The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-06-04
WAGNER IN Paris.
The " vnikyrie" for tho First Tine at the
Opcrn


the chief work OF Wagner. who, according to
his custom. composed both tho music and
tho librctto. Tho latter Inns been trans ed
into French by NJ. Victor Wilder.
1t is we'll known that "Valkyrie" forms a
portion OF the celebrated WaEnerian tetraloGy
founded upon NibelunCen legends. which are
purely German. according TO the great COM
poser OF Gnireuth. but whose origin. Accord
ing to certain learned men. among others M.
Du Clension. the celebrated Archaeological goes
back 10 the Celtic mythology OF Bretagne.
This first representation was a veritablc tri-
umph for the Wagnerian school and Its in
terpreters. Wagner is honceiorth not only
adopted among us, but even deileG so to say
by tho French public. The petty spites OF the
master. 40 unfortunate in their manifesto
ton, are forgotten, or rather, they are Judged
to-day as natural enough for n Con!us who
| found himself misun derstood by the very peo-
pie to whom no had come 10 ask for con sid
Grafton OF his talent France docs for WaC-
ncr what she did for other Gallophobss less OK
| eusable, for Mozart and for Weber. In her
| eyes genius blots out everything and she
| is right.
The interpreters OF tho work OF Wagner,
| NM. Nandyck fSipgrtundl, Delmns fWoidnJ,
Grcsso Honnding, and Mines. Cnron (Sieo-
indel, Briynl (Br1unh''del. Dcschamps-Jchin
| lfiickdL. Marcy. Carrere. Berthst. Agussol.
| llesIon. JRnncn, vincent. ana fhNOlIe uiHN-
rieJ were all equal to their difficult tasks. The
| orchestra was excellent uader the direction
| OF NJ. Colonns, its leader.
! AS for tho scenery there Is but one opin-
| ion, and that Is that 1t Is n brilliant success.
| The dwelling OF Honnding In the first act
| painted by Messrs. Rub6 and Chaperon, repro
| sents an enormous oak. which serves Ms the
framework OF n cabin. in tho style OF those
| with which Garnior used to embelish his
series Of types and styles OF architecture in
| the Exhibition Of 1880. Whom through tho
wings. suddenly thrown open. there ap-
penred that charming scene OF nature in its
springtime awakening. the public applaudod
with cnthusiasm-n verdict with which the
| two masters in decorative painting may
we'll be satisfied. The scene in tho
second act, tho Alps. is by II. Jambon. In
| this work the painter displays a fne feel
| ing for tho tragic and tho mysterious. FL
nally Cnrpezat made for the third act sceno
worthy Of the two others. 1t is a rocky ridge
shaded by cluster OF frs. which PARTIALLY
masks tho entrance OF a Erotto. above which
are constantly passing through the clouds
that are flying with the tempest tho valky-
rie and their chargers rushing through
space at dizzy heights Never before has ma
chinery and decoration produced such an H.
fusion or such tragic impression.
l must congratulate Messrs. Bertrand and
| Gailard. the directors OF the opera who have
| spared nothing to bring about the success OF
| the work which they have had tho courage to
mount-a courage very meritorinus for theatre
rrove to them amply that they have not been
| Ills TO the much regretted Victor Wilder. who
| spent tho greater portion Of his life in trims
ter, to the weekly concerts which fashion
| introduoed into France In rs. which ere.
ssf ns
| ner is indebted for tho popularity which 10
enjoys amons ne sodsy even among th2ss
timo IL. pnst when the people Kissed Tam
ha Tns Ct tie 2nsFA; ,o,ra II, ~. or,.
iis:,3. At the concerts Of the chatelct. under
Opera conducts tho reriormance ' Of the en-.
breugLt out %0nRs
Then. came Lnmopreux, who brought out
!spressntstion q T?hsncfia The "Mdo,.
have snes %Hf d. R ts pto
gramms OF every leader Of an orchestra OF a
wssns wse his a ses
sion by group of chanayns at the time Of
day BY III wose sppss Is tor tor
art easy to satisfy. finds suiiieisnt pas
tgTss' in ths M works Of DSrou:
| to understand him. has become here some
thing more than religion: It is fashion
timcnt which tho other day popularized In
Paris the Tn-rara boom decay"
very, DAY after the misunderstanding success
which Messrs bertrand aud Gai!lard have Iust
in the boS id to it sr ny
dhIs S.nra,td, NOTE out in my opinion an
really the people for such Music t Seith @s
the system Of education in usage. nor
| nav
national expression. The Latin. tie friend Of
little prepared for learned, syn phonies The
Geirmsn, ON the contrary: through long ira
cnannG Se as Of the re If s9?
ensemble Of melodies. whose symphonic con- CON,
course forms their, harmony. On the other
modate itself with difficuIty to an intrigue ap-
EnErsn,tly cSSmnlicated i,ntsntIonsliy: whose
mSn Whch is 50 serad p 0F o 1ne dsTs
the skay Of rt. s'n n,n Of sS
s nTad that whose bSsr
ty can only be comprehended after a
Icons ptecarlous T.nphtus:r,! whieh the
racss tie Lain 1rSs ana Gs Il STANDS
bsttor chance e remain In our rspertory.
tho RF Of rRsh ss nd esssy
where. 1t has gone astray and Is troubled
with q great desire for pessarch, and any one
who believes In tho unity OF human evolution
can see in mi. crisis: just as in the case Of our
ton. Nevertheless. no longer having tradi-
tlsn to guide us. q thing now abandoned
cropping about on ali sides we are sufierinc
from oDscutIty. and our light 10 on the point OF
going out. The mysterious, even when II Is
the sons Of light. and we find charm In wan.
derlng In the dark The memory OF our Latin
mists and foSs. 1t is to-day from tina north
that light Ia coming to us-n pale ray OF a win
ter sun which forms beautiful rninboGs in
u lead,colorsd sky, which reveals the white
swan OF b1ohsngrin gliding on the dark waters
rocs. with long, flowing boards ms imsted and
cuirassed in gold and silver. and amid tenn.
pests and lShtning hHAtine with tho gods Tor
RAYMOND DAILY,