New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-12-02
MUSIC.
WAGNER,S " TRISTAN UNp IsOLDE.r

thing different than the hurried treatment which news
papers are ms rule obliged give such An
attempt at estimate OF tho work might have been
made from pre- yious hearings and study but discussion
Of the performance could not be written In time for this
issue THE TRIBUNE 1t must be postponed to another
day. and 3d. also must features OF Its critical esti
mate
The interesting character Of the fully
appreciated by the public and the drama was seen and
heard by an assembage OF people which can only be
described remarkable justice TO he done. The last
sold last Saturday and the vast nudienceroom
was crowded In every portion The attention paid to the
work was intense and the pauses which permitted such
demonstrations filed with unusual scenes Of delight
The enthusiasm after the first act tremendous The
performers forward three times after the fall OF the
curtain and then Herr Seidl who conducted and had
won the highest laurcs that have yet crowned him in
America, WAS called upon to join them, and
twice moro the curtain TO enable the
public TO publish their delight. SO admirable
was the work Of all concerned In the Interpretation that
measured by the scverest standards, the tribute was
richly deserved In the audience II should be added,
we're number of of note, who had come from other
cities to DO present the interesting occasion Among
them were Mr. W. +. Apthorp. G. II. Wilson, H. g.
Tucker and r. c. Dixey, well known all OF them. In the
musical circles of The parts distributed as
| follows: Tristan, Herr Niemann; King Marx, Herr
Fischer; Isolde, Fraulen Lehman; kurce'a', Herr
Robinson Heot Herr Won Midc; Brangdne, Frauiein
vary A HelDisDian, Herr Singer.
Renders OF English poetry have been given opportuni
ties to acquant themselves with tho legend which is the
basis OF wagners drama by Matthew Arnold Tennysoh
and swinburne. The story IA OF Kettle origin, ana Is
supposed to got into the mouths OF the German
innesingers by way Of France The most admirable az
well "a complete version extant Is the epic poem
of Gottfed of strassburg written in the thirteenth CEN
tury Sir Walter Scott who deeply interested In the
tale edited In 1904 metca version OF 1t from manu-
script which considered 10 BIO the work OF Thomas the
Rhymer, who lived about century after Gottfrled.
From this manuscript Scott argued In favor OF
Welsh source for the romance instead OF Norman. as
was then generally accepted The author OF tho German
epic followed French version OF the tale, as was Gus
tomary with the Mnnesngers of his period he dd not
live complete his poem but already in the eighth cen
fury and again in the fourteenth CONCLUSIONS were sdeo
to it in Germany Lattery Hermann Kurz Karl snrocR
and wilhelm Hertz have edited and translated the text
and appended to it the generally accepted finale.
Except for those who wish to make carerui
literary study OF tho romance the Engnsn
poets whom we have mentioned furnish all
needful information in this premises Iennysons
share in the exposition is exceedingly scant and wholly
yalueless II Is found in the poem, The Last Tourna-
men" one of the dylls OF the King. Arnods Is much
more Interesting He treats directly of the outcome or
the tragedy his poem Tristram and seult and indi-
rectly relates nearly all that Is essential TO an under
standing OF the story Ills poem presents Tie oetn Sccpo
of r1stra Brittany, with the anciful naginlngs OF
the diving man while waiting for the coming OF isun,
who has been summoned from TntageL The whole tale
IS related by Swinburne in his "Trstram OF Lyoncsse
which after repeated interruptions appeared four or tive
wears References 10 features IN these poems Will DC
found later Oh in this review.
slightly in the eren; and English versions pat
the variations need lead one astray nasners r'sa,,
is otherwise known SIR rsrem and lrfsngm All
derive the from the French word h1s ana ma IN IL
q premoninOn of his fate. Thus Arnold:
son she SAID Thy name ,o snail a be 2, sSrro%'
The poet speaks of the heros dying mother 20 also
| Swnburne:
The name his mother dying as he was born
And set II on him smiling IN her sight,
| Tristram.
isolde Is variously Isc,n TsoH and Tsonde; Bran.
mine Is Brongicain and Brcnq,cain; horke Marx ana
Mare hurpendl, Gourerndyte; AoFosd' AoToo""'' Ill
SWlnbllrne.
The story of drama It is presented to the audi
ence in the action OF the pcrsonages the stage would
require little time In the telling 1t Is supplemented
however, by complete exposition Of incidents which are
antecedent the play and essential to 1t, this expos
being accomplished Fl calculated to excite
admiration for wagners skill in the handling Of an
element dramatic construction which is always great
stumbling block the playwright In the beginning we
find the hero and heroine board ship within few
hours voyage OF Cornwall whittier Tristan Is bearing
Isode rs the bride OF hing Mark. Isolde Is an
Irish princess. daughter OF queen OF Ike name
tumultuOus passion Hearing the glad shouts OF
the Sailors and learning their cause she bursts forth like
tempest and declares to her maid. Brangde that she
foot CORVALLIS shore. She deplores the
degeneracy of her mothers sorcer which can only brew
basamc potions instead OF commanding the elements,
and wildly invoices wind and TO dash the ship to
destruction. BrangdHe pleads know the OF her
mistress's disQuiet and learns the story OF ateru
previous meeting between herself and Aing Marks am
bassador. From Isoldes recital and song of
Trrsans squire K,Trenal we learn that isotdes
betrothed, Aorotd at period when Cornwall was in
measure subject Ireland had gone TO collect tribute
from King ja, had challenged TO mortal combat
by Tristan, one Marks knights, and been slain on
lonely island in md-ocean The victory freed Cornwall
the dominion Of isoies royal father In
place the tribute money, Tristan mockngy sent the
head Ireland In the death wound was found
steel broken from the vctors sword, which was
preserved az possible means for identifying the slayer
tristan had not escaped unscathed from the battle A
cut received from Jorods poisoned weapon would not
heal and Tristan who loved dangerous adventures de-
termined go Ireland to seek the aid Of Isolde
who was skilled In magical arts. lie went in lonely
skiff disguised as a harper and called himself Tantrfs
One day isoide, while nursing him. discovered nick In
the knights sword and. bringing the shining splinter
taken from HOros head she found that it fitted into the
nick Helpless before her lay the slayer of her lover
Idnbfs and russian furious rage took pos
session She raised the sword to syenge tne death
of Aorod but at the Tristan turned his glance
upon her. He looked not the threatening sword, but
into her eyes, and in instant her heart was empty OF
anger Hatred given place love. She nursed him
tcndery healed him Of his hurt. md him return
to Cornwall after vowing eternal gratitude
After telling this tale TO Brangdne. Isolde sends the
maid to summon Tristan her presence but the knight
refuses to leave the helm until he has brought the ship
into harbor and his squire Racenai ncensed mt the
tone addressed by the princess to who In his eyes Is
the greatest OF heroes, answer to the summons sings
stave OF a popular ballad which recounts the killing of
Mo,old and the liberation of Cornwall by his master
The refusal completes the desperation of Isolde Out
RACED love- injured personal and national pride Qor she
imagnes he who had relieved Cornwall from tribute
TO Ireland was gratifying his ambition By bringing
her as Ireland's tribute to CornwalD. dctestation
of n loveless marriage to "Cornwalrs weary