New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-09-02

Amiens while on her way TO convent she Hieeo
the Cheyalier des Grieux, who becomes enanore'
OF her. and persuades her to ny with MIN u
Paris There he dreams OF welded plss' she u
greater gayety than his means can purchase io
her She abandons him for a Weather lover al
old roue. and he flies to religion Tor cohsoiatioh
lie becomes q famous preacher. and her humol
on,ir turns toward him. She seeks him in the
Seminary of ST. Supice, breaks down his piou:
resolution with a few words OF love ana aruu
"Reminiscences, and as he had deserted MS FANNY d
now he sacrifices honor and the Church 10 hi'
nassion Desiring more money she leads him tc
gamble: a rival quarres with him in the gamoilhg
ROOM and to get revenge for his losses OF money
and love. brings tn. police upon the scene. The
Cheyalier des Grieuxs father secures the release
Of his son. but Manon is condemned to depor'a'
ton TO the French penal colony in America. Des
Gricux still the helpless slave OF passion secures
the privilege Of going to Louisiana with her Inere
she dies. purged of sin. as the world Is asked 10
think. by her love for Des Grieux, whom she mas
blasted, and by the sufferings brought on herseii
by her own wckedness. 1t is the old apotheosis OF
vice for which. more's the pity, music can 10
more than all the other arts combined.
Pucclnl Is the fifth musical composer who has
taken "Manon" for subject. In 1880 Halevy
brought forward three-act ballet dealing with the
story: Bale wrote French opera with the title III
1885, Auber another In 1886 and Massenet still an
other in 1884 Scribe Auber's coilabOrator, and
the opera. which ended like Puccinis, with the
scene OF Manons death and Des Greux's despair
In America, had a touch OF local color In the en-
ployment of negro dances and Creole songs. Mas
senets opera. which through the influence OF Nine.
Minnie Hauk. brought forward by Colonel
Mapleson at the Academy Of Music in this city on
December g. 1885, has since then dropped out OF the
current repertory. much to the regret OF many ad-
mrers Of the composers talent. The opening and
t,a hos oh
Sgnor Puccinl though NM. Meilhac and Gille. the
French librcttists. did not think 1t necessary 10
carry the story the ocean In order to permit
Manon to die. She succumbs - nothing obvious,
and dies In her lovers arms while on the way to
the ship which was to take hor to America at
Havre. The dramatic and musical climax OF the
opera is the scene in the Seminary OF st. Supice
between Manon and the man whom she had de-
serted Here the dramatis;s began their work Of
sentimental publication by putting prayer into
the herO.ne's mouth. and the composer found MS
finest opportunity in the effective contrast OF secu-
lar and religious music. Manon blends her voice
with that OF choir singing the Magnlicat WIN
na "a not antned a !, scarreIv deserved 10
be- omitted this episode OF the romance entirely lie
nils an act The first act; OF an expository nature.
plays in courtyard at Amiens All IN significant can.
moral eSsracers u dseased I Manon Lcscaa her
brother, "A vulgar guardsman willing 70 trade in
ike Morfontain IN Massenets opera, plans an abb
ducton 10 a carriage which the young people utilize
IN ne ms ana ene n Wanar Hef hondo IN paris
lie with Des Greux and her abandonr nent Of him
coming up only as 4 Renaissance. She Is shown In
the hands Of her hardresser. listening TO madrgal
composed by her oIi loVer ana sung Dy Il cnolr 9i
youths sent by HIM lancing a minuet and surround
ei by admirers. At last Des Grieux enters with re-
proaches Iescaut who had also aided in the affair
with Cieronte having brought the Chevalier to the
house. She wins him over and Is In his arms when
Geronte enters. They are now about to fly. but
on n "A re-
fore they effect th. escape she Is in the hands
81 ne P2ce Jhs 1ird ae5 plays at E t an! Is
which fails; the deportation of shipload OF fe
q pes cricux in rneSiai capac city on the ship Here
the composer makes one OF MS most ambitious at
roil-call and the women 60 10 the gangplank In
various moods. while the spectators comment upon
their appearance and manner. The whole OF the
last ac which plays IN plateau near New Orleans.
is given up to the lovers. Manon dies; Des Greux
Pucc!n has initiated his rivals OF the concentrated
asony school In introducing an orchestral inter- tl
acts. and gyes clew 70 its suPposs,d emo;9na SON
ny orSey TO VII qsT nnonr pa
sage from the Able Prevosts book In which Des
passion and determines to follow Manon wherever
60 f. the snd Of the the
Gently obvious reasons as Paccnis music is extreme
~ difficult and scored In the modern manner. The
orchestra at the Grand Opera House is wofully in
adequate to the work
(Which are no longer heard save in old operas)
and Is kept closely In the service OF the emotional
elements OF the pay The dialogue IS neither recita-
tive song. but something between the two.
sprlnglng from the orchestral part which flows stead
Ily and generally impusively through the work Dor
rowing character from the dramatic situation. Much
OF It is highly spIced ECONOMICALLY az well as in
strumentaliy and the moments OF musical repose-
fulness are not many. Two OF them. the vocal
madrgal and orchestral mnuet. were mentioned in
the telegraphic report last Thursday. A third the
most graceful specimen OF the composers melodic
invention In the voice parts IS the song reproduced
herewith IL IL that sung by Manon In the boudolr
scene while recalling the happiness OF the days
spent with Des CrleuX In a cottage. Manon has few
such accents In the opera, however, ~ rule, sire
lgonlzes orchestral part that seems bent
on bidding defiance the voices This Is true also
Of Des Grieux. What every musician strives for IN
operas OF the character OF "Manon" IL accomplished
by Puccln: the despiCable character OF the heroine
il softened and purified by the music and the sym
OF the listeners are played on until the
thoughts OF justice and retributon fade away. The
appeal IL made more bolserousy than OF yore. but
the agonizng Gran Do OF Nerdps Nio.vtta and
the DYING screams OF Puccnrs Manon nave the
same purpose and accomplish the same end-thc pal
II T..