Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-02-15
"LoHENGRIs" LAST NIGHT.
The National opera Company's Per-
ferInance at the Academy.

night with more strongly marked success
even than was Faust" the preceding
evening, A critical audience filed the
building, and for the first time in Rich
mond heard one OF Wsgner's great
works-in fact, the one most popular and
sought after.
The music Of Lohengrin appeals
to the intellect rather than the senses (;
there is nothing particularly warm or
passionate in its strains, nothing melting
TO sadness or pathOs, but instead
grandeur of conceptivo scope and bold
ness of style which, while it does not
bring the tear TO the eye or the heart to
the throat, amazes and thrills with It's
surprising and individualized harmony.
Throughout the finger OF Wagner shows
distinctly, and he may have overturned
many Of the theories and rules OF other
music-writers, but very few OF them ever
wrote music SO characteristic and origl-
nal
The cast was as follows:
Henry l.. King Of Germany. Frank vetta-
Lohengrin, Knight OF the Holy Grail,
Elsa, Of Brabant. Bertha Pierson.
Frederick Telramund, a Noble Of Breoant,
William Ludwig.
The Kings Herald ............ William Merton
Orthud, wife Of Telramund ......... Clara Poolei
"Lohengrin" requires harder work
than " Faust. and the capabilities of the
cast were last night put to the test in a
manner that was highly satisfying.
Sylvia has a phenomenally robust tenor
voice, and Ludwig and Yetta can both
claim TO be bassos of high order. The
notes Of Bertha Pierson are very like
those of Clara Poole, but better, while
the hitter SURPRISES the former in dra-
matte action. Both have fine voices,
however, not lacking in sweetness or
dramatic power. The whole cast is OF
necessityexcellcnt. Only erlorsingers
can render such Busic.
The large chorus did effective work.
The opera was beautifully dressed, and
altogether the production surpassed any
thing ever seen or heard here.
The orchestration was of course
grand. 1t is a pity, though, that some
people must come late and disturb those
who would be glad to listen to the open
ing overture.
THE QUEEN or sHEBA.
Tonight Karl Goldmark's grand opera
in five acts entitled the Queen of
Sheba will he given for the first time
in Richmond.
The first scene of The opera opens in
large hall in King Solomons Palace,
where Is a brilliant assemblage awaiting
the arrival of the Queen of Sheba.
Assld, A favorite officer OF the King, and
betrothed to Sulamith, the fair daughter
Of the High Priest, has been sent TO meet
the distinguished visitor and escort her
10 Jerusalem.
Assad returns preceding the advent of
the Queen. He enters the palace pale
and excited, and takes no notice of Su-
lamith, who advances to meet him. All
are astonished at his strange appearance
and conduct, and Sulamith is overcome
with grief. King Solomon enters and
bids all depart but Assad. To the King
Assad tells his strange adventure. He
relates that at the foot OF Mount Leba-
non he met the Queen Of Sheba and her
retinue. The Queen was yelled and he
GlA hOl ntG AtA iuhAs lOA bn0 NtiAA NAAC
would unyeil to no one but King Solo
mon. Tired from the heat and travel,
he wandered under the shade of forest
trees and sank down to rest on the messy
bank of a brook. Suddenly he saw
woman. most beautiful i'll face and form,
bathing in the stream. She seemed to
have risen, like an apparition, out of the
&ho 70 4ha hanly cf fla
stream near TO where he was reclining.
He flew towards her, and, TO his Joy, she
did not attempt TO escape, but threw her
plant arms around his neck and claSped
him to her breast. Overcome with &C.
stacy he fell at her feet, when in a mo-
ment there was movement among the
PUSHES. and the bewildering apparitlon
He believed it to have been
all a dream, but the beautiful woman
had taken the place Of Sulamith in his
heart
On hearing the story King Solomon
advises him to return to the chaste love
Of Snlamith, and Assad, accepting this
advice. hastens in search OF his be-
trothed.
With glittering pomp the Queen of
Sheba and her suite enter the Kings |
palace Slaves place rich offering at the
feet of the King. The Queen Of Sheba,
greeted by King Solomon, lifts her veil !
and shows him the face that no man has
ever looked upon. As she withdraws
her veil Assad recognizes the beautiful |
face I've had seen by the brook. In a
IS I. 4 i I.r
She denies that she has ever seen him,
and all look upon Assad as n mailman. |
The Queen is, however, deeply enamored |
of the handsome young officer, and is
filed with jealousy when size learns that |
he is soon 10 wed Sulamith. She leaves |
the King and walks alone in the moon
light in the garden OF the palace AS
sad approaches the Queen. She whis-
Ders "reminiscences Of the scene by the |
brook and takes him again into her arms. |
She parts her veil, but it closes again in
an instant, enfolding them in loves en-
brace.
The morning dawns and the Queen
tears herself from her love.
In the temple all is in readiness for
he marriage of Assad and Sulamith.
They stand before the altar and are about |
% exchange rings, when the Queen APP
bears bringing presents for the bride.
As soon as Assad sees her with frenzied 4.
excitement he tears of her veil and calls
IN her to recognize him. She again
laughtily denies that she knows him.
issad ialls at her feet and exclaims
. My Goddess, thee will | worship"
All stand aghast at this sacrilege. He is
asst out of the congregation and con-
lemned to death. At the royal feast the
queen is detected. and implores the
King to spare the life of Assad. The
King sternly refuses to interfere with
he laws decree.
Sulamith is on her way to join the band
# maidens who in the temple of the
syrian Desert have dedicated their lives
o Jehovah. She stops TO plead with the
ling for the life of Assad. The King
clients and banishes the youth to the
Desert. The Queen of Sheba follows
lin, and offers herself to him, heart and
oul. He casts her OF, crying out,
Away, cursed vision"
A terrific storm sweeps over the Desert.
lssad is dying, and calls on God to bless
iulamith The heartbroken maiden APP
'ears and flies TO her love. Assad begs
OrClVenoss and forgiven sinks in her