New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-22

which he secured through the agency
Of Clement C. Moore, Of delightful
memory as the author of "'Twas the
Night Before Christmas.")
For the "Schauspieldirektor Mo-
Fart wrote an overture, an aria for each
CT the rival singers, the quarrel trio al
ready referred to and concerted
tag" in the manner Of what used to be
called vaudeville. Il has been accepted
that the two arias, very much alike in
style, were compositions written az an
earlier period and revsmped for the
occasion; and this Is probably true,
though | can find no evidence for the
assumption outside of the music itself.
After the private performance at
Schonbrunn the comedy was given
three times publicly at the Kanthner-
thor Theatre, in Vienna, and was re-
viyed for the same number of times in
August, 1877, at the Freihsus Theater,
under the management of Schickane-
der, for whom Mozart had composed
"The Magic Flute" in 1891.
The elements Of the plot seem to
have been in the air at the time and for
several years afterward. In 1886. the
same year, Cimarosa composed an
opera called "LTmpresario In Angustie"
("The Harassed Impresario"), end is
text was composed by Paisiello in 1888,
Gazzaniga in 1883, Fioravanti in 1897
and Luggi Ricci in 1928. Cimarosa's
opera was done into French under the
title lie Directeur dams rEmbsrras.
in which form il fell under the notice
OF Goethe. who adapted it in German as
Die Thestralische Abentheur," and in
troduced into il two Of his songs. This
was in 1891. Six years sfterward he
required to it again and had Christian
August Vulpius make q new adaptation
and introduce Mozart's music. In 1914
version Of the original "Scha uspiel-
direktor.' with Mozart's music, aug
mented By pieces by Dittersdorf and
others, was produced in Vienna, and
Nine. Lange appeared again in the
character which she had created in
1888, while the part Of Puff, the buffo
tenor, was acted by Maier, the second
husband Of Josepha Hofer, also a sis
ter-in-law of Mozart who was the
original Queen Of the Night In "The
Magic Flute"
There had long been . feeling, how
ever, that the comedy was outmoded
and had been kept alive by Mozart's
music. So in 1s45 Louis Schneider, son
Of Prussian military musician, him
self an actor from childhood, q buffo
opera singer. and manager in his prime,
made . new comedy to carry the
music Schneider, it may be remarked
in passing, was q type Of the Prussian
militarist Of to-day. He wrote q die
tionary in ten languages for the use Of
military officers, books for soldiers and
was so reactionary in his sentiments at
the time of the revolution Of is4S that
popular demonstrations drove him from
the stage. He became reader for
Frederick William w, custodian OF the
Royal Library under him and William
7, and as war correspondent wrote the
official dispatches In the wars Of 1856
and 1870. He died in 1873. Schneider
invented a new plot, in which he intro
duced Mozart Schickaneder. Nine.
LANCE and Mile. Uhlich-all historical
characters. The story turned on
harmless intrigue by which Schick-
aneder's nephew secures the engage
melt of his fiance, Mile. Uhlich, bu. IS
largely taken up with a controversy be.
tween Mozart and Schickaneder touch
ing the music and libretto Of THE
Magic Flute" The comedy gave con-
siderable offence 70 the German critics.
who thought MOzart's character had
been besmirched by II, but it has lived
despite the criticism. All that has sur
vived in the English version which Mr..
Reiss will produce is the fundamental
idea OF the plot and the text Of the
songh .-...<--s