New-York tribune., 1908-02-16
Timely Musical Comment.
Have Its First American Performance
the Manhattan Opera House This Week.


Yet the quiet sadness of Melisande grows rather
than 0lnljnishes Her husband Pelleas after
he finds him under the tower windows or ms "lIe
room that Meiisande must be treated with especlal
care and consideration. but that their companion
ship must not become closer. When Golaud sur
prised Pelleas by the tower, Mesande had been
leaning far out of her window. and Peeas, in play
full ecstasy, had fastened her long hair 10 the
branch OF tree, keeping her prisoner just beyond
his reach, but kissing her golden tresses. Golaud,
taking suspicion from this incident and from the
innocent remarks of the little son, Ynold, of his
first wife. holds aoft the boy opposite Meisandes
window, and thus spies upon the pair through the
childs eyes. Knowing no more than before, lie
chides Me1isande with great violence and declares
that Peeas must at once leave the castle.
The parting hour comes at twilight. by the fate
full fountain in the park. There Pelleas confesses
his love there Melisande quite innocently, pro
fesses her devotion TO him. 'che clang Of the
castle gates, closing ineXorablY for the night.
brings the pair 10 earth again: 1t better So.
says Melisande. Standing by the quiet fountain,
and clinging to each other in found happiness,
the brother and the brothers wife detect the
proach of Golaud, sword In hand, across the moon
1T garden.
Pelleas is unarmed. knowing his doom and the
justice of it, he presses Melisandes lips the closer
to his and thus awaits the avenger Only the cry
of Melisande breaking from the embrace of Pelleas
Golaud reaches them. strikes upon the stiffness
of the evening As she staggers away. Peleas falls
quietly and unressting by the swift weapon of his
elder brother Golaud. it is afterward shown in
ficted in his frenzy a tiny wound, the merest
sword scratch upon his wife and then drove his
sword deep into his side, seeking in his n
guish and fury to kill himself
The last act passes in the castle where
Melisande now lies quietly dying. her newborn
babe by her side. and its unhappy father. fran
tic with anger and jealousy, now remorseful at his
murderous deed, is watching with despairing
countenance the fading Melissa andes tender life
Through the narrow window of this upper cham
Der there presently CLEAN the lights of sunset
clouds the ocean: Melisande's life sinks with
the sun. Vain are Goaud's efforts TO extort from,
her the story OF her love for Peleas. death
comes 10 close those fathomless eyes Of Goaud's
wife. the husband confesses his ignorance Of what
has occurred. Melisande carries her secret TO the
grave, leaving behind her furious stricken hope
less
NETR0POLIT4N OPERA LIST.
The principal feature of the fourteenth week of
opera at the Metropolitan Opera House will be the
first performance this season Of "Siegfried." Wag-
ner's music-drama VIII be sung on "Wednesday
evening under the direction of Mr. Gustav Mailer
with the following cast:
,,5 EFda Mns Kirby 5yliiSiaa Laaa
Der Wanderer. N w -,
,1i.ra Goritz
The repertory for the of the week viii con
sist Of repetiuons of familiar works. 'Manon
Lescaut Will be sung Monday evening and on
this occasion Mr. Stracclari will sing the role of
Iescaut Tor The first time. His associates will ue
Mines Cavalier and NattTeld and NM Caruso
Barocchi, Lucas, Reiss and Bcgue Mr.. Ferrari 1iIl
conduct. Faust viii be repeated on Thursday
evening with Mines Emma Eames Jacoby and
Glrerd and NM Caruso, Plancon, Stracciari and
Begue in the leading roles Mr.. Bovy will conduct
"Haensel und Grete" and -Pagliacci' will con-
stitute a double bill Friday evening The prfn-
clpaI singers III Humperdincks fairy opera will be
Mines MattfeId. Alien Homer and Weed and Mr.
Gorltz, with Mr. Hertz conductor. Mr. Ferrari
VIII conduct PaSliacci,' which will be sung by
Miss Farrar, who will appear as Media for the
first time this season. and by NM. Caruso Strac-
ciari Reiss and Sarto.
Der FHegende Holla nder'' Will be the one~a n,
Saturday afternoon, with Miss Alten Nine Lang
endorf and NM. Van Rooy, Burgstarer BIsss and
Dppe IN the cast Mr.. Hertz will conduct Next
Saturday evening "EOheme'' viii be sung and Mr
Ferrari will conduct.
The soloists at the popular concert tonight will
De Mines Rappcld and Homer and NM Ronci AMI
ChailaIine Mr.. Bonci will sing the cayatfna from,
Faust David's La Barcarolla' and Nozart.s
La Nioletta' and Mr.. Chaliapine will be heard -,
NUMBER OF Russian songs. Nine. Homers num-
perS VIII be an aria from lie Prophete" and SuI
hFans The Lost Chord while Nine RannoId u5II
sing Asathe's aria from Der Freischiitz' and Van
DER Stucken s Spring Song" Mr. Boyv will con-
Duct and the orchestra viii play the overture to
NicoIais Merry Wives OF Windsor" The overtu,.
10 ilomas : Mignon." Tscha ikowsky's "Nut-
cracker suite and Beriioz's .'Marche Hongrotse