The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-07-07

AASc VI lu0 anu Iuo lul tuOOLs SLo
latter at first hidden by the clouds. by mu-
sic which is so weird and uncanny and
yet 50 fascinating that it makes one forget
that actually nothing Is taking place upon
the stage in the way Of action. except
that Nanru. under the influence of the
moon, is dreaming In a restless sleep. Mu-
sically. this symphonic poem. as I should
like to call it. is wonderful and replete with
novel effects. especially in the scoring for
the woodwind. which neither Wagner, nor
yet Bizet. or Tschaikowsky. have ever at
tanned. let alone surpassed. It IS Just in the
orchestration of the opera where most
admire Paderewski's musicianship, for
throughout the entire work the orchestra
sounds euphonious and is made the vehicle
tor the expression Of many and strong
cltmaxes. without ever growing obstreper
Gus or In the least Interfering with. let
1'one covering up the voices. This con-
summa1e art OF Instrumentation is perfect
wonderful in composer who has so far
written so comparatively little for orcbes.
IRA. But. then. SO is the entire musical
'cneme. which II highly dramatic. intense
ana original In conception and in efyact
ifom the nrst note to the last, and would
mako OF Paderewsh's very first opera an
une9uivocal chef d'oeuyre IL the libretto or
anru' oy Doctor Alfred Nossig, were of
qua. 'aiue as the music. This. however
'pt'e soms very poetic episodes, and. al
,"oosn inc construction IL such thai :,
onefs many good chances to the composer
1or the display OF his abilities in al, d,,.o-
IONS. am sorry to say. ts not 81. 80.
are several weak spots in It from a
amat'e viewpoint. the principal fault be-
sa,. ,ue rleooent Interruption. dragging and
.ains OF an action. which in itself co,;.
ns nafdiy much more material thor
.oa'u nave been compressed into o,.-..t
opera out which in '.Manru.. has b.sn
u.A~n % as to do service for a comn,e,.
tnlee-aet hbretto. I give you herew,th
resume Of these contents:
Ae' l. IN a village common in IN. ,r,...
fountains young peasant girls ar. h,,.,,
Ane preparations for the celebration -,
Hs harvest festival. In the midst q, 80
- contrast TO their Joyful PROCEEDINGS 80.
uus tne PLANT of old Hedr;,, 1,.,,o
"ny thinks of her daughter T-;sn.
.nce tne ofettiest girl in the village 80
1'as 'een abducted by Manru. ..yn.,. ~
e'ehe While the gay chorus IS resnr,',
ing anew there appears suddenly ~. 49,
scene urok, semicomical se,r;d.nas.,. ..e
Fellow. He 10 the ONLY ono ,-ho
,ovs o.. 1 rno oy him known to be hopeless
- o'ana. sometimes wends his wav
ss.r., .oles. TO see the young couple whom
everybody else shuns. o"
.o.., oN tI,es to touch Hedwie's heart nv =.
an oiaha's misery. Hedwte. touavar
- win hatred against kanru. refusa.
-. -, VI assist her daughter as lon. -
80. remain the sypsys wife. Hesw,.
49,. 70 her dwelling, and th. ror,s.
!" me chorus mock Urok a. .,s
:. nusnt' defender and hopeless lov.r :.
oiana. Then the outcast herself .,n..
1ton tie scene in order to seek the 80
s'veness OF her mother. The pale nnhsnn-
WOMAN excites the pity CT ONE of Tho -.
Ianons OF her youth; the others ,o,.e.
.ua,h her company and deride her bv ~.
oiounG 10 her infidelity and ah,,do pe.
On inc part OF her husband. Cor vhen 80,
o'a' gypsy grows crazy soon. E,,u
- oo~ or1ves the girls away. Tb,. :.
- .our. When alone with IJlan. =.
-. - ne' mar ne finds her mother fmplac..
N". wy oiana' trusting to the kindness. =,
.no.ness neaIt. knocks at the door Of hs-
w. scene - Hedwie comes forth. ~.
looks ana ths plants Of her daughter tonch
Iet; sne - willing to pardon and take ~.
neek NOME together with her baby. hnt
oniy on the condition that Ulana win sen.
..'e ron Aanru. When the young wo,n: n.
VINO loves her husband WITH al ,.r .haa
refnses the mother dlscards h.r sorsrss
(ssene 81 Completely undone. ulana fan.
IN svoon. when U.ok comes to the fors
He warns her not to link her fate with that
OF the gypsy. who would leave her when
his tribe would aext go away from that
part OF the country. Again he offers her his
protect,on. uiana. however. thinks Of but
one tn.ns. ING. tnat u to secure and hold
forever Manru's love. She bees OF 1Tr,,
who. IKE the mother Of Isolde, Knows many
a1fa. to brew for her a love potion. The 1eai-
Gus Urok refuses but when Ulana give,
him love look he finally yields ana prom
ises the phiIter. Scene u