, 1879-07-18
ADJUSTMENTS.


I'll HE Dl LAHORE*"
Lsnfoh Tftnts JaAs 80,
Massonet's ucw opera, tho Italian version Of
what was PLAYED for thc nrst ttne IN England at
Judged from two VERY different points OF view,
and the amount Of merit granted to 1t will vary
accordingly. II no look In an opera for the
Of highest dramatic pathos cotnbfued
with striking originality OF mclodtc Invention,
md In connection With It OF formal develop
ment, no most cortaioly shal bc disappointed
In sla4.cnet's work. II, on tho other hand, We
are tattsaed With flowing, though not very deop
or vcsy new, melodies expressive OF tho scn.i-
mcnts common to heroes a1ld heroines Of tho
lyrical stage, With admirable musical workman
ship, aided by gorgeous scenery,-witl n work,
In Short after the model Of TIC grand opera
~ established BY Meyerbcer and Ila'evs. .-,lle
"Rpl tle Lahore y will comm aud our approval
mil In parts our admiration.
Natr, the heroine, nrfestcss Of 1ndra, has IN.
spired an un!loly passion iu Se'nda,. the all-
poecrf,!l Minister Of AtL,n, K'ng Of Lahore. who
cIafms her hand from Ti,nur, the high priest.
In the conversation between the two men which
cuaues, II tEaHsprca tint SciHad suspects Ndir
Ut receiving the Yislts OF stranger In spita Of
her M sacred VOW; md, Wien questioned ~ him.
for youth who, at the eound Of the evening
prayer, cutters tho temple nightly through
secrtk door. Seind'a promises secrecy aud for
gvcness on condition Tint tlm glrl will follow
whcseat her disappointed lover t1cnounces her
to the prcsts und priasteases, rho assemble at
the sound Of thc sacred gong. Dcnst will 10
her punishment; but II i Is Inflicted,
a IL asso3es5 ana q os Der at Ea nns ase b
priestcsscs intone. the evening hym, at which
signal the secret door opeas and leta III King
AHfn himself. The! state ot affairs Is now on-
ttrely changed, sna katr from catprit cor
priest, caunot oppose tic wtl' Of his soyerefgu,
who, to pacify ule gods, pronlscs at once to do
battle with the Mohamsntdan armies Invading
The kingdom. Thus amoug warilke and festive
songs closes the first net, Sci!dia only 1owulg
Afi,n's ca.np. a battle has been fought, anil
tho Kings army ts bcntcn nnu he himself
wounded to death. THIS opportunity Sei,.di.
uses for sowing treason among tho fugitive soi-
hi1a ruler i q Lahore. 6nly | ar i ret.es 3 t. ior
sake tslu unfortunate dtitn, and It IL not TIL
after Its death that by force sbe is compelled
10 folluw the rtsurpcr. In the natural coursr
ot things. ~ Ro d' Lahore" would now be A.. A.,
such q contingency had 10 be avoided at any
price, mud II. Gallas, the Ilbrcttst. not satisfied
With single deus ex machtns. accordingly IT,
tr1duces whole s1stc0l Of heavenly machinery.
When the curtain rises for the third time We nro
In thc heavenly nbode Of lndra, the supreme
Eod, Tto Is surrounded by minor deitles at,d the
spirits ct the biessc1. The songs uni DANCES Ut
hourts and other celestial nlalens enliven tho
scene, which seems to draw it, inspiration from
the Koran father than from tho Vedas. Aim,
whose spirit Is soon discovered approaching the
throne o1 Indra, alone refuses to take part III
the universal joy. Amid the beauties of Para
tiiae he remembers Natr, md his ardent prayer
prayer Indra gra1,te, md In tho fourth act Atip,,
restored To lie, Is at Lahore TO thwart the d.
signs of tie trearherous Sciadia, who Ia lust OH
the point Of cro~uiug his SUCCESS BY tic posses-
sion Of the unwilling but po"oslcss Nq!r: A
tho assembled people, and Atn1 ts sayod
from the wrath Of The tyrant by the
priests, xWho gw him shelter IN tho temple
ofinara Here, 10 tlse nth und last act, lc has
\ secret meeting with VAR, but their plans Of
flight are frustrated By the yiRanes Of Sc;Hdiu,
who ertcrs the temple followed by IFS soldiers
md thrcatcGs Atin with second ocuth. 1eatnr
than becou,e the tYrant's wlfo Nair socks de-
atruct!on by hcr own hnnd, and. according to
the lnal tablcau the pair. arc seen ascendlnE to
the abode Of bliss, willie the batlled Scladia,
according to tic English version Of thc hbrttto,
''rcRards them with deep emotion, then pros
The weakness Of this p!o. from dram
attic poiut OF view IL at one apparent. The
charaesers arc little more than shadowy eousen-
uonaltica; the celcstial intcr]ude Is obviously
lHEIHAuEHN luD RuTpQtt VI aEEuIG
display alone; aud the air Of unreality per-
vadng the Whole Ia iotcnsl1cd when the resus-
citatcd Aim appears among tue lIrtng pco-
pic In his own foTm as 1t nothing had hap-
pened, md continues to act mid to suffer exact
iy AZ be had beeB wont to do. But perhaps It IL
unfair to iBdEe by tho canons Of common sense
librctto which contains Ut least suniH affecttru
situations ind no cnd Of opportunities Tor celes-
ttal and terrestrial marches, pagoants, 6ances,
md other attractions Of tho opcratlc stage.
That on these tho SUCCESS OF tho work must to q
Coyont Gar,len had fully recognized; and moth.
inK mora splendid. md Tor tho greater part moro
tnateful could bo imagined than the wny ia
which the piece IL put upon the stage.
The general character Of n. hiasscnct's music
has ntrea.ly been indicated At tic beginning Of
this notice, Competence and even mystery ui
workmanship are displayed III the Instruments
ton, as well as in tllu vocal portions Of tue score.
On the other hand, genuine flow III netodr, aud,
inoerd, spontaneous inspiration ofeany k u !, are
all but wanting.