The Arkansaw traveler., 1884-03-08
THE OPERA OF .RIENZi." BY R
 WAGNER.
rrx,n. famh,,,,ge rribune-

of kscnEt to mSGc tae tast ol Inc Tribunes the hero of an opera The text. as Wagner himself admitted, was not written with aEs particular care as re- gards poetic beauty hts grea, ambition wAs to produce ar opera of the Meyet- beer school, with magnihcence of scenery and brilliant hnales When the opera vas all completed. although Meyetbeer saw the score and gave Wagner letters of introduction in paris. II was with the greaies; difficulty that he could get II ae- eepted. Al ihis time his money gave GU, and he was compelled to undergo " the mos; humihating trials of musical drudg cry in order to earn a livelihood. kl- ens, was first accepted m Dresden and now occupies a prominent place Tn the reperto,res ot the larger opera houses ID Germany kienz'. the las, of the Roman frieuaes. was young enthusiast dream inx among the desolate runs et ancient Rome of making the Eternal City once more the queen of he world. Though his parents were poor and oi lowiy call ins his ,ther vas the natural son ot the Emperor henry VII, and II was the piiie of the parent tha, probably gave kietx the nnwnn,ed advantages oi educa,ion. Ehl> pitdc made him. even m hls eafiiess youth, deem himse.t he equal of the ke- man signors and hal; unconselauslv ss- pire to be their supercr. But. AS the tIi eratlre of Rome was uniolded so his eager eye and ambitious heart. he be came imbued with ,ha, p,idc oi country which IS nobler than the pride of bIth :; and. save when s,ung by .sllusIons ;o hi, aiigin. he unaiiectedly valued himself more on being a Roman pleh.an than the descendan. oi a Teuton king.
 The m -iden, of his brother $ death co cured while K ,enEi was beyond the gates of the c,ty. dreaming as he wen, along of the past greatness of the Rome whose ruins were ali around hlm The li,iIe one had wandered away some distance to gather flowers for his sister Irene be- came Innoeen,ly mixed up Tn an stftay between the followers Qf the riyal house. the ots,ui and the Colonna and was bruially pierced through from back 10 bre..t by the Ian of one oi the follow CTS oi Colonns hefDfc K enH couid pic vent Ii l" From that bloody day. Sa, Bnlser "C ola di klenn rose new be- ing With his young brother dted ht> ! ,ies ard genus became concentrated m ,a single polnt-revenge And when inc time CAr,e Tor him tn release ,he pco- pie ei Rome from the oppression ot the lasoIent nabies, the memory ot his broth CTS deaGh inspired hun To pro, eed and complete the work winch he had gwen to hum sci to do. {" Rome shall llse again rom her ashes justice snail tethtone oppression men shall walk sate ln tkcu ancleni forum We wiil tousc isnm his forgotten tomb the lntonitaif.e soul oi Cato There shall be 4 people on, C more ln koEae And l shaii be the instrument oi that triumph. the restorcl ] of mv rtce' Mime shaII or the hrst voice tn swell the baitle-cry of freedom mine the ilrst hand to rear her banner: yes from the neigh, of my own soul as tom d mountain l see already fising the lbcf es and the grandeur oi the new Rome and, on .hc cornerstone of the mighty fAbr'e, posietiy shA!! read ny aalae
 The curtain r.ses and the hrs, act oi Inc opera begtus. The scene IS in Inc street, pf Rome and 'iaec 7fsini with h,- 'f.cnds are 4uemp'ir E to my of Irene klcus $ sister. whom they have sue rcd ed n taking from her nome. but ste !. saved by het lover Adrian di Colcnra .he atge,rs ,h b., til.nis ,as, m tune to rescue her. Adrian pfo,e a's Iiea. shHe the followers oi the llsaI Ia non i h. ID spite ot the art binshop who r present x ihis mornen; kierz appear sid addresses ihe nobles m indi i.naH iai suage aua eerap ares lhc gtaEdeur Q ancient Rome ~Ith iae degradation C the present The nobles agree hntll, [, r..h. he neA. morning, mo, ID the street uul oUisIoe thr gaies of Inc cl.y Rsenx then take syon hiuscli to cs'4bls>h th, republic ADoat ~hich he has df,amed ;, lons ht seeafes lhe suppoI; oi inc Ho sigusl heln.' sounc ed by a u1mpe,er k,c, then appears n onllian, arInor CT the step, of ghe church and IS gfee,ed ,, the people as Rou e's dehverer
 The nrs, sc enc | the second aei shosa U I le4at,fIl r. epien room in the cap ito RIenzl has been sue es.fal Tn hl military undertaking and the ,dings Q peace prevail over Roman lands. Tn, messengers of peace who enter singing arc clad n white and bear n their hand, silver wands The Orslni and Coionn. f,c,ons have been conquered. R.enz slshes now n establish ike gnl,y of Iial, and the suprems of Rome. and d. eafes tha, the chaice of an emperor be lonss 10 ;he Roman people He an norrces his rans 'o the embassadoi' and nobles gathered together Al a bal quet gwen V hini ?. inc capi0l
 The ballet si ihis posHt IS hne frs fhe faei.. ~ho sr~ .h dressed n arIaaf nave !, comp. a.d figure 10 perfor A q l t5e c4asa 1f sAbfe md srlei!. ~hich ke~; line w th ne mgsEC irnas Dgalt 70 tie ehale etfe then he ar danae then tsgfe .aeaf.AzlI.e ,u ne otr sgfeuud .nose whB nave .nd-ioppei. fla .h.eic aa.. Ea,ne1ec .a, etaef sald.Hg tgsu over sn-r heads The sh,e3Gs arr uSst., or ae-p.zse # to ca e'her sd IA the soie rnsk. $ ffa nc. eve. ola.iaff. S'e,5s winch ie.a on ID lh4s platform. ar, made by those having obiong eh eids a..d while ;se dance 4l the iron of ,h,