Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-05
GOTTHOLD DrTTER-
Stories Of German Operas
To Be Given This Week

pare two cups Of poison from her caSket.
Brangane, unwilling to see her mistress
die, secretly substitutes for the poison
love potion, the effect of which is
immediate, and the lovers sink into
each others arms just as the ship ap-
proaches the shore and the King ar
rtves to claim his bride.
Act II takes place in the garden out
side Isolde's chamber. The King has
gone on hunting expedition, but
! Brangane fears that it is merely a ruSe
and thinks the Kings courtier, Melot,
suspects the true state of affairs. Bran
game then confesses that she intention
ally substituted the philtre for the
poisoned cup intended for Tristan. This
confession meets with but faint re-
proaches from Isolde, who gives herself
up wholly to the intoxication of the
potion and sings with glowing exalta-
ton. Refusing to heed Brangane's
warning, Isolde gives the signal for
Tristan's coming by extinguishing the
torch. He appears and a long scene en-
sues. interrupted by the return of the
King, who surprises the lovers in a fond
embrace. Mark bitterly reproaches his
nephew, and Melot, shouting Treason"
stabs Tristan, inflicting fatal wound.
The third act shows Tristan dying of
the wound at his castle in Bretagne,
faithful servant, Kurwenal, who has
sent for Isolde, knowing that she alone
can care for his masters wounds by
means of her healing arts.
Despairing of her coming Tristan in
his delirum tears of his bandages and
Is at the point of death when Isolde ar
riVeS. He dies in her arms. King Mark
and his courtiers, closely pursuing
Isolde, arrive and are attacked by Kur-
al VxytNn Id la ~
slain by Marks soldiers. Mark, seeing
Tristan dead and Isolde senseless on his
body, repents his rage and gives way to
grief. Isolde revives and when she re-
allies that Tristan is dead, her grief
bursts forth in the heart-rending
'Love-Death' motive. She sings this
wondrous death song, so full of touch
ing sadness and inexpressible sweetness,
and dies.
don JUAN"
Mozart's Don Juan" brings a series
Of the exploits of this famous character
of Spanish literature, set to music filled
with magic melodies such as ONLY
Mozart may write. The scene and
period are Seville in the middle of the
seventeenth century. In act one, in the
court OF the commentaries palace at
Seville, the stage seems wholly dark
until among fantastic moonlight shad-
ows is seen the figure of Leporello. He
awaits his master. who Is within making
love to Donna Anna. A scream is
heard, Don Juan rushes into the court
yard, followed by the lady. Her father
appears, sword in hand, and q duel Is
fought, Don Juan running the aged
swordsman through. The don and his
servant escape.
Donna Elvira, the next lady on the
list, meets the pair and taxes the tickle
don for his cruelty. He runs from her
reproaches, leaving the irate lady to his
servant. zerlina, third In the list of the
don's conquests, is peasant girl whom
he meets at a village festival; She is
on the eve of marrying youth of the
village when Don Juan appears and in
yiteS her into the palace. Donna FL
vira comes upon this scene and warns
the maid, but the don, to cover his
motives, declares Zerlina insane.
Donna Anna and her lover, Don Of
tavio, are seeking the murderer of An
mas father y and, not knowing his
identity, enlist Don Juan's aid. Elvira
Of all easy things. Don Juan, to escape
from pursuit. enters with Leporello the
cemetery in which Don Pedro is buried.
There, while engaged in light discourse.
| the statue Of the man he had killed
utters q warning to the libertine. Treat
ing the matter lightly the don ieeringly
invites the eff1gy to supper. A splendid
repast is spread and in the midst of the
merriment the statue enters, asking
Don Juan to be his guest. Don Juan
accepts the offer and is carried of to
the internal regions in the midst of
flames, thunder and lightning.
Yet with all this blood-curdling story
| the lovely music of Mozart brings gay
ETY. and beauty to the opera Of Don
/ ,JIIan"