Evening star., 1897-05-04
MAX BRUCH'S "ARMINIUS"
The 0ratorio to Be Sung by the Choral So
ciety Tonight.
Sketch Of the Incidents Upon which
the Work Is Founded and How
II is Developed.

The oratorio of "Arminius." by Max
Bruch. which the Choral Society will pre-
sent tonight and tomorrow evening. is
something out of the ordinary line
OF the society's concerts the work being
c-assed as a secular rather than a sacred
oratorio. and :hc interesting historical Incl
Gent which the poem celebrates is worthy
OF notice
In the Corcoran Art Gallery there is n
beautiful set of electrotype reproductions
OF about thirty pieces of this remarkable
cohecton They are known as the Hide
sheim treasures and are in A. in
the south room of the new gallery Al
though the statement in the catalogue
throws some doubt upon the identification,
from the fact that a few of the pieces
would seem to belong to a later date, vet
an antiquarians agree in attributing most
OF them TO the Augustan age. and many
consider that they were the dinner service
either OF Drusus twho overran Germany a
lew years before Narus was appointed
governor. and upon whom was bestowed
by the Roman senate the title of German
lcus Tor himself and his posterity) or OF
Narus himself. From the fact that these
treasures were found near the supposed
site OF the battlefield. and that such OBJ
jects would hardly be abandoned except
under stress of defeat II would seem high
iy probable that the Berlin museum holds
the identical dinner service of the Romai
general who was so crushingiy defeated
by Arminius, and that the treasures lay
Tor eighteen and a half centuries where
the Romans buried them while grim death
was staring them I'm the face
In 1919 a colossal statue of Armlnius was
erected near Detmold. Germany and the
occasion seems to have inspired Max
Brach. poet and composer. to immortalize
the story in noble verse and music welded
into grand tribute 10 national freedom
Free scars the eagle high in ether Free
breaks the fount from rocky shaft. Ana
inL o. h. rl.
free-born sons of Notan, we have not
learned TO bend to the strangers yoker
For Freedom reigns within our dwellings,;
Germania's sons are free men," These uuo-
tations from some of the choruses indicate
the theme and spirit of the work
The character of Siegmund is a creation
of the poet, but the incidents of his death,
together with the character and role of
the priestess, serve to weave into the story
much OF the interesting mythology or re-
ligion of the ancient Germans. some of
which has been made familiar TO us I'm the
parts of the "Nibelungen Lied" which
Wagner has taken as the theme of some
of his music dramas.
Nalhalla was the abode of brave heroes
after death. a grand palace, with banquet
ing hall radiant with gold. the ceiling
formed of spears, the roof of shields and
the benches strewn with coats of mail.
The heroes amusements were uproarious
feasting ct table lwhere the Nalkyries
waited on them) and fighting and staying
each other between meals, the difference
between this and terrestrial experience be-
ing that they all invariably turned uD safe
and sound for the next banquet.
The priests and priestesses eNerted 4
great influence over the people. predicting
the future from the neighing of horses and
the flight of birds.
The role of Armnius will be sung by
Max Heinrich of Boston, the greatest bart
tone in America, and a thorough musician
well vocalist. He has appeared here
as soloist with the Boston Symphony Or
chestra and the Wilhelmj Club and In de-
lightful song recitals, in which he has al
ways played his own accompaniment ON
the piano. Arminius is his greatest role,
and in this he is unapproachable.
The role of next importance is that OF
the priestess, and in this the supporters OF
the Choral Society will at last have op-
portunity to hear the grea: cohtralto.
Mary Louise Clary, who had been engaged
for two seasons to sing the role of Delilah
in the Samson and Delilah" which the
society were obliged to abandon. and whom
they could not obtain when they fnaIly
presented the work
The tenor part of Siegmund will he sung
by Mr.. E. c. ToTne, who has given such
satisfaction on the two previous occasions
when he has sung with the society.
Altogether 1t is a notable trio of artists
whom the Choral Society Will bring to
Washington tonight and tomorrow even
irg, and as the seats have been placed
at only 20 and 15 tents. the Congre-
beth nights. The Washington Society of
to attend in honor of the memory of their
mn In nd