New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-04-20
STRAUSS BALLET
AT PRIVATE VIEW
Composer Instructs Interpreters
at Berlin Rehearsal of THE
Legend Of Joseph"
From The Tribune Correspondent.

From The Tribune Correspondent
Berlin. April 9.-The Tribune CORE
spondent had the somewhat unique priVi-
lege OF being invited to a private re-
hearsal last week OF DR.. Richard Strauss
new ballet, The Legend Of Joseph" The
affair took place at the Nolendorf The
atre, and Richard Strauss, who was play
ing the music on the pianoforte from his
manuscript score; Count Kessler, one OF
the authors Of the llbretto; Oskar Fried,
the well known conductor; a couple of
Russian dancers, including Michel Fokin,
and the present writer were the only per-
sons present.
Before the rehearsal actually began
Richard Strauss gave all those present
some explanation as to his intentions.
While he was speaking he occasionally
gave some musical examples, playing
themes out of his new score and visibly
relishing the new harmones he has been
able to build up.
1.-THE Legend of Joseph" is something
like "Salome," inasmuch as it represents
a conflict Of the religious. spirit with
paganism, but in the latter OF the two
works paganism has the better of Chris
tanity, as Salome has the apostle be-
headed to suit her own fancy. Things go
somewhat differently I'm Joseph" the
Idea Of which is the publication OF a
pagan and vicious world at the mere
contact Of one who is pure Joseph" is
not unlike "Parsifal"
rr-t. cit
Veronese-like palace. Potiphar and his
wife entertain some friends at supper.
Golden dishes, wines, dances of the most
pronounced ancient Oriental character
I'm a word, real orgy. Slaves are brought
from the background and are ordered 70
dance, and one of them dances three
Wells" dance, which Is one OF the gems OF
the score. The slave Joseph also comes
on the scene and is also ordered to dance
Potiphar's wife sees him and is enrapt-
ured. She takes off her necklace and puts
it around Joseph's neck. She shows by a
vivid pantomme that Joseph has made a
deep impression on her. but Joseph. dis
tracted by the inner contemplation Of
God, pays no attention.
The banquet comes to an end. The
scene changes and now shows us Joseph
asleep in his cell In his dream he sees
an angel, and as the dream gets nearer
and nearer him It changes into a human
form and there is Potiphar's wife leaning
over the sleeping boy. At first she is some
what impressed by his purity and his
youth and is leaving the cell, but finally
turns again toward the sleeper. Joseph
awakens and runs TO the furthest corner
of the CELL Mortified; his mantle falls
while the woman tries 10 seize II, and
there he stands, motionless and calm, like
a marble statue. Potiphar's wife, seeing
that Joseph disdains her. calls in all her
husbands friends and accuses Joseph Of
having insulted her. Joseph keeps silent;
he is praying, and does not even attempt
to defend himself against the charge. He
is taken away and is to be tortured, but
an angel comes and relieves him of his
chains. Meanwhile Potiphars wife re-
penis and chokes herself, tying her neck
lace tight around her neck.
The music which Strauss has written IS
probably the most sensuous he has ever
composed Never has he found more vivid
colors wherewith TO paint paganism and
its luxuries. On the other hand, all the
music connected with Joseph is Of dis
tinctly religious. pure and exalted char
acter Altogether 1t will prove spectacle
which is certain to arouse the artistic
world as a creation of deep originality
and amazing creative power.
Joseph" Will be heard first in Paris
sian dancers. The part OF Joseph has
been intrusted to Leonde Miasine who is
considered as the coming Nijinski. At the
rehearsal in Berlin he danced several
episodes Of his new part an6 electrified
his small audience by the simplicity, the
grace and the dignity of his acting and
dancing.