The New York herald., 1876-08-17

ANGU w 4 OllN
he who should rcnounce the power of love, and
should curse its Joys would be able 10 weld
from the gold the ring Of unlimited power. And
weIgunde adds pIsyfully-"a hopeless case
for the love sick dwarf; for her burns like
blazing torch" All this rs told in Wagners sweetest
aud most expressive music. But Alberich who hiss
listened altentively TO The story Of the nymrhs,
dreams oil power and wealth. Looking ntently at the
seductive treasure he murmurs Through thee should
| be the lord OF the world though | cannot compel
love, yet can ! purchase lts joys" Suddenly, who
the nymphs are circling eleciuly around laughing
and teasing the h,deous dwarf he springs Quickly up
possession OF the treasure and iaunts them
swim now in darkness damp, dreary creatnresl
from the cien nave captured the gold
TO fashion the ring Of revenge.
Love-love- i disdnin il and curse iii
Alberch tears treasure from the cleft and quickly
descends to tho subterrapean depths from which he
first appeared, laughing loudly at his success Dark
suddenly falls on the scene, and with the roncal
laughter OF the dwarf heard the wang OF the
Rhnes daughters. The Rbine's pure gold, which IN
hands OF the ''passionless children of naure,'
still hidden in the food OF the Rhine, stolen, hence
forth TO exercise its banefu influence In the world OF
gods and heroes and men. This idea is expressed IN
the music filling up the interval OF the scenic trans
formatioD--a Wild cry OF anguish. a moaning lament
Tor the lost peace aud tranquility the deep, omnons
strains OF the curse But gradually We are led IRON
the stormy music OF the waves 10 an atmosphere OF
serenity dInerent but equally beautiful to he strains
that marked the appearance OF the Rhine daughters,
musical phrase by irombones and irumpes, so
grand and solemn, majestic and distant, like the sub
oued peal OF grand cathedral organ, from hign,
unknown world OF peace and majesty and glory. THIS
Is the Walhaa motive. Thus is the second scene In
troduced, with It's world oil gods and goddcsses, Its
majestic classic simplicity.
wALuALLA
scene of wondrous beauty again. 1t is early morn
ing and the sun IS making lis way through The INST
winch tls the valley OF the Rhine and lighting up The
towers OF wahalla across the river 10 the audience
unsecnL The of the GLORIOUS burg OF the god"
does not unfortunately make such gram impression
rs had anticipated, and the designers. the Brothers
Brueckner, OF Vienna. cannot be congratulated
hay u u
curiously casteated structure crowning the perpen-
dlcuiar wall of a high, distant mountain and from the
arises inner structure with an open, dome.
like vaulting OF no particular beauty Wotan, the SUI
preme god the circle OF the Old Gcrmanic divnitcs,
lies asleep the lowcry landscape, Frcka, his wife,
the goddess OF marriage and frutiulncss. re-
enng BY .s his sda lord The goddess awakens ems
orchestra explains TO us in the Ring and Wahalla
motives. Is dreaming o! power and honor Wotan has
already felt the necessity Of strengthening his position
the ruler OF the world and has made compact with
the giants Fatner aad FasoIt TO build HIM burg from
he dreams of the palace which shall be at once he
symbols and safeguard OF his power When at las he
The eternal work is finished
On the mountain crest,
Rises stately pile
In cleaning majesty
Such AS in dreams I saw it
il stands to view
a lofdly, glorious pile
SO sings the God, delineatcd by Franz etz perhaps
the finest baritone singer OF the German stage a
ol stately presence, gifted With voice OF unapproach
able power richness ana mellowness Fricka however
calls odn's mind the ominous which he had
made with the giants as paym or the building OF
the burg that her sister Freya, the goddess OF youth
and love- had been pledeed as the reward. Wotan
soohcs her fears tor Frea safety by assuring her that
he had meant to give the goddess OF youth 10
tue builders but IN the next moment the two giants,
Fainer and Fasolt, appear. bringing between them
Freia, who cries out Tor assistance. Her brothers. tho
gods Donner Thor) and Froh hear her and would
rescue her. but Odn reminds them that his spear is
still the pledge that the contract shall bo broken.
1t Is his duty TO watch oath and bond, and,
sequently much against his WILL he protects the giants
OF mcrrer character IS heard in the orchestra and
Loge or Loki appears upon tho
LoKI Is TIKI PERsoNIplCATIoN FIRE.
the gods, KIND OF divine Mephisopheles he is dis
tingushed Tor his cunning and gives the gods little
at very opporune moment for Wotan assist him
OF the dilemma. Loki was personated by Herr
Munich Wotan Immediately addresses hun aud re-
minds him that he had promised TO settle the difficulty
about Freia in manner satisfactory to the gods in
TACT 1t was he that proposed the common contract now
he must exercise his wits to get them out of the di
Guilty. This Lok denies He asserts however, that
he has fulfilled his promise, which was to find sub
stituIc for the goddess; but he in the entire
world had found nothing, that could equal
'.womans worth and love-" He is urged by Wotan
something, aud he dscloscs the secret OF hav
ing found only one-Alberch the Nbeung-wno had
the possession Of cold higher than the love Of
woman He tells them how the Rhine daughters
hAd complained to him of the robbery; how Albcrch
magic ring, the symbol and source OF unlimited power
by means OF which, indeed he had acquired power
that Threatened the very existence OF the gods Them
selves Loki describes the rltterng splendor CT the
treasures which Alberich hos gathered together by
means OF the ring. Gods and goddesses listen,
enchanted, to the description. The giants,
too cannot resist its temptation, and Odn
himself hints that It is essential TO their we'll being to
possess the ring, prevent the Nbeungs gaining un
limited power "The dwarf Will compel Us all If the
ring be not taken from him, says Douncr Odin too,
poses should be restored again the Rhine and the
amcnting Rhine daugh ers The giants promise to
be satisfied with Albcrichs treasures; they too believe
that gteng gold is better than the possession of
far Freia. and that eternal youth can be gained by
whoever possesses the magic gold ana It's powers
FAsoLT
then add that they VIII lake the treasures
for Frca, but they persist IN keeping the goddess with
them pledge until evening, when they Will re- urn
for their payment and II this DO not ready Freia
shall be taken away forever The two
with them, the gods cok anxiousy at Wotan and
Thor desrous OF practising the powers OF lis nam
tue two gianis but Wo,an prevents him. In
solemn silence the gods stand, yellow mist comes up
over valley, tie gods goddcsscs appear
aged with every moment for the goddess OF eternal
youth has been taken away from them and they can
no pariake OF the golden apple which she alone
had in charge and without which they must wthcr
and die 1t Is Loge tolls them, snow know
lacking. From Freas apple ye have not tasted
to-day. The golden apples her garden made you
mighty and young. The gardens keeper now
pledged and the fruit decays as the branches and viii
soon iall roting to the ground care bul i..ie TOR
to me but to you the iic giving fruit is alessenal
and this the giants knew full we'll Now see VIVA.
has pay without the appe--od and
gray wItherng beneath he scorn of The world. deth
the OF the gods" up Loge, up, let Us together
Nibeihcim l would fam win the gold, says
Wotan. May not tie Rhine daughters hope for a
hearng?" asks Loge Wo,an commands his com
panion TO be silent about the Rhine aush,os. Tie
great matter be after ded to to release Frcla from
the hands the giants Logo leads the way and both
are lost huge ccit in the rocks. from
which vast clouds Of steam nling the enti
with dense clouds.
JOURNEY NIBELnEIM.
: All the gods invisible as the curtain asccnds,
leading the Illusion that accompanying the
gods Msts nd 10 Nibelhem--the realm OF AlDerch.
the gnomo An orchestral overture full Of wild and
unheard OF musical noises, the changing OF hammer
anvil at distance the numbering sounds from
SUBJ eli rra thunder clouds boiling and Missing
the (rcal thar seems to escape IRON every
crack crevice that VIC pass our way down, a
whir and din and thunder and at last the caisiug