The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-12-04
ADJUSTMENTS.
LOHENGRIN.


which, like everything else that he has written,
has been variously criticised, was presented last
evening at the Varieties Theatre, for the first
time before q New Orleans audience. To say
tina. the house was crowded, and that the assem-
blage was most select s almost superfuous.
The performance closed at such late hour that we
must;be excused from entering into the details of
complicated opera. We have another apology to
offer-it is that we were listening to "Lohengrin'
for the first time, and, therefore, could not do it
ordinary justice, even though we tried to do co.
We will, however, give our readers q synopsis of
the argument, noting here and there those parts
OF the magnificent musical composition which
have impressed us as the most effective. reserv-
ing to ourselves the right Of entering into criti-
-cisms at some future time.
The incidents upon which this fantastic drama
(purely Of German conception and reminding one
Of the tales OF Hoffman, is based occur toward
the Bchledt. Henry /, The FO,rler, Mr.. VIE
gsndl arrives in Antwerp for the purpose of re-
inforcing his army to repel Hungarian invasion,
but finds the country in state Of quasi-anarchy.
BraDant, has disappeared. Frederick, Count
of Tersmund MR. BIum), husband OF Or
bud Miss Grimminger) daughter Of Radbod.
Prince Of Friedsland by right Of his wife
claims to be the ruler Of the Duchy and
to attain. this end charges Elsa miss Pappen-
heinz, sister OF Godfrey, with the murder of her
brother. Elsa pleads her innocence in the pres
ence OF the king, who orders Judgement de
Deus" as they we're called, shall decide the cause,
and Elsa must find a champion to fight Frederick.
A knight (Mr. Adams) arrives in a boat, drawn
by single swan, and offers to be that champion
II, should he be victorious she will marry m
and never ask him his name or origin she &C.
cepts. In the combat that ensues Count Frede-
rick is vanquished.
The sct is remarkable for it's opening chorus
and few phrases addressed by the King to
Elsa. grand aria by the latter. The prayer OF
j Elsa opens the melodious undercurre mt which
runs throughout the opera, and reasserts Wag-
ner's claims as melodious compositor, in the
beautiful strains OF his farewell to his 'Lieber
Schwan." The act closes by one of those effu-
sions Of the master which have been termed
vociferations by some OF his critics. II is qun-
tette and an "ensemble finale" striking on &C
count Of the strangeness of its Effects and sur
prising in the boldness of the combination of its
accords. The strete is quite as bold, and has
besides. the quality Of deiying the application Of
the word inferior to it.
Antwerp, where preparations for the marriage OF
Elsa TO the mysterious knight are being made.
Frederick and Ort1'ud, downcast and poorly clad,
are looking on, plotting their vengeance. Event
ually Elsa, moved to compassion, admits or
hud and promises to intercete in favor of Count
Frederick 0rtratd, instigated by her husband,
ia next found.urgng Elsa to make the knight re-
"Cans't thou fathom ever
How wondrous must his magic be
Who neer could leave thee, maiden-never-
As he by magic came to thee"
Day dawns. The nuptial procession approaches
the cathedral, at the port of which Artrud vio-
lently opposes the entrance of Elsa into the
church, whilst Frederick loudly denounces the
unknown knight as an impostor, who has OBJ
tanned his victory through sorcery. The mystic
rious knight will not reveal his identity, saying
that he has sufficiently proved his worth. The
King and the people stand by him; the conspira-
tors are driven away, and the brilliant cortege
enter the Minister.
The surprise of the auditor increases in pro-
portion as the argument is developed. A duo
between Oyt,'ud and Frederick is followed by the
romanza OF the balcony, sung by Elsa, which is
between Ortr'ud and Elsa, which ia full OF drama
tic expression, an aria d. brduurd is also sung by
the mysterious night, which possesses character TO
say the least oft. The act closes upon happily
conceived chorus also characteristic OF the stua-
ton.
Third dct-The curtain rises on the bridal
chamber. When the couple are left alone, Elsa
asks her husband to reveal his name and origin
The knight expostulates with her. During the
grand quo thxt ensues, and just as he is about to
succumb to her entreaties, Count Frederick and
four OF his followers burst in upon the scene
Elsa has forseen the onslaught and armed her
husband, who Stays Frederick, whose corpse is
sent to the king.
The scene changes and represents the plain OF
Scheldt. The king enters, followed by his army
Of Saxons and Thuringians. The revelation I'M
wisely sought by Elsa is made by the strange
knight In the presence OF the king He is LoRen-
grin, son Of King Percval. keeper OF the mystic
rious cup known as the "Holy Grail"
ssThe chosen one suspicion scorneth;
Sent hiher BY the Holy Grail, came,
And Lohengrin's my name"
The spell is broken, for tradition Gays: "Its
champions leave il once their names revealed"
a ~, ham
Ii seen returning with the boat, sent by the
grail. Ordud is exultant at her success. Her
words, however, strike Lohengrin's ear as reve-
lation just as he is about to enter the boat. He
removes the chain from around the swans neck.
The swan vanlshes, and the lost Godfrey, the
ruler OF Brabant, is rescued from the metamor-
phic character into which be had been thrown by
the witch Ort,ad Lohengran gets into The boat,
now drawn by white dove, and dilsppears
amid the walls and lamentations Of Elsa, who
sinks lifeless into the arms of her betrothed
The noticeable features Of the act is the pre-
lude by the orchestra, which is superior to that
of the first act uhere is no overture to "Lohen-
grin"). The scene opens wi b a march and
chorus con aiming recollections of La Dame
Blanche" and ID followed by the Duo of the
Secret" which is somewhat lengthy, but as sung
by Miss Pappenheim and Mr.. Adams leave
naught to be regret ted. The triumphal air OF
the King in the succeeding scene was one Of
those most applauded. We note also the superb
yecitdttpo of Lohengrin with violin accompanl-
mentl revealing his name, which WAS sung by
Mr.. Adams in admirable style Notwithstanding
the evidsOt fact that he was very mucn fatigued
BY his efforts OF the past week. The curtain
falls on thegreprise of "Mein Lieber Schwan," by
Lohengr1n and which serves also to form the
ensemble finale Of the opera
There ale no s'tunes" in Wsgnsr's music, none
Of those popular airs OF bravura twith one excep-
tion) that wrap up the soul and carry the people
into the realms OF en-, hu,iasm, but there is all
through 'sLohengrin" deep, steady, constant
and strong undercurrent OF melody, ever present,
and by them brings up the soul and thought to
the eternal plane, where harmony and poetry
combine. There il, perhaps, . little noise in the
Instrumentation which may. sppear uncouth TO
uneducated and unapprecistive ears. but this lie
only set off to the sweetness Of the admirable
melody in the lighter Instruments Of the orchss-