The New York herald., 1876-10-23

bees the shelter OF Dalanos home for while and
s'sn ,wo o. tho shossly crew bring ashore nesvy
the astonshed Norwegian. Mindful OF his fate Van
dor Deckcn asks II he has daughter, and, on the
Affirmative response OF Daland asks her for his BRIDE,
the treasures 10 form her dowry Unable 10 Withstand
the temptation Daland agrees the music OF the scene
being for melodious beauty and exquisite
expression. With the closing the bargain
has entirely subsidized and the veered round Tho
heimsman trumphantly halls the change OF weather,
and 10 answered by the joyous 'Yo-hoi HaIohei" OF
she sailors, who take up in chorus the sleersman 8
song
Through the thunder aud storm. from distant seas.
Over wild foamng waves, with southern breexe,
Ny maiden. | am herel
A MAsrKRrIEcs DESCRIPTIVE MUSIC
The sails OF the Norwegian vessel se the Dutch
man promising to overtake Dsland before the latter
reaches home, giving his crew meanwhile little
necessary repose. The curtain falls the Norwegian
ship leaves the bay. The whole or this act Is
terpccs OF descriptive music, wild and weird Tor the
most part, but interspersed with the most delicious
and melodious phrases conceivable. SEIZURE in his
work, lie Drame Musical" srys:-sHf ever tho
sombro poetry OF the impacable sea has been ex
pressed IN terrible manner 10 Is in the first OF The
Flying Dutchman' One hears, as II were the voice
OF the Styx. that everlasting moaning wave, unreen
ing, unforgivingl"
THE SECOND ACT
begins In large room in the house OF Daland. On
OF the walls hangs portrait Of Van der Decken. Mary
and the village maidens engaged spinning Sent
buried In thought and gazing dreamily upon the pie
ture. The spinning song OF the Norwegian madens 10
one OF the most charming and characteristic compost
tous In the whole range Of music They invite Senta
TO sing the ballad Of the Flying Dutchman; but tho
Old nurse chides her for dreaming away her hic in
thinking of the ill-faed beings woes Senta however
consents and sings tho beautiful ballad:
Saw ye the ship on tho raging deep
Blood red the canvas. black the mastr
On board mnce asing watch doth keep
The vessels master, pale and ghast.
Al the close OF the song Scnta, carried away by in
der Decken from his curse Erik, her lover, young
hunter, ovcrhears her declaration and rcmous
with her. He relates dream he has had, IN which
The accsrscd ship and its captain appear the latter
being welcomed by Scnta with rapture. Senta
follows the narration throughout, as though
she, too, had dreamed the dream and after
Erik has described her meeting with the Dutch
man. exclaims s:-"And them" Receiving the
sad reply ''Ye. sailed across the scalp Erik
leaves her In despair, and Immediately afterward
Daand and Van der Dsckon enter the room. With
shrek Senta recognizes Van der Decken who In turn,
gazcs upon her. both motioness This of recog-
nition Is the most striking and impressive episode in
the whole opera Dainnd leaves them alone, ana sena
pghts her troth to the Dutchman. Tho with
the return of the Norwegian captain the mirthful
strains OF the orchestra foreshadowng the approach
ing nuptlas The whole OF this act affords marvel
lous contrast TO the first; the rcplcte with tho
music Of the sea, the other overfowing with tho
melody OF the hearth; in the ono the rough insprtng
strains OF the sailors the other tho gentle Song OF
the spinning maidens
MUSIC OF THE SEA-
In the third and last act return to the The
scene is the rocky shore noar Daland's house. The
two vessels lie close TO each other but form strong
contrast the Norwegian being lighted up and crowded
apparently deserted splendid seaman's chorus
opens the act, and presently the village girls in
sailors and the girls hail tho Dutchman and IN
alternating choruses express their astonshmenl the
silence and gloom with which they met, The Nor
wegians accept from the terrified girls the provisions
and just about to make merry them when the
grim chorus Of the phantom vessel breaks forth. Lights
flicker about the rigging and ghastly light is
the Deck the ship itself begins to toss and rock vio
lently although the night Ia calm and STILL The Nor
wegan sailors are now terrified In their turn and flee
mt of no IN fhQria hOus0 folI hv
Erik who Is in state OF great excitement owing TO
Scnta's bctrothal to ths stranger In cavatna re-
pleto with delicious music he recalls to her memory
the day which, standing with her about his
neck the scashore, she plightci her troth him.
Van DOR Decken who has overheard the whole soene
rushes forward and cxclams In accents of GRIEF and
despair that all Is lost and that he must again.
willing TO preserve Sena from the tate to which those
who break their troth 10 HIM are doomed-eternal
damnaton He releases her from her promise to bind
herself to him at the altar. and tearing himself away
rushes board his vessel and instantly sails away
moment later the phantom ship Is In tho distance
and ssnta who broken free from Erik and Daland
swiftly reaches high rock overhanging the
Spreading forth hor and crying after the depart
ing ship, Hero see me true; yes true till death ~!
she springs of tho rock into tho waves, and at tho
pieces and sinking beneath the A moments
pause, and thcn from the bosom Of the the
OF the curse-ireed mariner and his faithful redemp
tress, closely embracing are seen rising upward to
their eternal rest.
Such is tho story The music to which it is set is
not SO easily described.
KLApoRArn PREPARATION
After numerous and careful rehearsals IL has now
been introduced to an English audience In q manner
worthy OF It's composer. tho cast being very powerful
one the chorus very efficient and the scenery admir-
able. Mr. sanlley pcrsonated Van der Decken, the
captain OF the phantom ship Ho undertook the snme
role at Italian opera in 1870 and his repetition Of
II six years later is even moro powerful than 1t
then. To mis- magnificent voice he Ioag sinoc added
hisrionic power cxcced by no living baritone the
lyric stage Mile Torrian the Senta and achieved
! . great In her part. Mr.. ard Amer.
singer, Erik, sang with feeng and spirit and
cearncss OF ntonation which gave 10 his role i'm
portance which It seldom receives evon In Germany
Mr. stevens made arsistc use OF pure bat mewhat
Inadequate voice as Daland, the Norwegian captain,
and Mr. Turner sang the steersman's charming song
Mary, Ssntas nurse was adequately sustained by Miss
Franklein.
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