The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-05-25

school, is the accompanist. Mrs Mur-
rays group, which follows the Verdi num-
Der by the club, Is composed of several
delightful songs from the American COM
posers and music lovers generally are
interested in hearing her tomorrow night
Mrs. Murray is well known in musical
circles here She is becoming one of
the leading concert singers of America
as her bookings for 1894 prove She
will sing two songs of Charles Cadmon.
who coached her in n number of his COM
positions, and wrote that she sings with
style and finish and is gifted by nature
with a splendid vocal organ, which she
uses to advantage in numbers calling
FOR dramatic expression"
In the cantata "Meusina, by Hof-
man, which is presented here for the
first time, all of the soloists are at their
best. 1t is a tuneful production and one
calling for Imagination and musical poesy.
The cast includes:
Melusina, soprano, Mrs. Marie Staple
| ton Murray.
Count Raymond, baritone, Mr.. Leon
Cole
Clotilda, mezzo soprano Miss Evelyn
Going.
Sntram and King of Water Spirits
bass, Mr.. John Thomas.
Water numphs, hunters and people, Eu-
terpean club.
Prologue, chorus. In the Depths Of
Bressila s Forest Shade
Solo (soprano) and chorus, Arise
Arise"
Aria (soprano). "Where'er | Roam
Chorus, Sweet Love, | Must Be Go.
ing
Aria (bartone) ''The Lindens Whis-
per-
Duet (soprano and baritone) 20, Melu-
slna, Again | Behold Thee"
Finale, solo and chorus, I'VE Come
We Obey Thee"
Duet tmezzo and bass, 'Why Ger Thy
Brow Does Sadness Hover?a
Chorus. 'The Foul Witch Recall"
Trio (mezzo soprano. baritone. bass
and chorus, MY Son. What Ills Betide -
Solo. (soprano), and chorus, Bubble Up
Brightly
Finale Solo and chorus, "Hark, Hark
Have a Care"
Epilogue, chorus, From That Fatal
Spot"
To fully appreciate the cantata. the
argument should be familiar and for the
convenience of those who plan to hear the
concert tomorrow evening it is presented;
ARGUMENT.
The eantata opens with prologue in
Producing the Forest of Bressilia, where
beautiful fountain is hidden in which the
water nymphs dwell. The fairest is the
XPSNi thVibSiiid.H III tllt llISI CHORUS,
Arise the nymphs describe their happy
state as free from earthly care
Melusina is the only one of the nymphs
VINO go away from the fountain and i'm her
wanderings i'm the forest sheshas met and
fallen in love with mortal Of noble BIRTH
Count Raymond; but the nymphs have
told her that no happiness can come to
her outside of her own element She tells
them in the area Wherein / roam of
her love, and does not heed their warning
A chorus of hunters is heard and RAY
mond appears He dismisses his hunts
men and goes to the spot where he and
Melusina are accustomed to meet He
sings beautiful solo. 'The Lindens
Whisper after which duet follows be-
tween him and Melusina. and in which
she promises to marry him on the condi-
tion that she will be permitted to go away
on the seventh day of each week. and
that no efforts be made to trace her or il
will mean death for him. He takes this
oath. after which she calls her nymphs
to appear, and Raymond, his huntsmen
to leave their vows They all repair to
the castle welcoming the welded lovers
Part II opens with a conversation be-
tween Clotida. Rsymonds mother, and
Sintram, his uncle, concerning the mys-
terry surrounding his bride. Meusina Is
branded as witch and is accused of hav-
ing brought famine on the land
outside the castle the people clamor
for her death and threaten to burn Raw
mond's estate. Uurged by his uncle thd'
his only means of escape is to find out
what she does and where she goes every
seventh day and to tell the people. Ray
mond breaks his VOW and follows her to
the fountain where the nymprs are sing
ing Bubble Up Brightly" Melusina is
singing of Raymonds love and fidelitt
and his VOW when he appears and sees
Melnsina as a mermaid. His doom is
spoken by the nymphs for breaking his |
VOW. The king of the water spirits an |
pears and Melusina pleads for Raymond's $ |
life He grants her wish and Raymond |
VIII promise never to see her again, but |
life without her.
eve without her