The evening world., 1910-12-08

West and 'Konigskinder' is much
'Hansel and Gretel.'"
Has It any fairles?" | asked. hope
fully.
Fairies in the Music.
''Only In the music" Herr Humpei-
dlnck replied. They are suggested,
but they do not appear"
! had been thinking that the middle
aged German professor whom his wife
had introduced proudly as "Mein Mann
did not look like the captor OF f1irics. In
appearance he IL so good-humored, pro
fessorlai and matter of fact that the
only theory by which l can account for
the realistic character OF his elm music
Ia that the fairies got tangled in his
luxurious German beard.
But Herr Humperdinck has not put
all the fairies he knows about into his
operas. He has brought with him TO
America a slim daughter of sixteen
with two long blond pigtalls that the
fairies must reach out and pull occa-
sionally in the woods OF G~runewaid.
where Herr Humperdinck lives and
somposes music all day long In q sun
chamber at the top If the house.
asked Herr Humperdlnck why ne
had chosen New York for the premiere
Of his new opera. '''.'.
No Mystery At All.
Because the directors Of the Metro
politan Opera House were the FIRST TO
ask me to do so.' lie replied. There 1.
no other reason than that. I AM glad
to be in New York. however. and to see
your city again. / was in America for
! the hrst time Ave earl ago With my
wife. but this Is the hrst time my
daughter has seen your country"
/ Herr Humperdinck looked at the
owner of the long blond braids, who
was standing in another room OF his
suite at the Hotel Astor. and remarked
slowly and with less ~compunction than
one expects a German 10 feel at such an
announcement. she has talent"
For music, you mean"
Herr Humperdinck nodded. and after
n long pause added. "For the violin.'
Here the conversation turned again to
opera. and in a few words OF his de-
Lucrative French the composer told the
story OF Konigskinder."
1t is the fable OF the son OF a king
who goes bn search of adventures. He
finds In the Helia forest, In the hut Of a
very wise witch. a goosegirl WHO is an
enchanted princess. lie falls in love
with her and offers her his golden crown
and they wish to run away. but the
witch prevents her, and the Prince de.
parts In anger. The citizens OF Hella-
brun send out 4 fiddler. a w~oodchopper
n a broommaker to ask the witch
where they may ind a king. Only the
fiddler understands her answer. He rec
ognizes In the goosegirl the daughter Of
a king. and takes her to Hellsbrun.
This closes Act /.
Royalty In Humble Garb.
In Act IL. the people OF Hellabrun
await, putting confidence In the witch's
twelfth stroke Of noon. Now. the King
son is living among them as a desp!sed
beggar. who serves as o s%wineherd. Only
the child OF the broommaker knows he
Ii a Prince. The bells peal, the city
door Il thrown wide open. and sunbeams
burst through the clouds. The goose
slrl enters. accompanied by the fiddler.
The people stare In dumb surprise. Blu,
the Kings son PUSHES wildly toward he,
and halls her As his Queen.
There Is der!sive laughter. and Prince
and Princess are driven out OF the city
with clubs and stones.
In the third act there is dlscord In
Hellabrun, but the fiddler and a crow
OF children. among them the broom
makers daughter, search the forest 10,
} the banished pair. The Prince. fam
ished. carrying the goosegirl in hi,
arms, reaches the hut where the wltc'
once lived and gives the w~oodchopper
who happens 10 he there, his crown toi
a loaf OF bread, The loaf II a polsone,
one left by the witch. When the fiddle.
arrives with the children ne finds IN,
Prince and goosegirl dead. They knee
and the Adder tells them they mus
provide a royal bed, a royal grave OF
the mountainslde for the Prince anC
!, Princess. that he will then play a las
, tune IN his fiddle. break 1t and throw
Il on their grave.