The New York herald., 1878-10-14
Story and Music of
the Opera.
AN EASTERN QUESTION SET TO MUSIC.
Corneille's Armenian Tragedy
4. Closely Followed.


long account Of the work. the details OF
which he obtained from N. Geunod him.
self In mornings sonversaton at St.
Cloui Tho Prince and Princess OF Wales. the Mar
shal and tho Ma6chalo expected to be present
this great premiere. The demand for tickets for this
event has enormous, and "thOre is much gnash-
ing Of teeth among those who consider that their
presence such occasion is indispensable TO
the success OF the approximation. and whose re-
peated applications for tickets arc listened TO with
sardonic IRONY" The uniortunst te car, however
take comfort IN the tact that N. Gounod himself was
allowed only handful OF ticket not half enough
for his own family. to ssy nothing Of his friends
The following account may be looked upon as the
composers conception OF his last great work -
DRAMATIC PoKx.
In tho selection OF Corne:lies masterpiece III.
artistic propristy, but equally also by profound SEN
timsnt Of patriotism. For a theme like .Poyeucle''
rowsd for the Italians aud mesanorpn sad the tito
into "Pohuto"-tbis, ~ Goun0d naturally felt,
French musicians Tne task, however. Of represent.
ing musicay so grand tragedy eau only DO described
as colossal aud Us dlcuity has been indeanitey In
vcrsal Exhibnon having been literally thrust upon
n. Gouaod. The duties Of shis offco have occupied
! hitherto some seven hours per oem OF
the composers Invaluable time, and though
the compliment conferred upon him may have
Se undsservsaly oppressive II is u matter. there
FORE that by dint almost SUPER
human cxsrIiou tho opera TO presented to the
public. NJ Gounod mas thrown all his genius into
the composition aud has spared no pans In It's eab-
%cu os s can ne
nng ana that Its orce - not hkely TO be essened by
fifteen years OF art experience. n. Gounod's manner
may have varied HIS talent must be peren NAL
rHR ARGUMENT w
N. Gounod has adhered to the text OF the tragedy
so the necessities Of 1ibreto Will permit. The
"srgumsnt," or plot, Is almost TOO universally knowa
10 need recapnuaaiou but as an aid to memory
kAst~ s1tuA tr smf b<lxyas
BY the by Is . vsritable saint in the calendar
Of tho Roman Church, is an Armenian noble.
nttssn days Pauline, daughter OF Feiix the Pro-
consul OF Armenia Tue scene 10 laid at M6itene,
reign oi ms Emperor bscius Polyeuc.e Is not per
luck Pauine's Arst love- In Rome sne had met aud
been courtsd-not ~ vaaloy sesere, young pa.
her hand but ior her fathers interposton. Felix
disbs,oves the efficacy OF tho sword 70 carve out
q young mans fortune, and dismisses the suit OF
Severe; subsequently, however, the bravery Of this
young knight him both the nighest military
Abandoned the hope Of winning Psunne; ,anhapplly.
however, F6nx, who IN tho interim has be-
native noollity, bsstows hts daughter on Ppysucse
and synchronicaly with the marriage Noarq0e con-
Matters stand thus ~ me opening or ths drAms,
whom Pauline dreams that severe appears be-
ns he. .ams asn.s ssS sseaEi s n
the fsetoi his rival, whsrsupon her father, neg
iscting her frantic appeal ior her husbands iiie
sion Unexpectedly confirmed by tho arrival on the
following day OF Severe ~ Met6ns with lstters from
young man being OF course ignorant Of her marriage
E'A coRxErLLE AxD ooUSoD.
An affecting scene occurs wnsn Severe learns that
he is too late but alter while no recovers himself
sufncientiy TO seek u 1nAl interview. Reluctantly
his rsproschss. The lover. nswsvsr. is generous,
and uppraids not her. BUS destiny. A. this
'ss% ss MS az not to Ss cUrna.
msrcilsss. and makes Peyeucte insist on oourtiny
tho martyrs fate, no,w''h:sandiss s that NearGas
idols ID tho forum. and placing himself At Inc head
Of y band Of Christians, to the consernation
10 destroy these simutacra and upturn their altars
Pauline sappIicatss her iashsrs forgiveness
consent on,y, however, condition that Polycucts
/ will pledge himself not TO repeat The oncnce.
refuses, devosng h,msslf wholly 10 Tho task
OF converting bis vile, and eveu-with
asedsSy Gss e.; her T:a SIC
generosity JOINS his entreaiios to those OF Pauline
but 70 no purpose. In the end Hel'x signs sns
sns liens : HIS wife follows hin, and thsn-,o
pile up the norror-Felix follows his daughters
Out Of such thrilling material NJ Gounot has created
remarkable opera 1t would Do OBVIOUSLY imp,ssi-
analysts the nvo into WHOM it Is divided we
can, however, afford rough idea oi the framework
ana Of the principal %s,oaSss 4ss nss,. aasa s a y
| The opera opens with chorus Of female voices
.sDeia dams laxu dss cisux alter which Psolins ap-
pears and melody OF striking merit, 'sDans un
lieu soIitars," rscounts her dream. TO nsr enter
| Poiysucte. aud ,hey toll their sorrows 10 a duet
sQuslle morns douIsur" In the following scene the
| Isading musical feature IL trumphni march IN
| honor Of Severe's entry into Meiitenc, and t 10
i almost supernuous TO state that hero the AUDITORY
viii aud true foas Of rhythm. Tne nrs. acr terni
/ mates with quartet "L'ordrs do rempereur aupres
the riunphaI march the stra,us OF which are taken
up BY chorus with splendid effect rhe second acs
70 made up thus :--rhs chorus sing from behind the
Il (ua IL nv At
with nne cavatina, "Ah, qustous los fsstiu,u and
then Pauline addresses al inveca,sn TO vssta,
s.Chaste dcosse." This 10 succseded by duet-Pau-
line and ssvere--"Un pero, ditesvous. abusant
Dc SIS droIss-n The scene concludes with
sllonsi" between Poyeuc.s and NssrQus
Tne curtain next draws on Wild
Poiyeucls. Here N. eounod has inssrpolatcd char
| acter, she pagan ssxtus who from ship Witnesses
Sves. alter when no appears 20 be Impressed BY tho
strains q religious march, and the prayer, "pero
celsse "onered up BY s'meon tho nigh priest After
tho baptism Noarque sings tender msouy '.Frorcs,
| js vous ameus un irers,' and the curtain
ialls. rhe scene Of ths third ac, Is laid In
between Foiyeuc,c, severe, fei,x ana Atom. ihis
is followed by most dolicious caval na-one Of the
mol. 81 mes des,ns ur peu plus lot propces the re-
naming feature OF the scene being u duet Tor
act striking contrast TO those which have pre-
cedsd u. Tns .hsms nov ,s r.san,m ms sna q y. Coo;
aud the cnorus, '.Glors aux maitrss du
| monde" Here the grand ballet Is ap-
| propr,a,siy introduced IL consists OF four
| isbisaux--vix, LA DIsu Pan" 'Beens."
| ..venua" and sBaccnus." Tns ballet. however, is
| ruueiy interrupted by the violent entry OF the
avspging chsistiara led BY Poyeucte, and ths air,
| "peuplv, suspends tss ysuxl" brinss 10 close q
| splendid meiodramalic scsDo
THE CONCLUSION
0 Act four 10 pitched in . minor key. We dDd Poly.
sucts chained 70 pillar IN a dismal vault aud are
touched by hrs piaintve song Source dollcieuso
msafes f6conde." Thsn Pauline onters with "Poy-
| sucle, u est temps encore" TINS leads
| w to . duet, and severe entering Poy-
| eucte breaks forth with a secoud aria, 'Severs,
vous lei ~ which again mslts Into trio, and tue
dering forth tho death warrant 'Polycuole, voici
| fheurs do ton suppice." the nnai acl commences
with turpusnt ospay Of iesHng ov tho pvpuiacs OIL
| M6htaue, the refrain bciug 'Les Cnr6liens
| In MGrtl THIS, however, changes aD-
ruptly 10 silence the ontry OF Polyeucte,
who inonss dogma.lcally hts .Je cro,s en- un ssui