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 power of expression, which however sometimes
almost passes the permitted bounds, although the forms are perfectly
mastered and the fanciful
for play. It is taken from the celebrated poem of Lermontoff, and
it treats of the devices, by which Satan seeks to ensnare the immortal
souls on earth.
The plot is laid in Grusia in the Caucasus.
The first scene represents a wild and lonely country, in the raging
storm voices are heard of good and bad spirits alternately. The
Arch-Fiend appears, weary of everything, even of his power. He curses
the world; in vain he is warned by the Angel of Light to cease his
strife against Heaven; the Demon's only satisfaction lies in opposition
to and battle with all that is loving and good.
He sees Tamara, daughter of Prince Gudal, who expects her bridegroom,
the Prince of Sinodal, and full of admiration for her loveliness he
wooes her. Tamara, frightened calls her companions and they all return
to the castle, but the words of the stranger, whom she has recognized
by the halo of light surrounding him, as a being from a higher world,
vibrate in her ears: "Queen of my love, thou shalt be the Empress of
Worlds."
The following scene shows Prince Sinodal, encamping for the night with
his suite; the roughness of the way has delayed his coming to Tamara.
Near the camp is a chapel, erected in memory of one of his ancestors,
who was slain there by a ruffian and the Prince's old servant
admonishes him to pray for his soul. To his destruction he postpones
it till morning, for during his sleep the Demon brings up his enemies,
the Tartars, and the Prince's caravan is robbed and he himself killed.
In the second act Tamara stands ready to receive her bridegroom, whose
coming has been announced to her by a messenger.
Tamara's thoughts are with the stranger, though against her will, when
an escort brings the dead body of Sinodal. While the poor bride is
giving vent to her sorrow and her father seeks to comfort her by
offering religious consolation, she again hears the voice of the Demon,
whispering soft seductions to her. At last she feels that her strength
is failing before a supernatural power, and so she begs her father to
let her enter a monastery. After offering many objections he finally
consents, for in truth his thoughts are only of avenging his children.
In the third act the Demon, who really loves Tamara, and regrets his
wickedness, seeks to see her. The Angel of Light denies him the
entrance, which however he finally forces. Passionately he invokes
Tamara's pity and her love and she, rent by unutterable feelings
implores Heaven's aid, but her strength gives way, and the Demon
embraces and kisses her. At this moment the Angel of Light appears,
and Tamara is about to hasten to him, when with a loud cry she sinks
down lifeless. Satan has lost; despairing and cursing all, he vanishes
and a thunder-bolt destroys the cloister, from amid the ruins of which
the Angels bear the poor love-tortured Tamara to Heaven.
More
-
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... Lohengrin
In three acts by RICHARD WAGNER. This is the most popular of all Wagner's operas. No need to say more about its music, which is so generally known and admired, that every child in Germany knows the graceful aria, where Lohengrin dismisses th... Lorle
In three acts by ALBAN FOERSTER. Text by HANS HEINRICH SCHEFSKY. With this opera its composer has made a lucky hit; it stands far higher than the "Maidens of Schilda", by dint of the charming subject, founded on Auerbach's wonderful villag... Love's Battle
DER LIEBESKAMPF In two acts. Music and Text by ERIK MEYER-HELMUND. This young composer, whose first opera was brought on the stage in Dresden in the spring of 1892, has been known for several years to the musical world by his most charm... Lucia Di Lammermoor
In three acts by GAETANO DONIZETTI. Text from Scott's romance by SALVATORE CAMMERANO. This opera is Donizetti's master-piece and except his "Figlia del reggimento" and "Lucrezia Borgia" is the only one of his fifty operas, which is still g... Lucrezia Borgia
In three acts by DONIZETTI. Text by FELICE ROMANI after Victor Hugo's drama. Donizetti's Lucrezia was one of the first tragic operas to command great success, notwithstanding its dreadful theme and its light music, which is half French, ha... Madame Butterfly
Tragedy of a Japanese woman in three acts after John L. Long and David Belasco by L. ILLICA and G. GIACOSA. Music by GIACOMO PUCCINI. Though Puccini has not reached the musical heights of "Boheme" and "Tosca" in this opera, it has neverthe... Manon
In four acts by J. MASSENET. Text by HENRY MEILHAC and PHILIPPE GILLE. The subject of this opera is based on Prevost's famous novel "Manon Lescaut". The libretto is much weaker than the story, but the music is most graceful and charming, ... Manru
In three acts by J. PADEREWSKI. Text by ALFRED NOSSIG. Dresden claims the honour of having first represented the celebrated Polish pianist's opera. The performance took place on May 29th 1901, and a closely packed house showed its appro... Marga
In one act by GEORG PITTRICH. Text by ARNO SPIESS. The first performance of this highly interesting little opera took place in Dresden in February 1894 and awakened the interest of every music lover in the hitherto quite unknown composer. ... Marguerite
FAUST In five acts by CHARLES GOUNOD. The subject of this piece is taken from the first part of Goethe's greatest drama--"Faust". Faust, a celebrated old Doctor, is consumed by an insatiable thirst for knowledge, but, having already li... Martha
In four acts by FLOTOW. Text by W. FRIEDRICH. This charming opera finally established the renown of its composer, who had first found his way to public favor through "Stradella".--It ranks high among our comic operas, and has become as mu... Melusine
In three acts by CARL GRAMMANN. Text after C. CAMP'S poem of the same name. Tableaux and mise en scene after SCHWIND'S composition. The composer of this opera is known in the musical world as the author of many other fine works. He has ...