His confidence was complete that, should the young
Siegfricd secure the prize II would require only a
little effort TO take It away from him. The dragon
was aroused from his sleep and a combat cnsued. in
which Father fell. With the sword Distress piercing
his heart. Seglried withdrew the weapon from tho
diving man. and was tainted with his blood. 4 few
drops on his hand burned TO the quick, and he
thrust his fist into his mouth to alleviate the pain.
wonderful charm possessed him. The songs Of
the birds were familiar 10 his ear as the words of
his own people He sat alone beneath the trees, and
listened 10 the wild songsterS who told him many q
tale From them he learned that Mime had cruel
designs upon his life and that the Ring was fatal
treasure OF this scene DR.. Hueifer Of London has
said " IN an orchestral scene OF almost symphonic
import Wagner here describes the mysterious whirr
and life of the forest. Tins whole idyllic inter
mezzo Is repcte with the sweetest charms of roman-
tcism." Returning TO his cavern, scghied found
Mime prcpanns a deadly poison TO INK with his
nightly dlaugnt, ana Win one sweep oI MS WeaPou
Siegfricd ended the life of his fosterfather.
Weary and worn with his tolls, and feeling
himself lonely upon the earth he then wandered
through the forest and came at last to li'tlo
hillock in the center of field. Here he met Wotan,
and an encounter ensucd. WotaaS spear was
engraved with the laws Of the universe, and IN 40
struggle Siegfried shattered it IN twain. W9tai's
doom was then inevitable. lie wandered about tho
earth in sorrow and gloom, Consulted with Erda,
but found no soace in her words, and with his soul
tortured mt the doom that ovegshatowed him, re-
tired TO Wahalla, and there awaited his near
destiny The end of the race OF gods seemed near at
hand but Siegfred passed up the NIL unrestraned;
n fame arose from it's surface, and he walked
throuuh unframed. From afar off Wotan beheld
the scene. from out the fire came the form OF
Brynhild. the ideal woman, who awakened from
her earthly slumber, and found her hero. Here the
drama anieo,