New-York tribune., 1908-02-16

ny Conductor, Mr. Ca1npanini.
Resides its performance next Wednesday, "Pelleas
.r Mensande" will be repeated Saturday after
aoon
The other Manhattan operas OF the week Will in
-Iude "Riroletto." on Monday. with Nine Tetraz-
.ini ard Mn Rassi and Samnarco; Lucia dt Lam
r7ernoor," on Friday. with Mime. Tetrazzint ana
Mn Zenatello and Sammarco; and SIBERIA, on
Saturday evening. AT popular prices. WITH NINE
agostinelM and NM. Zenatello and Sarnnarco IN
the cast. There VIII he no concert tonight at the
Manhattan. owing TO rehearsals Of 'Felleas et
Measande'' ny Ny Campanini and others
THE MUSIC AND THE STORY,
To those acquainted with Debussy's orchestral
music Of which three pieces have been
plaved here il viii be no surprise. probably, 10 be
told that little II positive melody is 10 be OK
pected in the opera but great deal of orchestral
writing that intended TO reflect or helShten me
significance of the tex or action. The writing for
voices has the nature OF recitative more than OF
pperatic song Of any familiar kind The orchestra
ls tho reverse Of that 10 which Richard Strauss
has sought 10 accustom modern ears, Tor il Is OF
reasonable size. and used with seecuEe power.
rather than mere quantitative effect TIE work
which Debussy calls lyric drama. is in five acts
srd twelve scenes. following in all except fe"
nlacas Ike play OF Maetcrlinck. winch lal'er haS
already been acted in New York several times by
Mr. Patrick Campbell. with incidental music by
GahrieI Faure-
Hc definition Of time or place chains the love
arama Of "Pellhas 81 M6sande' 70 the presens
world Il in some rare day Of the Foinahuc
eset that Colaud. elder brother OF PelleaS anu
grandson of old -Arkel. King of AHe1nanGe- fos'
.,s ~ while ll;-1ing in \ wood CHANGING upon
e ,,ool in The forest. he hears the weeping Of
maiden. who crcuches 10y the water side 1t IS
Melisarde who has sunk il the shallow sp'lng
golden crown she had and who now begs
Colaud Ia leave her. threa tening II ne RECEIVERS
the golden haphie throw herself into the water
Instead.
Whence this wandering princess has come OF
who she is hey ond her mere name. remains
mystery 70 Golaud and 10 every one else tFoIauu'
whose only thought years past has been for ms
rctFerless little son feels the potent charm of this
tender creature Of the wood moaning over some
hidden misfortune. and bids her come WITH ihin-
Reluctantly vet with infinite grace ana compete
-a5,7efe the weeping Meiisande suffers Golaud 20
lead her from lonely spot. yet even from tlls
first one knows thst Golaud. with his kindly caiv-
airy and the premature gray that has here and
there touched his hair. has not understood thls
vitcous little figure. an6 that the depths OF her
eves viii never ne sounded by any glance from
his They pass from sight in the gathering gloom
II is N rillared room IN ArkeIs castle that the
next phase Of the story is revealed Golaud has
written message 10 his brother. Pelleas. telling
him that. six months before. he had found the
strange and beautiful Princess Nelisande. and had
made her his wife. Now he will bring her 10 the
castle if he be assured by light in the tower.
shining over the sea that his grandfather and his
parents VIII receive him and his newly Won bride
Pelleas divided between desire TO await his broth
er's return and also the outcome Of his fathers
dangerous Illness and the inclination Journey 10
the bedside his diving friend Marcellus, is finally
persuaded 10 remain al the castle
Act II brings Melisande and Peeas 20 a fountain
in the castle park solitary spring. whose waters
once believed TO be able 10 open the eyes OF
the Blind These tUo have already learned 10 be
companions Meiisande. in gayer mood than when
She was al first revealed, sitting by woodland
pool dallies with Golaud's wedding ring tossing it
in air and Lightly catching il again in spite of the
warnings 90 Pelleas that the golden may fall
into the bottonlesS depths OF the fountain Fall il
does however. and a shuddering CRY escapes the
terror stricken woman. Weeping once more she is
Sec back TO the castle by Pelleas. much as Golaud
had conducted her out of that more distant wood
long months before
il had chirned s the ring sank; at the same
hour curious madness had seized the horse OF
S5olaud, who was hunting in the forest. and the
beast threw his master against tree. nearly Kill
ing him. II is when Melsande is caring for her
lord. who lies wounded upon his couch that Golauc
discovers the absence OF the ring. Furious he bids
he find II. and she. all a-trembe. tells him II fell
from her hnger IN cave by the sea. whence the
tising tide had driven her before she could re
cover IL Dark though it is. Golaud commands her
20 search for il at once. taking one. any one
Peeas, TO help her find this treasure II is Pelleas
who goes with her 10 whore the beat against
the cliffs. and together they begin TO explore ta.
place where they shall tell Golaud they looked in
vain fer the ring What if PelIess the
dreamer. has brought no torch? The Inoonbeayns
are bright Yet they do not enter the cavern. for
In the doorway lie three old men asleep In is
enough; the ring not be found.
Brighter days come upon the old castle: the