New-York tribune., 1901-03-21
MUSIC.
, NEW OPERA AT THE METROPOLITAN.

+At and an artistic excellence which should make
s fortune hereafter Public interest did not seem
,o be centred it, however. and first night
which would have been phenomenal incident in a
r7rropean city passed off without attracting a
numerous audience or even exciting the special
pronder Of the people who were present. 1t was a
singular and inexplicable exhibition of apathy
one that battles explanation. 'Salammb6' is not a
,rork Of inspired grandeur but ii is novelty here
.be work of a serious-minded much respected
r-snch musician. 1t has had an honorable career
moreover and had il been given earlier in the
season make no doubt it would have
honorable success. 1t shall have serious treatment
here.
FTaubert's brilliant novel supplied the material
out OF which the opera constructed The
-onnance has large historical incident for back
ground, namely, the suppression Of the mutiny
en,oug the mercenaries of the Carthaginians by
r4amilcar in the first Punic Running through
she gorgeous tissue which the French novelist
-,cve about this incident is the thread OF story
which Camille du Locle drew out for Reyer's
.A story OF the rape OF the sacred veil of Tan by
,he leader OF the revolving mercenaries. his love
for salammbo. daughter of the Carthaginian gen.
eral her recovery of the veil with its consequence
of disaster her lover. and the pitifu death Of
both at their hands. The authors of the opera
are adopts in the field of what might be called
musical spectacle. NJ. du Locle had a hand in both
of the two operas which Verdi wrote for Paris
Les Vepres Siciliennes' and Don Carlos Under
the eyes of Verdi at SAINT Agata he wrote the
nrose scenario of Aida which Ghislanzoni turned
into Italian verse for the composer. Flaubert's
book is a minute and exhaustive archaeological
study. and fits descriptions life religion
and manners were effectively employed by both
iibrettist and composer. If prodgaI and sumptu-
GUS heaping up of stage adornments could make
the success of opera --Salammb6' would be one
OF the greatest trumphs of the French lyric stage
but pompous pictures the be-all and end-all
OF opera in Paris. and the fortunate co-opera-
IxoclA was in -la
the collaboration of Du Locle and Reyer. But of
that more anon.
Here is the progress and purport of the opera
and exposition of its panoramic furniture Greek
Egyptian. Gallic Numidan and Syrian merceuaries
are feasting in the gardens of Hamilcar. They
pedging their tutelary deities when plants OF
the imprisoned slaves Of Hamilcar heard. The
mercenaries. headed by Matho a Lybian. free them
and invite them 10 their feast. Among them is
spendus Greek. who craftily takes advantage of
the dissfection among the mercenaries because of
the failure OF the Cartha ginan Senate pay their
wages and incites them to revolt and sack Car
thage. The work Of destruction begins Matho leads
his men UP the stairs of Hamilcar's palace, when
the priests Of Tanit appear and with them Saamn1-
bo, whose beauty and dignity awe the pillagers.
They hail her Isis. Vesta Pallas. Astarte and
Urania- and Matho. infamed with love, throws
himself upon his knees before her. Narr Havas,
g treacherous Numidian King who would make
saIammbo his wife. attacks Matho and wounds
him. II is the Greeks opportunity and he per-
suades Matho. whom the mercenaries have chosen
as their leader, join the revolt in order TO gain
possession OF Salammb6. This is the action OF the
first act.
The scene Of the second act is laid before the
temple OF Tanit the principal goddess of the Car
thaginians and the prototype of the Greek Aphro-
Cite. Priests invoke her under some of her many
naues-Anaititio, Derceto. Mytta, Rabetna, Baalet.
Tyratha. They hymn her praises while the
'courtesanes sacrees'' the rites with which Tant
liceDtiOuSl perfOrm a
solemn dance Shahabarim, the high priest OF
Tanit goes into the temple to worship the mystic
veil upon which the fate of Carthage depends 1t is
lie Zaimph mysterieux
Tissu des feux dune etoile
spendens betrays the secret OF its power to
Natho whom he has guided into the sacred haze i've
sa ron aRa apen to nG perm the aaoraon of
s6 h Mffho bers he is
aammbo. who has come to ease her troubled mina a
pgs pa1e tod br to protect from
Maho has thrown the ZaImph over his shouoeTS; act
If the radiant garment, but recoiIs when ne pro,
% whom She had given goblet of wine in the
gardens of Hamilcar. She summons the priests
sn9 4 the Te wTapped in its radiant folds afbo
caves the scene. followed by the maledlcuons OF
In the third act Hamilcar, returned from for,
senators of Carthage, and learns from them of the
revolt Of the mercenaries and its cause the scene
Moloch. gigantic image Of the god almost mis-
he bull buii-Headed ffre-eod, his hands extended for
acrhce, the rocky walls rejecting the nickeTnIg
tscending Ha1nilcar upbraids the lawgivers and
refuses 10 accept the command of the Carthagin-
ans against the mutineers until he hears that the
yell of Tanit had been stolen by the lover OF ms
services on condition that his power be unlimited.
md this conceded. he vows to oner twenty sons
tul beauty follows The spectators. are with sa.
amnlb6 upon a terrace overlooking the acropols Of
snce Below is aiTa vast African city ike the cairo
sf to-day. Flat roofs and, Oriental domes CLEAN
self-accusng thoughts, resolves to enter the camp
he suggestion of the high priest she dons her
bridal garments, while dancing women circle about
:irnbs up the sky II is the symbol OF Tanit Sa-
an1mb6 prays for forgiveness and consecrates her
sares looking she into Mstos m t tent Where the zafmph
n1ands death or the veil. Matho,s love qvercomes
ivering himself into the hands OF his enemies. he
nevertheless places the veil in her hands. She too,
/ mutual embrace the carthaginians attack the
parnp. aided by the traitor Narr' Havas. destroy
nent, We see the forum of Carthage marvellous
stage picture Gorgeous palaces S are piled against
wilderness colored marbles. colonnades, terraces
g in the seen Of the veil At the left
of the spectators ascends a broad staircase lead
Carthage are gathered together to celebrate their
triumph and witness the wedding Of ,sL9 salammbo 5
hand Of Hannilcar reward for his perfdy Palace
aorches esplanades and staircases are nded a WIN
images. Suddenly there is a comm9tion on the
HsRo pa xo6wed Up sas By mob D6 Who are Beang
nim with scourges: He staggers. falls and rolls
smmb6 Shahabarim prepares to slay him as
sacrihce but the rabble demands that privilege for
of her people: She accepts the awful m @ duty but
his bonds. clasps her in his arms and Stays him