New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-12-03
MUSIC-THE DRAMA.
1.-THE QUEEN OF SHEBA.n

gent observers OF musical events In Germany youns
musicians and Old their minds crammed with tecbp,o
knowledge and their souls filled with lofty ideals nprsu
the will o. the wisp OF operate production only to
at the end Of their ab0r that their scOres are
to perpetu al imprisonment in their writing desks A
few are fortunate enough to get hearing and Of heso
fraction the good opinions of serousn,ndoo
and experienced reviewers for the press who perceiv
in the compositions the result OF careful studs
OF acknowledged masterpieces and OF an earnes,
desire coupled with indications Of talents which nigh,
shine In some other department Of musical creation
About once in decade work appears which conquer.
for itself tho right be heard all the leading lyrs
establishments OF the country, and Is by virtue OF tim
fact set down artistic triumph. UnquestiODahl,
the standard Of judgment set In Germany is very hgh
one could scarcely be otherwise 50 long as the co,n
try contained genius of such transcenlent power, :,
this very department Wagner 1t had little do Wit,
the gncrs artistic theories had not hoe,
universally accepted; his most implacabe Antagonist.
did not venture to deny him the possesson
OF peerless creative force compared with ali
contemporary composers. Dr. Ilanslick OF Vienna tina
leader of the critics opposed to WagDersm did not hest
tate in reviewing Parsfal" to say that for O man a,
Wagner's age and Wagners system his creative power
still appeared amazing, and that he who able 10
create musical pieces OF the fascinating meodous charm
OF garden and OF the energy OF the concud,
scene In Parsifl" was yet in command Of power for
which the youngest OF Germauys composers might envy
him and Hanslick, it must be remembered, has been
the enthusiastic champion OF young composers lks
Dvorak and Others Of whom he hoped that they Nigh,
stay the rising tide OF Wayners popularity with the
masses.
These facts, thus briefly stated, extremely slgna
cant when viewed in connection with tia
career OF Godmark's K0ngin Won Saba.
which little than ten ears after its
creation received its first representation In America
at the Metropolitan Opera House last night. We have
In mind half dozen operas written by admired ana able
German musicians, which within this time have re-
ceved respectable amount of attention at the hands Of
the German public One has eclipsed this work o,
Goldmark's In the number OF performances given I'VE
refer Ncsser's "Trompeter Won sakkngcn y, but no
new German work has been generally received as a
decided acquisition to the operate list as The Queen
OF Sheba." The reason for this those who saw last
nights performance need not 60 far 10 seek In "Ths
Queen of Sheba" are combined more of the elements
which to make up successful opera than in any
work that have since Verdi enriched the stags
with "Aida" unless II Do Carmen" which for may
reasons DC given unique position among laerlaT
creations Let u glance at these elements and We
pass them in review discuss briefly their merits and
their defects.
The most obvious reason why " The Queen OF sheba"
should be with pleasure. by public wearied with
the operas OF the hurdy cury Italian list lies III its book
ThOughtfully sdered this book Is not OF great
worth, but IN its handling Of the things which give
pleasure superficial observer it certainly admir-.
which rational which strongly eulists the Interest Of
sympathes OF the observers, which is Compare
lively to the stage, ana which aOounds with lp1s-
ing spectacles that not only intrnScaly brliaD.
aud fascinating but that necessary auncts
story. Looked from ITS ethical side and considered
with reference to the sources whence its elements
sprang, it fall under condemnation; Ou.
this will plainly appear after its incidens have
been rehearscd The title OF the opera would indicate
that the Bible story Of the visit Of the Queen OF shebs
to Solomon had been drawn for the plot. This is
only in slight degree. The Queen Of sheba
Solomon the opera and that the end Of the draft
the Scriptural story far she Is concerned
SuidHih, who figures in the play, owes her name but
her any OF her experiences to the Can
tices whence the name is borrowed The song OF Songs
contributes few lines redolcut OF Oriental hyp rb)e,
the poetry OF the book and rituasc service cello
brated in the temple at Jerusalem hpds its Original f.
the open ng in the lXyiith and cxyith Psusi
but with this wo have mentioned ali that the opera
to tue Bible II not biblical opera IN the that
Mehups Joseph" and Rubinsteins d" MaccaDees' and
sulamith - biblical solOlnous magnificent reign
and marvellous wisdom, which contribute certain factors
TO the of the production, belong proiane well
as to sacred history and it will be found agreeable
to deepyrootei impressions to think OF other than
the scrptura solomon the prototype for the S)m9A
OF losentha and Godmark for in TRUTH they make OF
HIM but sorry sentmentallst at best. The local cOlot
of the opera has been borrowed from the Oil story the
haIser," as Will be evident to moments reflection.
ASsdd, favored cOUrtier Is sent by solomon 10
tend greetings and welcome to the Queen Of >'ed,
VINO her way with gifts TO visit the Al whose
for wealth and wisdom had reached hec IN lar
Arabia 4sSai is the type "a mk-and-watery one. It
must be essedl OF manhood trusSng between tho
earthly and heavenly, between a gross, scnsua.
passion and pure, eXatug love. He Is betrOthed u
SUlamih, the daughter Of the High Priest who await:
his return within soomons palace and leads her com
panons IN songs Of gadness. ASSdd meets the queen Il
CATH performs his mission and sets out to rctlrn but
exhausted by the heat OF the day, enters the
forest on Mt Lebanon and throws hnsea
upon 4 bank of moss to rest There the sound
OF FLASHING waters arrests his ear. lie seeks Tao
cause OF the grateful noise and upon transport
insly beautiful woman bathing.
An cbon neck CLEANS through her sable hair,
OF ivory carved her h-ure. woudTous fair,
Two twinklln- stars shine under darkest lashes,
Two arms themselves ike lily -garanGs Irvine,
Through rosebud gates sight OF pearls there hashcs
The nyInph finding herself observed does not cause
the death of her adniger like DIANA but dscloseS her
self as a irritable Wagnerian Venus. she clips him in
her arms aud he fails AT feet when frightened bya
rusng reed the beauty escapes 1ssad Ieru
SALEM and couscleuce-srcken, seeks TO avoid IN, pure
bride. Solomon hears his story sets the morrow ~
his wedding day with SaimV. The queen arrives. aul
when she rains her veil give solomon the hrst glimpse
that mortal man has had of her features
ASsdd recognizes the Venus of his advent.
urc in Lebanon. Bewlldered addressed her AM
is haushtly repulscd But the QateH. no less than
Asdd. has been smittcn. She finds him wandering {
night in the garden whittier she had zone TO brooi
her love aud the threatened loss of its object ,e
morrow, lures him again into her Before 40
altar in the temple just ASsGd about to pronounce
the words which To bind hlm TO SUtIhth she CON
fronts him again, ON the speclous preteXt thai sra
brings gifts for the bride ASSGd again address, her.
Again lie Is denied but now GClrlum has seized us
brain aud he loudly prOcaims the queen the goddess
OF his prayers The people are panicstrcken al tia
saCrieSo and rush from the temple the priests cty
anathema; SWamiM OemOans her fate SaOHi9H speaks
words or comfort the High Priest iutesredcs VIA
Heaven, ana the sOdicry led by BdGtHahCH the over
OF the palace enter 10 lead the prorner L. dea
solomon claims the right To decide his fate Now iAe
queen Is fearful that she Will lose her prov ana
bags his lie boon OF solomon, but tho
king declines TO grant her request ISstd must Work
out his salvation by overcoming temptation. SRHHNE
approaches amid the walng of her companions. she IS
ABOUT enter retreat the edge OF the syrian desert,
hnL shn fnr t-n In III lSsnI NLlALl.L