THE OPERA "FAUST"

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 73, 19 December 1919, Page 5

THE OPERA "FAUST"

CHARLES GOUNOD'S MASTER W01!K (By "Sylvius.") That tho Williamson management , i' 4 wiso in selecting Gounod's opera "Faust" as its opening performance of what pro-| m;ses to bo a notable, eeawii cf grand opera, who will deny? JNo season of grand opera in any country is considered complete without. Gounod's "Faust, , ' , which is the outstanding dramatic opera among several which have been based on Goethe's immortal and intensely human legend. It may be snid to have been the outstanding triumph of tho' French lyric stage of our Victorian era, and its power to charm and grip has never been questioned since its premiereat the Theatro Lyriciue, Paris, on March 29, 1859, when Madame Miolan-Carvalho was the Marguerite. Musically it literally teems with sublime melodies; written in an «.™e when -melody in. the truest sense ccAinted for a deal nioro than it does to-day, if one accepts Sir Edward Elgar or JRichnrd Strauss (of "Salome" fame), 'as-representative modem -composers. There are nn problems iu Gounod's music; no straining for ohfcure effects; no ultra-fantastical yearnings for the indefinable. The opem. from the time the curtain rises on Fnust, brooding on bis advanced years, and longing for Time to put back it*, bands and give him youth and love once more, until it falls wil'i Mnrsiieritp, in her prison cell imnlorin. , ! high Heaven for for?ivenp=s for her sins, i? simply n-glifh with the purest .melody of an elevated and lingering cl'.nrac'er. It hns Iron said that Ifiid Gounod only written the ICermcfse music and the entrancing sar-, den scene, it would have mninorhlised him. Others will say: "Why single out those scenes, whpti thoro nro 'otliprs equally n.s beautiful, notab'y the doath of Valentine, find Hie prand final 'cene with its spiritually inspiring trio, which m."kes so wonderful a climax- to a stupendous work?"

But to the.story as it runs in the opera. Knust, nn nld and leanvnl slndent, cbnfin.cr at hi* nnn-discoverj- nf the sooTet of ronowing life, and lieoTins youth, and beautv difportinp; itself gaily outside his studv window, become? so desperate that be summons tho Evil Spirit to liis aid. and Jlephistopheles. ,-\ttired as a liandfome, dashing wvalier, tnakes his npnearance, and bargains for the soul of Faupt in exchange for a IT-tiu'ii to youth. The compact is made. Mephistopbeles, to hasten his plnns, shows Faust ii vision in which Marrncritf, ii lovely viPnTC inniden, nnti'nrs. Fnust ininiediately falls in love with hw, n.nd. restored to youtli.. Faust, wvhv the guidance of the I'ivil One. soon finds nn opportunitv of i<res=rin« his suit, advancing it in the timp-honoured way by presenting her with a cn*et of jewellery, cunningly left nn n pmleii «ent. Win st "Faust pursues this course. Mpnhi=lnpheles flirt* humourously with oh] Martha, wlio is not the prudent rmnrdian she should be. Marguerite at firs*- resists th» ini-, pc-tnous love-moking of Fnust. 'but in her innocence is le<l from the paths nf virtue. Her brother, Valentine, returning from the wars—and here the famous "Soldiers Chorus" is introduced—is horrified to find that his dear sister has been betrnyert, nnd seeking her destroyer, i-'nust, challenges him to a duel, but Hie Evil One stands to his protegee, and Valentine, mortally wounded, dies curpins; Ins sister. Harassed bv her awful plight and her brother's death, Marguerite's mind 'becomes unhinged, nnd in a sudden frenzy she takes the life of her new-born babe. For this irresponsible , crime she is arrested, cast into pmon, and condemned to death. Faust, stricken by remorse,cannot forget the lovely Jiirl .be has wronged, and. with Mephistopholcs, sains pntriince to her'cell, and bids Hot lly with him, but Marguerite, now filled with the holiest impulses, rejects bur lover, refuses all his entreaties, and prays for forgiveness. Her prayer is answered, nnd ere the time for" her execution arrives, dies peacefully. Faust is overcome with ffi'icf, and even his wickrd mentor is fowed, and hi> shrinks back, us aiuiels are beard rejoicing over tho "sinner that repenteth," and welcoming the spirit of the gentle Marguerite as it is carried by angel hosts to realms of" bliss.

' Of the- company several performers nro of tried capacity.' Miss Amy Casllcs, Hie. Kiftcd Boprand, we have beard hero hefore in ''Butterfly" some eight or nine years a?o, and lonic forward once more to hearing her golden voice. Her sister Eileen, is new to us, am] is given her opportunity as Olyiupiii in "The Tales of 'Hoffman" (Offenbach), n nart, 'by (ho way. which was first played in English in 'Lomlon bv an ex-WelliiiEton singer, Misa Nora iVArgel (better known here ns Miss Norn T.on;;). Mr. Carl Formes (htiriloue) comes from the enind opera "Mpcca " the NretmnoHtan Opera House. New York; Jfr. AValter AVheat'ey ii f-aid In l>? nil excellent tenor: iind Signor Vilhrin Lois was here with die finimlps Compiiiiy two ycirs .-70. iH--s "R'sv 'I'rewppk has suns m WHlmirtin villi Ihe f'hoval XTniou, and her lui'liaiid, Y.r. I'rpd. Collier. <;a.vn n vocal rwitnl in Wellington n year <v,'o, iin>l n™ n ] n verv fnvnura'tle ii"')Vi'Ps ; on. JFiss Ihelniii f'nrlei- SIHIe Wil'oii. T.enh M.vp:"=. nnd fiei'irude Johnson are talented singi-rs, ami Sisiwr Alfredo Vnlonti }> fin .-.xnenpneixl oneratir: l>.r-«o. Mr. f.uMave Slnpfll'ski here with Hie Mii?«rovp Grand Oneia flninpnny. wilL control an orelipotrn raiMilated In "d« justiw to the all-im-linrlant music so cs-:enhiil to a complete operatic ensemble.