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 universally. Nowhere can melodies be
found finer or more poetical and touching than in this noble musical
composition, the libretto of which may
though it is faulty in its want of action.
It is the old legend of Genoveva somewhat altered. Siegfried, Count of
the Palatinate, is ordered by the Emperor Charles Martell to join him
in the war with the infidels, who broke out of Spain under Abdurrhaman.
The noble Count recommends his wife Genoveva and all he possesses, to
the protection of his friend Golo, who is however secretly in love with
his master's wife. After Siegfried has said farewell she falls into a
swoon, which Golo takes advantage of to kiss her, thereby still further
exciting his flaming passion. Genoveva finally awakes and goes away to
mourn in silence for her husband.
Golo being alone, an old hag Margaretha, whom he takes for his nurse,
comes to console him.
She is in reality his mother and has great schemes for her son's future
happiness. She insinuates to him that Genoveva, being alone, needs
consolation and will easily be led on to accept more tender attentions,
and she promises him her assistance. The second act show Genoveva's
room. She longs sadly for her husband and sees with pain and disgust
the insolent behavior of the servants, whose wild songs penetrate into
her silent chamber.
Golo enters to bring her the news of a great victory over Abdurrhaman,
news, which fill her heart with joy.
She bids Golo sing and sweetly accompanies his song, which so fires his
passion that he falls upon his knees and frightens her by glowing
words. Vainly she bids him leave her; he only grows more excited, till
she repulses him with the word "bastard". Now his love turns into
hatred, and when Drago, the faithful steward comes to announce that the
servants begin to be more and more insolent, daring even to insult the
good name of the Countess, Golo asserts that they speak the truth about
her. He persuades the incredulous Drago to hide himself in Genoveva's
room, the latter having retired for the night's rest.
Margaretha, listening at the door, hears everything. She tells Golo
that Count Siegfried lies wounded at Strassbourg; she has intercepted
his letter to the Countess and prepares to leave for that town,
in order to nurse the Count and kill him slowly by some deadly poison.
Then Golo calls quickly for the servants, who all assemble to penetrate
into their mistress' room. She repulses them full of wounded pride,
but at last she yields, and herself taking the candle to light the room
proceeds to search, when Drago is found behind the curtains and at once
silenced by Golo, who runs his dagger through his heart. Genoveva is
led into the prison of the castle.
The third act takes place at Strassbourg, where Siegfried is being
nursed by Margaretha. His strength defies her perfidy, and he is full
of impatience to return to his loving wife, when Golo enters bringing
him the news of her faithlessness.
Siegfried in despair bids Golo kill her with his own sword. He decides
to fly into the wilderness, but before fulfilling his design, he goes
once more to Margaretha, who has promised to show him all that passed
at home during his absence. He sees Genoveva in a magic looking-glass,
exchanging kindly words with Drago, but there is no appearance of guilt
in their intercourse. The third image shows Genoveva sleeping on her
couch, and Drago approaching her. With an imprecation Siegfried starts
up, bidding Golo avenge him, but at the same instant the glass flies in
pieces with a terrible crash, and Drago's ghost stands before
Margaretha, commanding her to tell Siegfried the truth.
In the fourth act Genoveva is being led into the wilderness by two
ruffians, who have orders to murder her. Before this is done, Golo
approaches her once more, showing her Siegfried's ring and sword, with
which he has been bidden kill her. He tries hard to win her, but she
turns from him with scorn and loathing, preferring death to dishonor.
At length relinquishing his attempts, he beckons to the murderers to do
their work and hands them Count Siegfried's weapon. Genoveva in her
extreme need seizes the cross of the Saviour, praying fervently, and
detains the ruffians till at the last moment Siegfried appears, led by
the repentant Margaretha. There ensues a touching scene of
forgiveness, while Golo rushes away to meet his fate by falling over a
precipice.
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... Junker Heinz Sir Harry
In three acts by KARL VON PERFALL. Text after Hertz's poem: Henri of Suabia by FRANZ GRANDOUR. This opera composed recently by the Superintendent of the Royal Opera in Munich, has made its way to the most renowned stages in Germany, which ... Kirke Circe
In a Prologue and three acts by AUGUST BUNGERT. Kirke, the first part of Bungert's Odyssey was given for the first time in Dresden January 29th 1898. It had the same immense success as Odysseus' Return. Nevertheless it is weaker in many par... L'africaine
In five acts by MEYERBEER. Text by E. SCRIBE, translated by GUMPERT. L'Africaine, one of the Maestro's last operas (1865), unites in itself all the strength and at the same time all the weakness of Meyerbeer's composition. The music is ... La Boheme
Adapted from HENRY MURGER'S VIE DE BOHEME. Music by GIACOMO PUCCINI. This opera was composed in 1896, and the music is of a far higher order than that of "La Tosca", particularly the love scenes.-- La Boheme grows on one more and more, t... La Dame Blanche
In three acts by BOIELDIEU. Text by SCRIBE. Boieldieu is for the French almost what Mozart was for the German. This opera especially may be called classic, so deliberate and careful is its execution. The "Lady in white" is the chef-d'oe... La Figlia Del Reggimento
In two acts by GAETANO DONIZETTI. Text by ST. GEORGE and BAYARD. This opera is one of the few of Donizetti's numerous works, which still retain their attraction for the theatre-visitor, the others are his Lucrezia Borgia and Lucia di Lamme... La Juive The Jewess
In five acts by HALEVY. Text by EUGENE SCRIBE. This opera created a great sensation when it first appeared on the stage of the Grand Opera at Paris in the year 1835, and it has never lost its attraction. It was one of the first grand oper... La Muette De Portici
In five acts by AUBER. Text by SCRIBE. This opera was first put on the stage in the Grand Opera-House at Paris in the year 1828, and achieved for its author universal celebrity; not only, because in it Auber rises to heights, which he never ... La Somnambula
In two acts by VINCENZO BELLINI. Text by FELICE ROMANI. This opera is decidedly of the best of Bellini's muse. Though it does not reach the standard of Norma, its songs are so rich and melodious, that they seem to woo the ear and cannot b... La Traviata
VIOLETTA In three acts by VERDI. Text taken from the French by PIAVE. The original of the libretto is Dumas' celebrated novel "La dame aux camelias." The opera is like all of Verdi's works full of melody and there are numberless spec... Le Domino Noir
In three acts by AUBER. Text by SCRIBE. This is one of the most charming comic operas, which were ever written by this master. Graceful archness and elegance of style are its characteristics, and these lose nothing from the presence of a ... Le Nozze Di Figaro
In four acts by MOZART. Text by LORENZO DA PONTE. This opera may be said to be the continuation of Rossini's "Barbiere di Seviglia". The text too is taken from Beaumarchais' Figaroade, and the principal persons in it, we find to be old ac... Le Prophete
In five acts by GIACOMO MEYERBEER. Text by SCRIBE. Though Meyerbeer never again attained the high standard of his Huguenots, the "Prophet" is not without both striking and powerful passages; it is even said, that motherly love never spoke... Les Huguenots
In five acts by GIACOMO MEYERBEER. Text by SCRIBE. This is the best opera of this fertile composer, and one with which only his "Robert le diable" can compare. The music is not only interesting, but highly dramatic; the "mise en scene", ... Little Bare Foot
BARFUSSELE in two Pictures with a Prelude by RICHARD HEUBERGER. Words by VICTOR LEON from AUERBACH'S Story. The young composer's opera is a musical village-story, simple and well adapted to the pretty subject. Heuberger's talent is of...