The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-04-05

eregn in the country of Iran. Anahita,
Queen Of the T0urans, is a good woman,
capable of fighting against all these evil
ones.
The first act represents Zarastra's camp;
at the right, the tent of the chic f, and at the
left an enormous cedar, whose branches
shade the sleeping prisoners. When the
curtain rises, Zarastra returns victorious
from mis- struggles with the TOuranianS, and
he repulSes Varedha, the priestess of pleas
ure, who tries in every Way TO enslaVe him
by her charms.
in the first scene, an immense staircase
leads to the vaults of the temple of Djahi;
Varedha despairing because Zarastra loves
the charming Anahta, wishes to kill her
self, and is prevented by her father Amron,
who tells her he knows way by which she
can conquer Zarastra.
The second scene represents the grand
square of the city of Bakdi; in the back
ground is the city, and suspended at an I'M
menSe height is terrace, under which
passes the triumphal procession. In vain
Varedha, following the counsels of her
father. tries to win the affection of Zarastra;
TO escape her Zarastra decides to take ref
uge in the mountain.
The third act shows Zarastra in the
mountain; from this moment he is the
Mage" and he talks with God, in the
midst of clouds, in the lightning and the
thunder and ends in an apotheOsis-the
rays of a setting sun.
The fourth act represents the Temple of
Djahi, with q colossal Statue of the goddess
twenty-five feet high-an apotheOsis Of the
diab0lical religion that the Mage wishes to
reform. AT the beginning of the act there
is ballet that celebrates the mystery of
Djahi, but ZarastTa appears. followed by
tie l0uranlans, maSsacres the lraulans.
OverthIows the pillars of the temple and
leaves standing only the statue of the god
des5.
The fifth act is the elimination of the
struggle b tween ancie ut and modern gods.
The new god, Ahoura Mazda, is repre-
scented by Zarastra and Anahita, Queen of
Touran. The Mage" marries this Queen
to terminate the eternal wars between Iran
and Touran. The ancient gods are repre-
sented by Diahi, but after great struggle
Zarastra cOuquers, Varadha dies and the
statue of Djahi crumbles in the midst OF
flames.
NJ. Massenet, who is mystical and pas
sionate, finds in the lIbretto an extensive
field for the exercise of his talent. The IL
brettO of lie Mage" is written by Jean
RichepiD. one of the foremost of French
poets. The French translator and publisher
OF Marion Crawf0rd's "Zoroaster" has sued
Jean Richepin before the Society of Men Of
Letters for plagiarism. Jean Rchepln
seems willing and able to made strong de-
Tense, and public opinion in France is cer-
tainly on his side.
Some ten years ago Jean Rchepn pub
lished LA Chanson des GueuX" and because
of many Objectionable portions the author
was imprisoned for one month and de-
prived of his civil rights OF course the i'm
prisonment awakened curiosity and La
| ChaBsOn des Gueux" was a success. After
that he wrote dramas and novels. La Gu"
was played at the Ambigu Theater by Re-
| jane; Mana SahiD" at the Porte Saint-Mar-
| tin, by Sarah BeInhardt; lie Flibustier" at
the Coincide Franchise. by Nine. Worms
Baretta and Got; Monsieur Scapin," by
! CCquelin, etc.
Jean Richepin has even played the princi-
| pal part in Mana Sahib"; when MaIats was
! i'll there was none capable or willing to
| play with Sarah Bernhardt, so rather than
| cease the representation Rchepin rected
| his own verse to an admiring public.
Richepin and Massenet became tollabor-
ators in this way: Par le Glaive" is drama
written for the Coincide Franchise and fin
| ished four Years ago. When it was read be-
| fore the actors of the Coincide Franchise
| Massenets publisher asked Richepin if the
| drama could not be transformed into an
| opera. Rlchepin replied No." but offered
to show Massenet scenario that could be
arranged for an opera; Massenet accepted,
| and the result is lie Mage"
Jean Richepin has his own methods for
work. Sometimes lie writes eight hours a
| day for two weeks, then re remains idle for
| two weeks. Before a work is placed on
| paper Rlchepln has composed and corrected
| an entire drama or novel, With his goose
| quill, for he has horror of steel pens, he
writes page after page, with seldom a word
| erased, seldom one added. Richepn ac-
| composites much more work In summer
| than in winter. While walking and fishing
| he has time for reflection, but although he
| begins work at o'clock in the morning he
never writes at night. He considers that
| the mind Is too fatigued after shutdown and
| that night is the time for sleep.
When at home Jean Rchepin wears q
very curious costume-pearl gray culotte,
| long red wooden hose attached above the
| knees with black ribbons, long red coat
| with red wooden waistcoat and sash of red
| silk. The entire costume is ornamented
with brass buttons.
Richepin loves picturesque costumes. and
when at the seaside lie makes at least five
toiettes each day-one for fishing, another
| for hunting, another for lying on the sands.
another for star-gazing. etc. Massenet, on
the contrary. wears the simple black coat
always worn by members of the Institute.
Like Rlchepin, Massenet seldom grasses or
corrects his work and his manuscript re-
minds oneof Mozart,s musical handwriting.
| MasSenet Is of medium height, has long
brown hair brushed back from a broad
brow, brilliant eyes and voice whose every
intonati0n is music. Once he gave me de-
tails of his operas. Said he:
1.-The Cid partakes of the style of Mem
uelssouH, hupei, DohlZettl ana Meyerbeer,
| and represents all the chivalry of Spain
| Spain, with her rich colors, superb attitudes.
mantillas, national dances and strongly ac.
cented rhythm. 'Herodade' is Oriental and
| requires aurOras and vaporous clouds: the
'Roi de Lahore is legendary India, with in
| comprehensive deities and heather tradi-
| tions. 'Manon Leseaut' is eighteenth cent
ury France, and 'Esclarmonde' is purely a
| spectacular opera"
Miss Sybil Sanderson Of California. who
had so great success in "Esclarmonde,"
will sing the principal role OF lie Mage"
Miss Sanderson has received her musical
| education from Massenet, and she Certainly
has phenomenal voice, pure as crystal,
| very weak in the medium tones, but wonder
| full in the high register. Parisians are look
| ing forward with eagerness to March 10th,
when composer and artist will add to their
| trlumphs.
BARONESS ALrHEA SALVADOR.