New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-12-10

as II II were a work of the very highest
Importance. Is il that? The question is
not answered by the fact that its music
was composed by Richard strauss. even
though one be willing to admit that
Strauss is the greatest living master OF
technique i'm musical composition, the one
concerning whose doings the greatest
curiosity is felt and certainly the one
whose doings are the best advertised.
Der RoscnkavaIicr" in spite Of all these
things must stand on its mcrits-as a
comedy with music The author OF its
book mas invitsl comparison which has
already been suggested by making it
comedy OF intrigue merely and placing its
time Of action ion Vienna and the middle
of the eighteenth century. lie has gone
further; he has invoked the spirit OF
Beauuarchais To animate his people and
his incidents The one thing which he
could not do or aid not do. was 10 sup
ply the satrical scOurge which JUSTIFIED
the Figaro comedies OF his great French
prototype and which, while it made their
acceptance tardy. because OF royal aud
courtly opposition, made their popular
triumph the more emphatic lie NoZze
di Figaro" gave US more than one heuIc
and more than one scene In last nigh'
representation, and lie Nozzc Oh figdf"
is TO those who understand its text ono
of the most questionable operas on inc
current list But there is moral pui-
pose underlying the comedy Which u"
some extent iustifes its frank saiaci'us-
ness. II Is TO prevent the Count from
exercising an ancient seiSnorial riGl'' over
the heroine which ne had voluntarily re-
signed. that all the characters IN the pay
unite in the intrigue which makes up
the comedy. Moreover, there are ellmpseS
over and over again Of honest ana virtu-
Gus love between tine characters an"
beautiful expressions Of il IN the ihus''
which makes the play dellsntiul d'8p'"
its salaciousncss. Even Chcrubln" VINO
seems 10 have come 10 life again j"
Octavian. is a lovablc youth II Tor D."
other reason than that he represents
youth in it's amorousncss toward al
womaukiud. with thought Of special mis-
chief toward none.
Der Rosenkavalicr" is comcdF Of
ubricity merely. with what little sauricaI
scourge il has applied only TO an ola
than most Of the other people in the
play. SO much Of it's story as viii bear
telling can be told very briefly. IT be-
gins. assuming its instrumental intro
duction to be a part Of ii, with young
nobIemau locked in the embraces OF the
mlddle-aged wife Of q field marshal. VINO
is conveniently absent on hunting eA-
pedition The music is of a passionate
order. and the composer, seeking a niue
the odor Of virtue but with an Oracular
,,iuI, I'm his eve, says in a descriptive
note that IL is To be played in the
,nirit Of parody (pdrOdiStiScID. Cnfort-
,natcIy the audience cannot see the
priuted direction, and there Is no par
odv I'm music except extravaganza and
iucptitude i'm the uttcrance Of simple
things 0ike the faulty notes Of the
horns i'm Mozarts joke on the village
musicians the Cadcnza for Violln SOLO
i'm the same musical Joke, or the tWang-
ling of Beckmesser's lutcJ; 20 the intro
duction is an honest musical description
Of things which the composer Is not
willing Ia confess. and least Of all the
stage manager, for when the curtain
opens there is not presented even the
picture called for by the German librct-
to Nevertheless, morn is dawning.
birds are tWittcrinG and the young
lover. kncelinS before mis- mistress on
divan, is bcmoaninS the fact that day
IS come and that ne cannot publish his
happinesS 10 the world. The tctC-a-
tetc is interrupted by rude boor OF
nobleman. who comes to consult his
cousjn (the princess) about messcn-
ger TO send with the conventional offer
ing of a silver rose to the daughter Of
yulcar pIebcian just elevated TO the no
biIit,. because OF his wealth. The con-
,.rs.,tion between the two touches on
lit,Io more than old amours. and after
the lady has held his levee designed to
Introduce variety of comedy eject IN
music as well AS action, the princess
recommends her lover for the office or
rosob.ar,r Meanwhile the lover has
damned the garments Of q waiting mald
a,J bccn overwhelmed with the wicked
.ttoutiors of the roue Lerchchdu
When tic lovers are again alone thcIe
l. confession 'of remuneration on Inc
mart of the princess, based on the Ph''
osopbical reflection that, after all her
Octaylan being so young w0uid p'"e
about the Inevitable parting sooner VI
later.
I'm the second act what the princess ~
her president abnegation had ioreseeh
takes place Her lover carries the ro''