Djamileh
In one act by GEORGES BIZET.
Text by LOUIS GALLET.
German Translation by LUDWIG HARTMANN.
Djamileh was composed before Carmen, and was given in Paris in 1872.
But after the years of war and bloodshed, its sweetness was out of
place, and so it was forgotten, until it was revived again in Germany.
Though the text is meagre, the opera had great success on the stages
Berlin, Leipsic, Vienna and Dresden, and so its Publisher, Paul
Choudens in Paris was right, when he remarked years ago to a German
critic: "l'Allemagne un jour comprendra les beautes de Djamileh."
There is no more exquisite music, than the romance of the boatsmen on
the Nile, sung with closed lips at the opening of the first scene, and
the ravishing dance of the Almee, an invention of Arabic origine is so
original, so wild and melancholy and yet so sweet, that it enchants
every musical ear. The plot is very simple and meagre.
Harun, a rich young Turk has enjoyed life to its very dregs. He gives
dinners, plays at dice, he keeps women, but his heart remains cold and
empty, he disbelieves in love, and only cares for absolute freedom in
all his actions, but withal his life seems shallow and devoid of
interest. Every month he engages a new female slave, with whom he
idles away his days, but at the end of this time she is discarded. His
antipathy for love partly arises from the knowledge of his father's
unhappy married life.
At the opening of the scene Harun lies on a couch smoking, too lazy to
move a finger and lulled into dreams by the boatsmen's songs. At last
he rouses himself from his lethargy, and tells his secretary and former
tutor Splendiano of his visions. The latter is looking over his
master's accounts, and now tells him dryly, that, if he continues his
style of living, he will be ruined before the end of the year. This
scarcely moves the young man, to whom a year seems a long way off; he
also takes it cooly, when Splendiano remarks, that the latest
favorite's month is up, and that Djamileh is to leave towards evening,
to make room to another beauty. Harun carelessly charges his servant
to look out for another slave. When Splendiano sees, that Djamileh's
unusual beauty has failed to impress his master, he owns to a tender
feeling for her himself, and asks for permission to win the girl.
Harun readily grants this request; but when he sees Djamileh enter with
sad and dejected looks, he tenderly inquires, what ails her. She
sings him a strange and melancholy "Ghasel" about a girl's love for a
hero, and he easily guesses her secret. In order to console her, he
presents her with a beautiful necklace, and grants her her freedom, at
which she brightens visibly, but refuses it. Harun however has no idea
of losing either heart or liberty, and when some friends visit him, he
turns from her, to join them in a game, leaving her unveiled, and
exposed to their insolent stares and admiration. Djamileh, covered
with confusion, begins to weep, at which Splendiano interposes, trying
to console her by the offer of his hand. Scornfully repulsed by her,
he reveals to her the cruel play of his master, and her approaching
dismissal, and drives her almost to despair. But she resolves to show
her love to her master before she leaves him, and for this purpose
entreats Splendiano to let her disguise herself and personate the new
slave; promising to be his, if her plans should fail, but vowing to
herself, to choose death rather than leave her beloved master. The
evening approaches, and with it the slave-dealer with a whole bevey of
beautiful young girls. Harun turns from them indifferently, ordering
Splendiano to choose for him, but the slave-dealer insists upon showing
up the pearl of his flock, a young Almee, who dances the most weird and
passionate figures until she sinks back exhausted. She is selected,
but Splendiano gives 200 zechines to the dealer, who consents to let
her change clothes with Djamileh. When the latter reenters
Harun's room veiled, he is astonished to find her so shy and sad. In
vain he tries to caress her, she escapes him, but suddenly unveiling
herself, he recognizes her. With wild and passionate entreaty she begs
him to let her be a slave again, as she prefers his presence to freedom
and fortune. At first he hesitates, but true love conquers, and he
takes her in his arms. He has found his heart at last, and owns that
love is stronger and better than any other charm.
More
-
A King Against His Will
DER KONIG WIDER WILLEN In three acts by EMANUEL CHABRIER. Text after a comedy written by ANCELOT, from EMILE DE NAJAC and PAUL BURANI. The composer has recently become known in Germany by his opera Gwendoline, performed at Leipsic a sho... A Night's Rest At Granada
NACHTLAGER VON GRANADA. In two acts by CONRADIN KREUTZER. Text taken from Kind's drama of the same name by Freiherr K. VON BRONN. This little opera, which literally overflows with charming songs and true German melody, has never passed t... Abu Hassan
In one act by WEBER. Text by HIEMER. This little opera, composed by Weber in his early youth and first represented at Dresden under the composer's own direction, for a time fell into utter oblivion, but has lately been reproduced. Thoug... Aida
Grand romantic Opera in four acts by GIUSEPPE VERDI. Text by ANTONIO GHISLANZONI. Translated into German by S. SCHANZ. English version by KENNEY. This opera owes its great popularity not only to its brilliant music and skilful instrumentati... Alessandro Stradella
In three acts by FLOTOW. Text after the French by W. FRIEDRICH. Flotow, who composed this little opera when at Paris in the year 1844, that is long before his Martha, had the satisfaction of scoring a great success on the evening of its fi... Armida
In five acts by GLUCK. Text by PHIL. QUINAULT. The poet Quinault wrote the libretto of this opera for another composer, Lully, but almost one hundred years later, Gluck, recognizing the genuine richness of this French production, availed... Ballo In Maschera
CCHAOTER Lyric Drama In five acts by VERDI. Text by F. M. PIAVE. Auber's success with the opera of the same name inspired Verdi to try his hand at it too. He ordered his friend Piave to write the libretto for him and in 1854 the opera wa... Bearskin
(DER BAeRENHAeUTER). In three acts by SIEGFRIED WAGNER. In the beginning of the year 1899 a great sensation thrilled through the musical world; Siegfried Wagner had written his first musical drama. Some call him the small son of a great f... Benvenuto Cellini
In three acts by HECTOR BERLIOZ. Text by de WAILLY and BARRIER, translated into German by PETER CORNELIUS. This opera by the spirited French musician has had a singular fate. Composed more than forty years ago it never had the success it m... By Order Of His Highness
(AUF HOHEN BEFEHL.) In three acts by CARL REINECKE. Text by the composer after RIEHL's novel: "Ovidius at Court." Reinecke of Leipzig is known both as excellent pianist and composer of no ordinary talent. The Dresden theatre has been on... Carmen
In four acts by GEORGE BIZET. This opera is essentially Spanish. The music throughout has a southern character and is passionate and original to a high degree. Carmen, the heroine is a Spanish gipsy, fickle and wayward, but endowed with a... Cavalleria Rusticana
(SICILIAN RUSTIC CHIVALRY). In one act by PIETRO MASCAGNI. Text after Verga's drama of the same name by TARGIONI-TOZZETTI and MENASCI. The composer of this very brief opera is a young man, who has had a most adventurous life notwithstan... Cosi Fan Tutte
In two acts by MOZART. Text by DA PONTE, newly arranged by L. SCHNEIDER and ED. DEVRIENT. This opera, though lovely in its way, has never had the success, which the preceding Figaro and Don Juan attained, and this is due for the most part... Delila
In three Acts by FERDINAND LEMAIRE. With Music by CAMILLE SAINT-SAENS. German translation by RICHARD POHL. The first performance of this opera in Dresden on November 13th 1900 proved a great success. This opera which was written almos... Der Freischuetz
In three acts by C. M. VON WEBER. Text by FRIEDRICH KIND. This charming opera done at Dresden 1820, is the most favored of Weber's compositions. It is truly German, being both fantastic and poetic. The libretto is an old German legend an... Djamileh
In one act by GEORGES BIZET. Text by LOUIS GALLET. German Translation by LUDWIG HARTMANN. Djamileh was composed before Carmen, and was given in Paris in 1872. But after the years of war and bloodshed, its sweetness was out of place, and... Don Carlos
In four acts by VERDI. Text by MERY and CAMILLA DU LOCLE. This opera is one of the first of Verdi's. It was half forgotten, when being suddenly recalled to the stage it met with considerable success. The music is fine and highly dramatic ... Don Juan
In two acts by MOZART. Text by DA PONTE. Don Juan is Mozart's most beautiful opera; we may even say, that it is the greatest work of this kind, which was ever written by a German musician. The text too, written by Mozart's friend, is far ... Don Pasquale
In three acts by DONIZETTI. Text done after SER MARCANTONIO by SALVATORE GAMMERANO. This opera, one of Donizetti's last compositions is a little jewel of the modern Italian kinds. Its music is sparkling with wit and grace and may rank amo... Donna Diana
In three acts by E. VON REZNICEK. Text after a free translation of MORETO'S comedy of the same name. Many are the authors, who have dramatized this old, but ever young and fresh comedy, but yet none have so nearly reached the ideal, as this... Elektra
In one act by HUGO VON HOFMANNSTHAL. Music by RICHARD STRAUSS. The first production of Strauss' Elektra took place in Dresden January 25th, 1909. It met with immense applause from one part, with trenchant criticism from the Philistines. ... Ernani
In four parts. Taken from VICTOR HUGO'S Drama of the same name. Text by F. MARIA PIAVE. Music by GIUSEPPE VERDI. Verdi wrote this opera in 1844 when in his thirtieth year. One cannot help being struck by the improvement shown in it, ... Eugene Onegin
Lyric Scenes in three acts by P. J. TSCHAIKOWSKY. Text after Puschkin's poem of the same name. Tschaikowsky's opera, long known and so intensely popular throughout Russia, that many of its melodies have become household-properties, has tak... Euryanthe
Grand romantic Opera by C. M. VON WEBER. Text by HELMINA VON CHEZY. This opera has not had the success of Oberon or Freischuetz, a fact to be attributed to the weakness of its libretto, and not to its music, which is so grand and noble, th... Falstaff
A lyric Comedy in three acts by GIUSEPPE VERDI. Text by ARRIGO BOITO. Nobody who hears this opera would believe, that it has been written by a man in his eightieth year. So much freshness, wit and originality seem to be the privilege of y... Fidelio
In two acts by L. van BEETHOVEN. This opera, the only one by the greatest of German composers, is also one of the most exquisite we possess. The music is so grand and sublime, so passionate and deep, that it enters into the heart of the hea... Flauto Solo
In one Act by EUGENE D'ALBERT. Libretto by HANS VON WOLZOGEN. D'Albert's new attempt at an opera secured an even greater success than his "Departure", which is still constantly given at the Dresden Opera. "Flauto Solo" had a brilliant firs... Fra Diavolo
In three acts by AUBER. Text by SCRIBE. This nice little opera, though not equal in beauty and perfection to the "Muette de Portici" by the same author, is notwithstanding, a happy invention of Auber's, particularly because the local tint... Frauenlob
In three acts by REINHOLD BECKER. Text by FRANZ KOPPEL-ELLFELD. Becker, the well-known Dresden composer, has long won name and fame by his beautiful songs, which may be heard all over the continent. He is a first-rate "Liedermeister", and... Friend Fritz
A lyric Comedy in three acts by PIETRO MASCAGNI Text after ERCKMANN-CHATRIAN'S novel of the same name. After the immense success of Cavalleria Rusticana, the first representation of Amico Fritz was awaited with feverish impatience by the w... Genoveva
In four acts by ROBERT SCHUMANN. Text after HEBBEL and TIECK. The music of this opera is surpassingly delightful. Though Schumann's genius was not that of a dramatist of a very high order, this opera deserves to be known and esteemed univ... Guglielmo Tell
In three acts by ROSSINI. This last opera of Rossini's is his most perfect work and it is deeply to be regretted that when it appeared, he left the dramatic world, to live in comfortable retirement for 39 years. How much he could still have... Gustavus The Third
BALLO IN MASCHERA In five acts by AUBER. Text by SCRIBE. This opera has had a curious fate, its historical background having excited resistance and given rise to scruples. The murder of a king was not thought a fit subject for ... Hamlet
In five acts by AMBROISE THOMAS. Text taken from SHAKESPEARE by MICHEL CARRE and JULES BARBIER. Hamlet was first reproduced in Paris in 1868, a year after the representation of Mignon, but it never reached the latter's popularity. This is ... Hans Heiling
In three acts with a prelude, by HEINRICH MARSCHNER. Text by EDUARD DEVRIENT. The text to this opera, which was written by the celebrated actor and sent to Marschner anonymously, so struck the composer by its beauty that he adapted music t... Hansel And Gretel
A Fairytale in three pictures by ADELHEID WETTE. Music by ENGELBERT HUMPERDINCK. After a long period of "Sturm und Drang" we have an opera so fresh and simple, that any child will delight in it! It not only captivates children and people of... Henry The Lion
In four acts by EDMUND KRETSCHMER. This opera has not had the same success as "The Folkungs", which may be attributed in part to the subject, which is less attractive. Nevertheless it has great merit, and has found its way to the larger stag... Herrat
In three acts by FELIX DRAESEKE. The first representation of Herrat took place in Dresden on the 10th of March 1892. Its author is long known as one of the first living composers, but his music is so serious, so extremely difficult in its e... Hoffmann's Tales
In three acts by JULES BARBIER. Music by JACQUES OFFENBACH. In this opera the composer far surpasses all his other compositions. It is his swan's song, for he composed it in the summer of 1880 and he died in October of the same year after ... Idle Hans
In one act by A. RITTER. DER FAULE HANS Text after a poetic tale by FELIX DAHN. The composer of this hitherto unknown opera is no young man. He is over sixty, and his well deserved fame reaches him but tardily. Alexander Ritter, a rel... Idomeneus
In three acts by W. A. MOZART. Text by ABBATE GIANBATTISTA VARESCO. This opera, which Mozart composed in his twenty-fifth year for the Opera-seria in Munich, was represented in the year 1781, and won brilliant success. It is the mos... Il Barbiere Di Seviglia
In two acts by ROSSINI. This opera may be called a miracle of Rossini's creation, as it not only is his best work, but was written by him in a fortnight, a performance nearly incredible, for the music is so finely worked out, and so elegant,... Il Demonio
In three acts by ANTON RUBINSTEIN Text after the Russian of ALFRED OFFERMANN. This opera of the great Russian musician has an entirely national character. The great features of Rubinstein's work are most fertile imagination and an immense... Il Seraglio
In three acts by MOZART. Text after BRETZNER by G. STEPHANIE. Mozart modestly called this opera a Vaudeville (in German: Singspiel). They were the fashion towards the end of the last century, but "Il Seraglio" ranks much higher, and may be... Il Trovatore
In four acts by GIUSEPPE VERDI. Text by SALVATORE COMMERANO. Though Verdi is far beneath his celebrated predecessors Rossini and Bellini, he is highly appreciated in his own country and the Trovatore counts many admirers not only in Italy ... Ingrid
In two acts by KARL GRAMANN. Text by T. KERSTEN. Ingrid is a musical composition of considerable interest, the local tone and colouring being so well hit. It is a Norwegian picture with many pretty and original customs, to which the musi... Iphigenia In Aulis
In three acts by GLUCK. Text of the original rearranged by R. WAGNER. This opera, though it does not stand from the point of view of the artist on the same level with Iphigenia in Tauris, deserves nevertheless to be represented on every go... Iphigenia In Tauris
In four acts by GLUCK. Text by GUILLARD. Gluck's Iphigenia stands highest among his dramatic compositions. It is eminently classic and so harmoniously finished, that Herder called its music sacred. The libretto is excellent. It follow... Jean De Paris
In three acts by ADRIEN BOIELDIEU. Text by St. JUST. After a lapse of many years this spirited little opera has again been put upon the stage and its success has shown, that true music never grows old. Next to the "Dame blanche" Jean de... Jessonda
In three acts by LOUIS SPOHR. Text by HENRY GEHE. Spohr wrote this opera by way of inauguration to his charge as master of the court-chapel at Cassel, and with it he added to the fame, which he had long before established as master of the ... Joseph In Egypt
In three acts by ETIENNE HENRY MEHUL. Text after ALEXANDER DUVAL. This opera, which has almost disappeared from the French stage, is still esteemed in Germany and always will be so, because, though clad in the simplest garb, and almost wit...