New-York tribune., 1907-12-11
MUSIC.
UaeterIinck and Debussys Opera
IN EfDosition by Mr. DdmrOsch.

An audience of fine character, and also large in
numbers attended a lecture by Mr. Walter Dam
rosch In the ByceHm Theatre yesterday afternoon
on the subject OF Pelleas ct Meiisande. the opera
bv Maurice Maeterlinck and Claude Debussy. which
Mr.. Hammerstein has announced as one OF the
novelties at the Manhattan Opera House this sea-
son. MI Damrosch entertained his listeners while
edifying them. not only giving a textual and musi-
ca! exposition of the operas contents and STYLE but
also pointing out the highly significant position
which. in his opinion the work occupies in the
artistic economy of to-day. To his mind DebusSy
stands for entirely new and an entirely distinct
expression in dramatic musician expression. more
over which is even intimately associated with
text and than is the music in the dramas OF
Wagner How he accounts for this shall appear
presently. To lay a foundation for his contention
Mr.. DamrosCh confessed (aS he had already done
in a newspaper interview in Chicago last suulrner)
that though the musician Wagner is greater and
stronger than ever. critical opinion has to some
extent begun 10 question the validity and efficacy
of theory OF combining in perfect union music.
painting and pantomme a basis of equality.
The theory impracticable. it could not be
ried One or the other OF the elements had to
suffer, and him il seemed II music lost in
truthfulness and strength when brought into con-
tact with the false illusions and makeshifts of the
stage.
since Wagner Germany has given us nothing new.
Richard Strauss has followed the example of Liszt
I'm his symphonic poems and Wagner in his lyric
dramas France has indicated path. and.
curously enough. those who pointing the way
both in literature and music great deal u
German influences though remotely and by the
cuitous road of Belgium. II is the Germanism OF
the Flamands of long ago which is showing its
influence in the art of the French. The Ger
blood that has produced extraordinary results
in France Is that represented by two men. Maurice
MaeterlinCle and Cesar Franck. both of Flemish
traction. who. transplanted to French soil. have
given a note of mystical spirituality French
which 1t did not possess before. and which has mads
1t to flower like q rosebush- Mr.. Damrosch can
find Wagnerian influence In French composers
OF the older schooI-in Berloz Gounod or Saint
Sacns. (Would it be proper to put in this report
which aims TO be only report timid inquiry about
Massenet, whom some of his countryrnen have twit-
ted with being "MademoiseIIe Wagner and Bizet
against whose luctless head all Paris Illuminated
the charge of wagnerisms'?) But, when the Bel
gian Franck settled in Paris musician and teach
he gathered around him coteris of young
Frenchmen like dIndy and Debussy who becanaS the
devotees OF the gentle and noble mystic. From him
and then comes the Inspiration In the music If
the French--and in the of "PeIIeas ct Mesande
from the author of the book. Maeterinck To him
Mr.. Damrosch assigned a noble mission. The peo-
pie are to-day more than they have ever been be-
fore interested in the problems and mysteries of
the spiritual life Everywhere strong currents of
thought are tumultuously surgtns endeavoring to
break through the barriers which materialism con-
vention and traditional methods of life have raised
to obstruct mental perception Greater and
Hoto seEeldi material prosperity mas brought only
the conviction that that which this procures con-
tributes but little to real happness-nay that II
separates only the more from the divinity which
many believe is with us. IN and around us All
these efforts therefore turned toward the de-
velopment of philosophy of life which will find
tranquility of mind and therefore happiness in a
thought-world. world of spiritual beauty which
is beyond the sordid and ugly things perceptible
only to the eye touch. Maeterlinck looms
high among these prophets of the new thought
He combined the accurate and analytical mind of
a scientist. tho enthusiasm of the poet with the
cheerful calm of the philosopher who holds the
key In his hand that will open the portals TO
the heavenly vision, and those who know
him only the writer of more or less
symbolic dramas cannot realize the tender love Of
humanity which he shows in his essays Gle ST.
ence.'' La Porte Invisible La Vie Profonde''
and La Beaute Interieure'O. Mr.. Damrosch now
pointed out that whereas in his essays Maeterlinck
all the resources of the French language
to express his meanings in many of his dramas his
language is simple that il has been met with
ridcule on the part of uhthinking persons. This
simplicity of phrase, however, Intentional and
the indication of technique which makes more
deeply perceptible the actual soul drama enacted
Of scenes from the drama. made By himself. Mr.