The New York herald., 1922-01-06
lie Roi .dYs,' Opera Based on Brittany
Legend, Has Premiere at Metropolitan
Lyric Drama. Has Much Melo-
dious, Graceful and Poetic
Music in Score.
BY w. j. Henderson.

ny W. cs hChuSAcD's'
"Le Roi d'Ys," opera in three acts ane
five tableaux, was produced at the Met
ropolitan Opera House last evening
for the first time in this city.
The work was first performed In
Paris In 1888 and was given In
New Orleans IN 1890. The libretto
was made by Edouard Blau and the
music by Edouard Lalo. who Is best
known to local music lovers through mis-
popular violin piece. the symphonic
Espagnole."
It might be interesting to speculate
on the long period occupied by Lalo's
opera in journeying from Paris to New
York, but after all the essential point Is
that 1t is here and the only question for
us to answer Is what shall we do with
it?" 1t seemed last evening that opera
eoers might take kindly to its medieval
pomp and ceremony, its valiant knights
in helm and hauberk, it's gonfalons
and spears. it's moated castles and Sc
questered princcsses. blonde and bru-
nette, garbed In the all concealIng robes
of their period and enmeshed in the
eternal net of passion without which
neither lyric dramas nor moving pic
turcs rise to the dignity Of tragedy.
The lbrettist reared his story on the
foundation furnished by an old Brit
tany legend. Us was sea coast city
projected by dixie. The kings daugh-
ter fell into bad company (Mephis-
topheles himself, to be definite) and be-
came intoxicated with very bad liquor.
She stole the key Of the flood gate of
the dixie and let the water into the capi-
tai Her father fled with her on the
crupper Of his saddle, but in the end had
to cast her into the pursuing sea, which
then retired.
wicked Brunette Princess.
In the opera this wicked brunette
princess Murgdred has a gentle blonde
sister, Rosenn Both are in love with
Mylio, who has been long absent In
foreign. war and is believed to be dead.
A nearer war has been waged with Kdr-
mao, who Is to be propitiated by receiv-
ing MGrgdred as his bride. But when
Mylio turns UP victorious and very much
alive she refuses to be wed. Kdrnoe de-
clares a new war. Mylio assumes COM
mand OF the defense. Morgdred, find
ing that It Is her sister whom MyHo
loves. conepires with Karnuo to destroy
the city and all in 1t by letting In the
sea. At the last moment she repents
of her act and appcases the hungry
waves by hurting herself into them.
IT Is a practical and useful opera book
containing all the elements which have
been recognized In Paris for many years
as essential to the lyric drama There
is an effective alienation OF scenes dark
and bright, of general movement and
simple dialogue, choruses. ensembles,
and even a dance. The emotional mo-
( tives are adequate and the action is not
too restless to permit OF some extended
lyric expressions of feeling.
We have been told by the French
authorities that Lalo was a Wagnerian
and that his score shows the all-pervad-
ing influence of the German master.
Massenet too, bore the burden of this
charge. He was even derisively dubbed
Mile. wagner" Lalo should escape
such ignonniny. Americans have always
been at a loss to discover the wagnerian
madness IN the polished utterances Of
difficulty in hearing them In the dec
orous proclamations of Lalo.
There IL much melodious. graceful and
even poetic music in this score. There
is nothing psychologicaIly tumultous
Human passions and the devouring
ocean rise according to well tried and
certain formula. ALI Is admirable. All
is pleasing. Nothing Is thrilling. Moth
ing Is shocking. It is quite likely that
this perfectly respectable opera will en-
Joy q period of placid prosperity and
that many music lovers will applaud
Mr.. Gatt-Casazza for having accepted
the suggestion of the patron saint of
Brittany in the drama.
"Faits des tombeaux ouverts sort1r la
voix des morris"
score IL Compact and Smooth.
The score Of To Roi d'Ys" 10 brief.
compact, smooth and direct in its move
ment. The composer advances straight
toward his purpose without disressions.
He uses dialogue Of melodic type. sep
arate and we'll defined airs. duets and
ensemblage and rich and picturesque
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