New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-03-26
The Moliere Play.

70 Us Soul the uhNti''4 VI
nis.s.
The Moliere Play.
Lahore Medico' is founded on MoE-
hes comedy. "LAmOur Medecin.' the
,hrse acts Of the French original being
condensed for operate purposes into t"o.
The librettist Is Enrico GoliscisnI. and M
his adaptation he has proved himself a
worthy coadjutor. reserving the spirit OF
The original and at the same time pro
duc!ng a text which Is both clear and
sninently singable. Moliere's comedy
vas first produced at Versailles on Sep
,ember - 1865. and at the Palais Royaie
on the I'd Of the same month. on ootn
these occasions Moliere himself played
sgsnarelle. and for the comedy Lulii
composed incidental music. OF this music
10 trace has been discovered, though Il
Is probable that a search through TIE
archives Of the Paris opera might bring
4 to light OF it. however. Molere in his
Hroduction to the play speaks in the
vsrmest terms
Ceat dramatist. Il wish that all such
works could always be seen with all the
accessories with which they are repre-
ssnted before the King This would
greatly enhance the pleasure TO be de-
rived from them; and the airs and SYM
phonies Of the Incompatible NJ. Lulli.
added 10 the beauty IF the voices and
the agility Of the dancers give them
charms which they can hardly 90 with
out"
The airs OF "the incompatible NJ
Lulli' have vanished. but II Moliere
could have been present last night at
the Metropolitan he surely would have
become reconciled In the knowledge that
another Italian had loved and under
stood his spirit. That spirit informs the
music Of Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari. music
as pure in design. as gracious in outline,
as rerfumed az eyanescent as II II had
been written and sung TO La Vslliere
among the boX-bordsred alleys of old
Versailles.
The Story.
The story Of the opera is simple Al
nofo' In the play "Sganarelle." has q
ngghier, Lucinda. whom he loves. but
WON he selhshly wishes TO keep for
a'nSeli Lccinda appears 10 be 81. and
oe father tries with toys and pettings
console er hut in vain. He asks her
'ast she wants and at length, at his
~" end. asks II IL is 2 husband To
MS CONSERVATION she answers Yes"
'aTeupon he flies into A fury and
"4'es Lucinda then hears her lovers
"Ne singing outside the garden, and
,h her maid. Lisett1. concocts a plan
'ne'coy she may Re united 70 him
Assua PUSHES 70 Arnolfo and tells
.,'' mat his daughter has suddenly been
aA'h IT, and Arnolfo in despair sends tor
''-' dociors The doctors arrive. end a
sure Scene ersues. in which they dis
ee with one another as 70 the cause
'. |u-inda's malady and finish by almost
''r'ins 20 blows. being. however. finally
,spessed ny Arnolfo giving each his fee
'"o'io is now az his wits end where
~" LiSctta introduces Clitandro, dis
sso AZ another physician. Clitandro
S.does Arnolfo that his daughters
-oe Is mental and that he can cure
w humoring her within Of marriage.
marriage. which Arnolfo believes IS
:, MOCK one. is then arranged between
S-called physician and Lucinda.
-. ~ ce''mony is in reality valid, and
curtin falls with Arnolfo's discoy-
~ me deception and the voices Of
-, ""ppy pair coming 20 him from out.
The Music.
40 us simple comedy OF intrigue,
,,.loy which. indeed. seems 10 cry
- io' musical treatment Signor Wolf
'@'l mas written score which in its
,'e1"Feness and characteristic color
-. Wellnigh faultless. The recita-
a. through which the story is expound-
-, carried buoyantly along on a
"a, '''s' crystalline orchestral river upon
o.. 's sunlight Of the composers i'm
s'h plays In a thousand Illuminating
n. what the words express the mu-
-. echoes. and then coiors so that
s'ofy ana music there Is "A con
80 pay and interplay Of ideas and
W., compliments. The orchestral web.
~, hrst hearing appears 90 simple.
r'1''y Complicated 10 degree. in
t..h ard embroidered with the most
r.. uScery. each moment bursting
t-,. 'T mowers Of fancy. incrusted with
ssr.. a'a' sparkle enchantingly for a
u. sno then are gone. yet with all
| -. "aH'eniation never for second
t.t,.s me meaning OF the whole or
u "s action Of the comedy.
IN this love for and mastery Of
s.,,,'~ characterization that Signor
'fhrvs himself disijn~''peir n