The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1907-01-30
Gruesomeness Of Text is EnshrOud-
ed in Fine Acting
ORCHESTRAL TRIUMPH OF CENTURY
FREMSTADT SUPERe AS HERO
o,As' oAUGHTER-eURRlAN's
MASTERLY WORK.

NEW YORK, Jan 30.-The first per-
Torrance in America of Richard
strauss music-drama. 'Salome," oc-
cured at the Metropolitan opera house
and with this event there was introduce
cd to this country the Strauss work
which, more tremendous than grue-
some. had such an enormous success at
It's premiere in Dresden. 4 little more
than q year ago, since which time it
has taken Germany and parts of Italy
by storm.
'Salome" is not a pleasing text. The
version that Richard Strauss has drap-
cd and immoraiiZed with his mantle
OF music is the one by Oscar Wade.
written originally for Sarah Bernhardt.
hut which has not had any lasting
success III any country or in any lang
uage. Now il bids fair to wind its
way into the furthest corners of the
operate world wherever the difficulties
70 giving it performance can be over
come.
Richard Strauss has justified, artis-
t:caliy, the employment of the berated
Wilde text for he has woven about
ttis acton a tonal fabric that in glow
ing orchestral colors and in cunning
CompleXity of pattern. surpasses any
operate work that ever has been Of
.tred to modern cars. Compared with
this stupendously intricate score the
musio-dramas of Richard Wagner are
OF childlike simplicity. Strauss has
invented new difficulties. has taken
uudreamed- of liberties with the pedan-
tic rules of music, and has shrugged a
Conventionality.
Complete Art Work.
The effects Strauss achieves are in
proportion to the means employed. The
leadership of Alfred Hertz, contained
100 musicians. and this huge orchestral
instrument is kept seething for the
greater part of the time Stencilled
phrases are absent from this huge
work, and rreGularity of rhythm is
frequently to be found Much of this
music is very ugly-if music can be
Ueiy-but the same can be said Of some
of Wagner's music. too.
The convincing impression that the
Strauss "Salome" music makes is that
It's composer had but single artistic
way to enshroud this text in music. and
that this way is his present one 1t is
complete art work and not collec-
ton of chrome paintings using the text
as q canvas-as SO many operas are
And it should be Judged in it's artistic
entirety.
No one will be shocked to learn that
shocking. 1t deals with the unWhole-
some love of SalOme for John the Bap-
fist, and it ends with the unWholesome
love of Salome fer the head of John
the Baptists The work is in one act.
hal! fleeing the noise and the glanceS
race in front of the palace of Herod
Within banquet is being served. while
without the soldiers are keeping watch
in the moon-flooded court
An Abrupt Beginning.
There is no overture to the work. and
the curtain rises immediately Present.
~ Salome escapes from the banqueting
hail. fleeing the noice and the chances
of Herod.. and she is startled by voice
that proceeds from out of the depths of
n cistern from the back of the terrace
She asks the young Captain Narraboth,
enamored of Salome, who is confined in
the cistern. and learns that it is the
prophet, John the Baptist.
With that her curiosity is aroused,
and she cajoles Narraboth into COM
handing the cistern to be opened. John
appears, and reVileS Herodns, the
I,yrnl. Inn F.->-,.- ~ becomes f~s-
clated by this holy man His wasted
appearance appeals t. her and she eX-
tots thebeauty OF his hair and mouth.
Each time she is repulsed and the fran
tic Narraboth. in despair. stabs himself
and falls at her feet.
She does not as much heed him but
continues to plead her love for John the
Baptist. He is blind TO her beauty and
deaf to her appeal. Proclaiming her
accused, he descends again into the
Cistern while Salome rummates in her
fury and plots revenge.
The Dance Of Salome.
Herod, HerodiaS and their followers
now come out of the terrace. The voice
OF John the Baptist denouncing Herodi-
as arises from the cistern. There is
wrangling, and Herod. distracted. begs
Saiome to dance for hime. She refuses
and he coaXes, offering her anything
she may wish. Salome asks Herod to
swear an oath to keep his promise. and
then prepares herself for the dance
After she has danced before Herod, she
asks for the head of John the Baptist
Herod tries to bride her with the pro-
mise of other presents. She demands
the head of the prophet.
Herod commands that the head be
given her, and the headsman descends