The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-04-04

y
pedal point, Grst on the v:olins drums.
and intended 10 be descriptive OF storm in the
forest The curtain rises during this and reveals
tho interior OF Hunding's hut Immediately after tho
rise OF the curtain, Segnund, wounded wcaponscss
Ind weary, enters and after glance around, seeing
no one stretches himself tho SKIN before he ro 10
rest Before going any further It might DO well to
hint to Mr. BischoG twho played Segmund, and whose
costume was otherwise excclIent that tho old Morse
mon did sandals with high heels 10 thcm-.n
fact history has never made mention of remarkable
foot covering as being In among any people ex-
cept stage people.
Sieglinde Mmc. Canssa) enters from the inner room
few moments after siegmund has laid down. Az her
appearance Tho music in tho orchestra taxes on a
character OF tender grace, which Is fitting
ton 10 the scene about TO follow. Passages OF
beauty are here. Take for example tho music
TO hcr exclamation, ''Noch schwit linn der
Athem" phere is still breath in him. the
exquisite phrase Tor tho Observation-Disclosures
used with great elect during tho love scene
the end OF tho act-when sicgmund drinks the
water she gives him, the music While no drinks the
horn Of mead after causing sieglinic first 10 touch il
with her lips, ana the manner in which the cello
phrase before mentioned Is limited at aud worked in
during the whole scene. Tho appearance OF Hunding
tMr Bum) upon tho scene introduces
rough and savage element which ,mmc-
diatcly pcrceptibc IN the orchestra. Siegmund's
account Of himself occurring after
Hundings entrance Is fine and dramatic piece oil
recitation nasstvey. but not MOSTLY accompanied by
most wonderful work in the orchestra In his
ceeding soloquy, when alone on the stage. the LOVING
cello phrase already noticed, which accompanies his
mcnon OF Siog!indc, swclls by npcrceptblc degrees
into Wild and exciting passage no for tho
sword which his father said he should receive when in
need On Sleglindcs return after having given her
husband sleeping potion, she irst tells the story of
the sword in a rcctatye much OF which Is almost
without accompaniment, and IN the course OF which,
when she mentions tho strange man who drove tho
sword ito tho tree, we hear the same .Wotan mo.
m M mad hta
father. And then follows love which IN beauty
and passion SURPRISES oven the chamber ia
"lohcnsrin." Tho love song that we know 20 we'll
thanks TO Thomas-ls only tho commencement
OF scene which, working little BY little
and In state OF constantly increasing excitement until
the curtain tails ON tho light OF scsmund and Sleg-
Prcusser) and Brunnnilde Nine Pappcnhcim and IN
troduccs Us, too with an Introduction that nearly
as wild AS the "Waknrcn Riitn IN the next act. The
scene Is among mountains - Tho action of tho first
part OF this act rather lags Wotan bids rlnnhiIde 20
with Hunding, which she Joyfuy starts to DO,
singing she goes tho Wild warcry peculiar to the
waSnrs and very s gwen ~ 10 brass
pears frlcka Nine Listner) enters. She of
rccitaons, which can only DO rendered Interesting by
dramatic delivery, forces Wotan to ms de-
the coming combat and TO punish the illicit
lover Of siegmund and segnde by tho death OF tho
| former. THIS long scene between Fricka aud Woian
least interesting in tho opera, though gntened
by many beautiful passages the orchestral aud be-
tween Wolan's singing badly out Of and Fricka's
scml-inaudibity anu stage awkwardness, the tardy
action Of the scene was not much cnlivened ~ mo
| perormers Alter Frtcka,s exit occuls long duet
| between Woan and Brunnnildc which she
| pleads hard Tor the life Of Segnund. This duet
| is iul OF beauties remarkable effect IN
the orchestra Is at tho end of this duet just alter
/ Wotan's exit, when rs Brunnhildc, taking up hor
! arms, complains that carrying them with unwilling
heart they feel weightythe wildly JOYOUS cry the
Wakure made TO sound mournlul by slight change
ot harmony and peculiar Instrumentation. As Brunn-
| and Sicgllnde enter in their light from Hundings
house. At their appearance tho lofty ana devoted
character OF tho music changes 10 color OF tender
but rather sensual love- color which It preserves
/ an uudcrtone through all tho succeeding scene
tween tho two sieglndc's halt crazcd VISION of tho
pursuing hounds is reci!ed to music OF
most intensely dramatic character, music that
at once srs and yet chills tho blood OF
| and fails in Sicgmund's arms Brunnhide rcappears
leading tho horse by the brdlo Tho horse on this
occasion not very VOL trained brute. A horse,
| or indeed ali, animal unless thorouahly used to the
business Is AVA nuisance on the STAGE Tho scene
| between BrdnnAde and Siesmund commences
| quietly with her announcement Of his coming death
and the giving him his invitation TO Waihalla From
/ this comparatively quiet commencement Wagner
| works up his climax TO end OF the act
| SIegmund asks whom no shall meet at Walhaa,
aud his questions, each set little higher than Inc
preceding, and her answers panied by fragments
OF the various 'motivcs belonging to those 10 whom
she refers Upon learning that sieglIndc will
Kill her oo that they may not DO separated Touched
| by this devotion Brunnhdc IN passage which Is
really tho climax Of the net, promises TO dsobey her
father (wotan) and to spare his (siesmund'sj life.
From here to tho end Of tho act all is hustle and excite
|
rushes TO meet him. sicgndc left Alone wakes ter
riicd to the. combat between Hunding and Sicg-
mund gong On us ' Inc mountains Mains brunnhilde
| pearing, touches Scemund's sword with his spear;
tho sword breaks, and Hundng kills him.
Bruennhdc terrified her iathcrs appearance against
her. rushcs OIL carrying with her SIeglnde and Wotan
having fulfilled the claims OF law and justice In permit
ting killing OF Segmund, executes vengeance
| by killing Handing. To remember any OF the music
accompanying this action Is impossible. II is wild,
as hurried excited the action ITSELF and cum-
| ntesl N a n tho
| the third act opens with tho Walkueren rite. of
which nothing need said except that the work
| on entirely new color from the introduction OF
voices The eight walkueren deserve credit Tor
getting through the most difficult music OF the opera
| in manner which was more than respectable. Only
once there really miss, ana more than once
| tremey difficult pieces were well sung. The stcrcp
tcon effects, attempting TO picture tho arrival through
the air Of tho different Wakueren, we're not success.
| After tho Walkucre are assembled Bruennhildo
enters hastily with scgindo, for whose safety she
pleads In passionate phrases OF each IN turn the OF
| then in a fine number requests Bruennhilde to XIII
her, that she may rcjon Sicgmund; but Brucnnhiaa
oids ner 1.-Two, Tor she shall bear the hero Sicsirid.
Hearing this prophecy Sieglinde Is now
| ious be saved To render her safety pos
| siblc Brucnnhilda desires 10 remain and bravo
the wrath OF Wotan, while Sieglindc fees to
| which she will be safo Scarcely has Sicgliendc Como
| whom Wotan appears, furious and seeking Buenn-
hide. Tho other Wakucren hide her behind them and
plead for her, but VAIN. FROM here the end OF
the opera the nearer surrounded and bcwdercd
succession OF fresh boa both in tho voices
| and the orchestra The net finds It's ending and lit
ting climax in tho fro music, when Wotan. after
INJECTING upon Brucnnhildc he sleep which shall hold
her until mortal shall awake her, calls upon .loge,n
the fire god surround her with circle Of danes,
that none but hero who knows no lear may dare APP
proach her. Here again was number which we knew
IRON Thomas playing but all these familiar numbers
became revelation in their proper surroundings
| OF scenery and dramatic action. II Is 10 be hoped
that may again hear tho "Wakuerc" after
| this company return from their travels. The hard
worx-thc work OF learning and rchcarsng tho opera
Is over, and the expensive work ~ procurcd--the
scenery and costumes, which are good WITH few
ccptlons IL will therefore be easy 10 favor with
| more performances, and two hearings Of work OF
| this magnitude are worry insufficient There IS tax oil
this company adding the "Fidclio' OF Beethoven 10
| thor repertoire
| THE TELEPHONE AT THE BROOKLYN ACADEMY.
| The telephone surprised and charmed the large au.
dcncc which listened to It's magic strains al the Brook
| Ign Academy OF Music last evening. Tho winds OF