The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1896-03-17

Something About Hernhardts Mystical
Play and Gabriel PierDe's Oriental Mu-
train.

Something About Hernhardts Mystical
| PLAY and Gabriel Piernes Oriental Mu-
| sic.
| Here is little gossip about Sara
Bernhardt and the play "IZeyl," which
she is giving at the Hyperion Thurs
day evening, which may interest the
| "Courers" readers.
| Of'all the new plays which Bernhardt
has produced during the last few years
"Izeyr' is the most unique. 1t is Hin
doc drama in four acts, written by two
collaborating Frenchmen, Armand Sill
vestre and Eugene Moraud, with incl
dental music by Gabriel Pierne. The
strange. rich beauty of the settings, the
originality of the subject and the wierd
element of mysticism that pervades
the story, these features presented as a
fascinating background for Bernhardt's
marvellous acting have given the play
an extraordinary success The IDEA
| of a Buddhist drama is said to nave
| originated with Eugene Touraud, who
suggested it to Silvestre. Together they
set to work to collect the necessary IN
| formation on the subject of the Hindoo
religion and to Undue their minds with
the spirit of the mysticism and occult
ism that is characteristic of the Bud
dhist cult. They read all the books
they could find on these subjects and to
be correct in details of exegesis they
appealed to that fervent and eccentric
Buddhist, NJ de Rosny. Their pur-
pose at first was to present the piece
to the classic temple of Moliere, but
knowing that if accepted it would have
to wait three or four years for produce
ton at the Coincide Franchise they re-
linqushed the idea. Then Sara Bern
hardt occurred to them, and thinking
that the Orientalism would appeal to
her, as soon as two acts We're COM
pleted they submitted them to her AS
they had expected, she was at once fas-
cinated with the originality of the sub
ject and accepted it for immediate pro-
duction at the Renaissance
Sara Bernhard hasoften been accused
of a lack of artistic sincerity in her pro-
auctions of plays. This charge certain
/ ly cannot be made against her in the
case of 'Izeyl'' Sir Henry Irving him
self never gave more care to Snakes
peare play at the "Lyceum' than the
French artist showed in this instance.
The scenery was done by the most
eminent painters. Every costume was
made under her own personal super
vision and the music was commissioned
from Pierne.
Gabriel Pierne is one of the youngest
members of the new French school, but
one of the most successful and promis-
ing. He first attracted the attention of
the musical world by the charming
music that he wrote for 81 Enfant Pro-
digue." Since then his works for piano,
among them a fantasia for piano and
orchestra, which Anne Lachaume
plays, have come into nopular notice.
His "Serenade" for violin which Mar
sick introduced here has been adopted
into the repertoire of all the violinists.
/ Through much of his music there runs
an oriental strain and that is probably
why Madame Sara selected him for her
''IZeyr' music. His inspiration in this
instance was undoubtedly received from
David's lie Dessert and Georges BIZ
gets "Djamileh," but considerable orig
inality is evinced and some of the lyrics
are charmingly done. He has made use
of all manner of syncopations, strange
|
monte devices and has succeeded very
we'll in reproducing the oriental color
The plot of "Izeyl' was taken from
the touching story of Oupagoupta and
the courtesan Uasavaddatta as found
In Burnouf's Introduction to Bud
dhism,' and in general outlines bears a
striking resemblance to the gospel mar
rative of Christ and Mary Magdalen.
Since the DAYS of Sir Edwin Arnold s
Light of Asia the study of Buddhism
has had considerable vogue with fash
ionable women and to such the story Of
Prince Siddartha is we'll known The
name of "IzeyP' was adopted for the
heroine of the piece because the original
"Uasavadatta" was considered inhar-
monious. Properly this is a trisyllable
and should be printed with diaeresis
over the ''y'' and it is so used in the
music. This would make (for the bene-
fit of those who are unfamiliar with
FRENCH the pronunciation E-zay-eel,
with the accent on the last syllable, but
since in most newspaper offices the
diaeresis is an unknown article the
name is generally heard E-zayl
Here is an example of the lyrics from
which the quality of the verse can be
judged:
Izeyl, file au occur farouche,
Qui bort un eternel somneil
Pour quentin sa grace tie touche
Jevoque lie printemps vermeil
L'aube qui fait pleurer DIES larmes
Meme aux saphirs lointains du cell.
Ne peut-elle attendrir tes charrnes,
Izeyl, file au occur cruel?
Izeyl, fleur de jeunesse,
Que faube laisse sans PRISONS,
Pour quentin Famour en- tot naisse
Jevoque Fame DIES chansons.
lie souffle divin qui penetre
Jusqu'au occur du lys argente,
Ne peut-il emouvoir ton etre
Izeyl, o fieur de beaute?
To California.
Alexander Troup, manager and edi-
tor of the New Haven Union, with Mrs.