The Washington times., 1922-05-25
MUSICIAN TELLS
HOW TREASURE
|DEAEVOLVED
Opera by Franz Sohreker Con-
ceived in TransyIvanla
Peasant Room.

Schatzgraber," or THE Treasure
Digger" a fantastic opera by Franz
Schreker which was enthusiastically
received at its Berlin premiere on
/ April 8. came to the composer is thus
described by Herr Schreker himself
in the newspapers OF Berlin since
received here:
my family in a little old homo in
the Semmering district-a famous
Austrian mountain resort. 1t be-
longed to queer people. They were
widely travelled and had collected all
sorts of things from every land under
the sun. There were an old
Franconian room, a Persian room, a
Turkish room, q hunting room in the
attic filled with all kinds of fantastic
junk and stuffed animals-but the
most charming were two Transylva-
nian peasant rooms on the ground
floor. They had one of those gigan-
| tic stoves that seem to have grown
together, with a comfortable bench,
wonderful cupboards, and, scattered
along the walls, ancient arms, gar
ments, costumes in glaring colors.
dried ears OF corn, tinware, cups
and plates, while from one closet
there glistened among yellowish wells
and bridal wreaths all sorts Of old
finery.
The Idea Is Born.
Late one evening we all sat around
the table: the flickering light from
the candles of an iron chandelier
gave the room a touch of ghostly me
dievalism. And then there entered
a young girl OF our circle of acquaint.
ance. dressed in a fantastic costume.
with a lutte, from which huttered
many gay ribbons. on her arm. In
a soft, touching voice she sang old
German folk songs, forgotten bal
lads. A strange feeling crept over
all OF us-I. myself, was looking
through tears as through a crystal.
The room became a piece of scenery;
the girl-her name was Elsa-under-
went a strange transformation. The
lutte shone in the hands OF a hand
some youth, the halberda on the
walls were seized by husky men-at-
arms, the tin cups were filled with
foaming wine, and from the closet
there beamed in supernatural splen-
dor a set of royal jewels. In this
hour there came TO me the whole
action OF my opera, Der Schatz.
graber.
The Argument.
The argument Of Der Schatz.
graber" is given as follows in the
Berlin Tageblatt:
Ellis. the singer. the man with the
magic lutte whose notes reveal to
him deeply hidden treasures in
visible TO the everyday man. wishes
TO turn the dream kingdom OF the
fairy tale into reality. In the role
~ EuNinr he Salliaa forth and
counters the human troubles OF Els.
Els, regarding whose higher origin
there are dark rumors. passes as the
daughter Of an innkeeper. A demon
urges her to acquire by piecemeal the
enchanted treasure OF the queen.
which has been stolen and is kept
! hidden. This treasure is also the
symbol OF youth. beauty, happiness
and purity: IL, too, from a fairy tale
thus gradually becomes a reality.
To gain this treasure the girl follows
dark paths and exploits the lusts and
Jealousies OF the men Who WOO her.
until the arrival OF Els, the first
man she has ever loved. Guided by
the magic lutte. he unknowingly finds
piece Of the treasure and brings il
to Els. But thus entangled in her
evil activities, he is accused OF mur.
ucT ny lne jealous steward ana IS
brought to the gallows, from which
he is saved at the last moment by
an order from the king to seek for
the lost treasure.
Reality or Dream?
And he finds the treasure. but in
Els possession. Voluntarily she
gives 1t to her beloved, hoping for
purity, higher salvation through his
| love. At the kings court Ellis re-
ceives his reward, but the crime OF
Els becomes known. She is saved
from the stake by the kings fool.
who also loves her: when she was
happy he had renounced his love,
but now he offers the unfortunate
girl protection and asylum. Atoning
for her sin, Els follows him into the
solitude.
After a year has passed Ellis re.
turns to the GIRL who is languishing
away. In a visionary account OF an
ascension into heaven. he, the poet,
the seer, reveals to the dying girl
the unity Of dream and reality, of
ideals and life, that no mortal being
may see before death.
Upon the relationship Of these two
worlds hinges the action OF the
opera. The world Of reality, with les
abundance Of characters, ia sketched
extremely briefly and exactly, while
the other. the dream Of the ideal,
is woven together with rare imagina-
| tiOn