The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1876-12-01

- HIiPoAO SCiiSS pOAECAt VI lAlc DOo-
ton AdUertiser sends the following
story of Der Fliegende Hollander,"
Wegner's opera;
In the first place those who look for
a comic opera will be disappointed.
There is something inherently comic
with the name ''Flying
DutchmaD;" something that makes one |
think of corpulence and big breeches-
and one naturally expects something
funny. But the opera is as earnest as
either ''I.ohenengrin" or ''Tannhaus
err from beginning to end, the text
many passages of great po-
etical beauty and tenderness. There
fore | think for the title of the opera
in English 1.-The Flying Hollander"
would be more appropriate.
The opening of the opera shows a
Norwegian ship driven by the storm to
anchor off a part of the coast, miles
from the port of its destination
CLEANS of sunshine occasionally light
up the dark expanse of waters, and
then the gray clouds sink down again,
and then the horizon is lost to sight.
As given here this act is one of the
most perfect stageiliusions have ever
seen. The opening of the chorus is a
spirited sailors song, shortly follow
ed by the famous tenor aria, the
storm mans song, South wind, south
wind, blow no more!" Then the ship
of the flying Hollander shoots across
the horizon like a fash, and is moored
close by the Norwegian. The Hollan-
der with his phantom crew come on
shore. The opening aria of the Hol-
lander is filled with the most intense
feeling. With deep pathos he tells how
another seven years has been passed,
and full of WEAKNESS he comes again
to land. But that which he seeks on
shore never can he find, so he must
sail the seas until its last wave breaks
aud its last drop dries. How often.
full of longing, has he thrown himself
into the oceans deepest depths, and
found not death. How often has he
driven his ship to the foot OF
the rocky cliffs and his grave has
not closed over him. How he has met
with the pirate, and in the fiercest bat
tie hoped for death, but even the pir-
ate has ever fed before himi In his
despair he prays for the speedy coming
of the end of the world. Then comes
a duel between Daland, the Norwegian
captain, and the Hollander, in which
the music vividly pictures the jovial,
hearty soul of the former in close con-
trast of the gloom which surrounds the
life of the latter, whose every note be
trays an intense yearning for the rest
which he ever seeks and never finds,
At times in the music the two emotions
/ seems to mingle, but not to blend as in
the forrest one often sees the dark
branches of the hemloek interlace with
those of the maple. Where is he from,
and how long has he been at sea? He
replies to Deland:
How long? 1 scarce know to answer;
For row 1 count the years no more
With sights and scenes my brain is thrOng-
ing.
My ship has touched on many a strand;
The only place for which I'm longing
L cannot fad, my Fatherland!
He asks Daland to shelter him for a
while under his roof, and for the privi-
lege he offers all the treasures with
which the ship is laden-costly pearls
and precious stones. Daland than tells
him of his beautiful daughter at home,
and with gleam of hope the Holland
er asks that she may be his wife. Da-
land consents, and the act ends with
the coming of the south winds, the
sailing of the ships, and the reception
of the sailors chorus,
The second act shows a room in Da-
lands house, where Senta, the daught-
er is spinning in company of maidens.
The spinning song with which the act
opens, is pure melody of the brightest
and most bewitching nature; melody
of the kind which sets every foot in
the house to tapping. Senta mean
while sits silent and looks at picture
on the wall; picture of pale, dark
ly clothed man, of whom she has heard
legend which she cannot drive from
her mind. The maidens ask Senta to
tell them the story, and she sings the
ballad of the Flying Hollander; about
ship flying over the sea. blood-red
the sail and the black the flying mast;
and the pale man the ships captain.
watches ever without rest But release
from the spell comes to him if he can
find wife who will remain true to him
until death. For once, when the Hol-
lander vainly tried to double a bead
land in a storm, he swore that he would
pass that cape if he Lad to try through
all eternity. Satan took him at his
word, and condemned him to sail the
sea forever, without rest, without re-
pose. But Gods angel took pity on
him, and showed him how ks might
find salvation-through q wife who
keeps faithful unto death. So,
"To anchor every seven years,
A wife to WOO he vainly goes;
For come the years and go The years,
And ne'er a faithful wife disclose.
Hoi Up with the sail il-Yohoi,
Hoi The anchor lcose-Yohoii
Hoi False love. false trust
To sea away, repose and rest no more.''
Overcome by her ballad, Senta cries:
"'Tis who through her love and faith shall
save theei
May Gods dear angel me unto thee shovf
Through me shalt thou thine own salvation
Meanwhile Erik, a young hunter and
Senta's lover, enters, and tells of the
coming of the ships. From what he
has seen be fears that his love Is hope
less, and, on asking Senta, he finds his
fears well grounded. With the arrival
of Daland ard the Hollander, comes
ono of the fDost hoa a,&;f,,r .oan>z - A.