New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-10-02
THE SWISS OBER-AMMERGAU
FEATURES OF THE PASSION PLAY" AT
SELZACH.


In the charming setting 81 the meadows and
orchards which slope from the foot of the pre-
c!ptOus Jura. the village Of Se'zach - again
holding its Passion Play" There is TINS rani,
cal difference between Obcr- Ammcredu aho
Selzach. that whereas the Passion Play or the
Bavaran village IL an outcome of the religious
feeling of the piace. and was organized WITHOUT
4 thought u the Outsde world. that Of Seizach
was admittedly conceived by way OF imitation
and with view to performance before the
general public. The success OF the play ana the
attention ii has drawn to the village are com
pacently referred to in the official programme
and the steps which led TO its production are
detailed with pride. 1t appears that Mr. Sch'ah
a gentleman resident at SelZach and large EN-
pIOyer in the wat IL trade. visited Ober- Ammer-
gau in 1890. and VAS 80 struck with the interest
and beauty of the sacred tragedy there enacted
that he determined to invite his village to give
similar represen alton. \ schoomaster oil musi-
spent in forming competent choir and securing
music which was considered suitable. Repre-
sensations were given in iS!c'. ND, and 1870
and il vas then determined to erect a building
especially for the purpose. The present year Is
the first in which this building has been used
II is built of wood. entirely rooted in. and de-
signed To seat 200 persons. Several features
OF Wagners' Theatre at Ba;reuth have beer
adopted. There are no boxes or galleries. all thf
seats being in rows on an inclined plane. access
is given by A number of doors. each allotted &c
the holders Of seats OF certain numbers. ana tn.
hall can thus he cleared in "A few minutes. and
the orchestra and choir are sunk out OF sight
The represent atoms usually given on sun
days. and last during the greater part OF the
day The first part commences at IL O'Clock
ard terminates about o'clock. the second com
n,enccs at 10 o'clock and does not conclude
till after > o'clock The seats of three
. classes and substantial prices are charged. the
proceeds going to defray the cost Of the hall and
other expenses for which considerable DEBT
has been incurred.
A SEI.F-CONSCIOUS REPRESENTATION
The Sef-conscious character Of the Sezact
representation undoubtedly deprives II Of the
peculiar interest attaching to the play of Ober
Ammergau Some persons Will go further anC
question the good taste Of deliberately produc
ing entertainment Of this character AZ th'
end of the nineteenth century. In f.hSiauo
there could hardly be TWO opinions on the SUI
iect But the Swiss are not quite the Eng
lish They are less sensitive to the thlnness 81
the line which divides the sublime from ~
ridiculous less actively on the LOOKOUT TOT th'
humorous side If things. they are more matter
Of fact and at the same time, though not de
monstrativc. not at all ashamed ~ their en-
thusiasms. Moreover. Solothurn lin which Sci
zach is situatc-only four miles from the towf
of the same namep is a Catholic canton. and th'
practices and forms of worship OF IN" Roundi
catholic Church lend themselves tc real'st''
views Of the Passion and her incidents ol th'
GOSPEL story which are not COngcnial 70 Prot
estants Hence though the Passion Play %
SelZach makes no claim To be 4 religious service
il is conducted With perfect propriety on th'
part of both players and audience. ana Stdhu!
formed in England in an ordinary concert mai
under the condition that there -hall be no ip
plause.
scribed AS an oratoriO the several numbers o
which are connected by detained narrative
illustrated by tabeaus. As At Ober-Ammersau
the tabeaus are not confined 10 the story OF 'h
Passion. They commence with the htSt stage
the Craation-"I.et there be light com
prise many OF the episodes of Old Testamen
history. such as the Expulsion from PARADISE
the Murder If Abel the Sacrifice OF isaac
Jacobs Dream the sale Of Joseph and the Find
ing of Moses. down to the proclamation or th'
Law Sinai. The opening Of the story OF th'
gospels-the Birth OF Christ. the t1ight lht'
Egypt the Bap ism in the Jordan. as well as th'
Sermon on the Mount. the Blessing Of chlldrei
and the Entry into Jerusalem bring me mrs
part of the representation to close. AFTER th'
midday adjournment the subject OF the Passion
Is itself entered upon and a change If treat
ment in certain parts of the narrative taKe'
place. The Meeting At the Palace Oh CadPhas
al which the dangers of the ne" teachlh8 "er.
discussed and it was decided. 4 possible. 10 crusl
the Teacher; the Accusation before the Higf
Priest and the several scenes before Plate are
acted-the text of the Gospels being consider
ably ampifed for the purpose with THESE
dramatic scenes are interspersed a. before. Nv,
ing pictures of other episodes OF the sacred
story-the Last supper. the Watching ana Seiz
ure i'm the Garden OF GethSemane. the Scour6lnS
tho Crown of Thorns the Progress to Calvary
and finally, the Crucitixion. the RESURRECTION
and the Ascension. Accompanying THESE zap
leaus are a rectativc Of the narrative ana OF the
words of Jesus. ard reflective and penitehtia
airs and chorales after the manner OF Bach
Passion music The singers are for the mos
part concealed, but some choruses are sung ny
a robed choir standing before the curtain IN
strumental music and acclaimed narrative. AZ
in the first part further link the several scenes
and tabieaus together.
THE MUSIC OF THE PLAY.
Such is the general character Of what IS GER
tainlv ON the whole a striking representation
There IS naturally abundant room for criticism
The music Of the Cratoro. for the most part the
II Mill ,nrh