He held that the basis of drama should be the development of national legend, the outcome of national feeling. The result was not an unqualified success. Tichatschek in the title-role and Joanna Wagner as Elisabeth were excellent, but Mdme.
Schroder-Devrient, great artist though she was, could make nothing of the Venus music. The whole first scene with its introductory ballet bewildered the audience. Some of the critics discovered that "Wagner had no melody, no form. Mendelssohn expressed himself as pleased with a "canonic" entrance only that!
One of those who first recognised its genius was Schumann. On the whole Wagner may become of great importance and significance to the stage, and I am sure he is possessed of the needful courage.
The brass lead the way through as the frantic strings reach new heights in shimmering effects. The brass unite for the final few chords as the orchestra end back in the home key in an epic conclusion to this popular overture. Your email address will not be published. Scored for Read more…. After her birth, the family moved back to rural Ireland, where Maconchy began taking piano lessons. She started to Read more…. Categories: Blogs Opera Orchestral Overture. Oh, Thou, throning above our mortal frailty, Thou who hast sent this guardian saint to me!
Have mercy, Thou, I cry to Thee despairing! Oh, from the gulf of error set me free. The Landgrave pronounces him accursed, banishes him from the land, and bids him seek the sacred shrine at Rome, where alone he may find pardon.
The elders passed through the valley in the morning; the younger men are even now at hand; and their chant is presently heard sounding from below. In listening to it all have relaxed their threatening gestures and assumed a more softened expression. On eminence to the right Elisabeth is kneeling before the shrine in prayer. Wolfram descends from a forest path on the left and stops when he sees Elisabeth. He is a man of noble and devoted nature; and though he himself loves Elisabeth in vain, he hopefully awaits with her the return of the pilgrims, praying that her lost lover may be restored to her, free and forgiven.
Elisabeth rises, and as they file past her one by one she eagerly scans their faces. She falls on her knees once more, and convinced that all hope of his return must be abandoned, she prays to the Virgin to receive her soul, and to have mercy on him whom she has loved and waited for on earth. Feeling the hand of death upon her, she slowly wends her way back to the castle after bidding Wolfram a silent farewell.
Alone in the gathering gloom, Wolfram sings his beautiful address to the evening star, shining brightly overhead. He comes forward with faltering steps, leaning on his staff. Absolution, he tells Wolfram, has been denied. Yet, accursed though he be, there is nothing to fear from him. He is only trying to find the path to the Venusberg. Wolfram remonstrates with him, and draws out the story of his pilgrimage and its result.
He has seen the Pope, who pardoned thousands on the same day, yet declared that for his sin there was no hope of forgiveness till the staff which he held in his hand should put forth leaves and blossom.
Spurned and accursed by all, he has had enough of earth, and there is naught left to him but the joys of the Venusberg.
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