Act III. _May_ resolves to be true to _Edward_. Recognizing him (after
his song, "Hulla, list to the Seas"), they drive off in _Tackleton's_ carriage. _John_ is told of _Dot's_ secret. Reconciliation, with the _Cricket_ chirping merrily. There is much pretty music (for instance, the quintet on the hearth in the second act, and _Edward's_ song), which, however, has not sufficed to keep the piece in the repertoire in this country.
KÖNIGSKINDER
KING'S CHILDREN
Opera by Engelbert Humperdinck with a libretto by Ernst Rosmer. The first performance on any stage was at the Metropolitan Opera House, December 28, 1910, with the following cast:
DER KÖNIGSSOHN _Herman Jadlowker_ DIE GANSEMAGD _Geraldine Farrar_ DER SPIELMANN _Otto Goritz_ DIE HEXE _Louise Homer_ DER HOLZHACKER _Adamo Didur_ DER BESENBINDER _Albert Reiss_ ZWEI KINDER _Edna Walter and Lotta Engel_ DER RATSALTESTE _Marcel Reiner_ DER WIRT _Antonio Pini-Corsi_ DIE WIRTSTOCHTER _Florence Wickham_ DER SCHNEIDER _Julius Bayer_ DIE STALLMAGD _Marie Mattfeld_ ZWEI TORWACHTER _Ernst Maran and William Hinshaw_
A king's daughter forced to act as a goose-girl in a forest, by an old witch who has cast a spell upon her, is discovered and loved by a king's son. Though she returned his love and would gladly go with him she finds that she cannot break the spell which holds her a prisoner in the forest. Leaving the crown at her feet the prince continues his wanderings. No sooner has he gone than a broom-maker and a wood-chopper guided by a wandering minstrel come to the witch's hut. They are ambassadors from the city of Hellabrunn which has been so long without a sovereign that the people themselves feel sadly in need of a government. The ambassadors ask the witch who this ruler shall be and by what signs the people may recognize him. The witch answers that their ruler will be the first person who enters the gates of the city after the bells have rung the hour of noon on the following day, which is the day of the festival of Hella. The minstrel notices the beautiful goose-girl and recognizes her to be of royal birth. He breaks the spell of the witch and forces her to give the lovely maiden into his keeping. He persuades her to break the enchantment and defy the evil powers by which she has been bound.
The prince, meanwhile, is at Hellabrunn, acting as a swineherd. The innkeeper's daughter loves the handsome young man but he proudly repulses her advances. He dreams of the goose-girl. The innkeeper's daughter revenges herself by proclaiming him a thief. As he is about to be led away to prison the bells announce the hour of the festival, and the gates are thrown open in expectation of the new ruler. Through the gates comes the goose-girl, wearing her wreath of flowers and followed by her geese and the minstrel. The lovers embrace. But only the minstrel and a little child recognize their royal rank. The townspeople, thinking that their sovereign would appear in royal regalia, drive the kings' children from the city, burn the witch, and break the minstrel's leg on a wheel.
The two lovers lose their way in a forest as the snow falls. They both die of a poisoned loaf made by the witch. The children of Hellabrunn, guided by a bird, find them buried under the same tree under which they had first met.
HÄNSEL UND GRETEL
A fairy opera in three acts. Music by Engelbert Humperdinck. Book by Adelheid Wette.
The first act represents the hut of a broom-maker. _Hänsel_ is binding brooms and _Gretel_ is knitting. The children romp, quarrel, and make up. When their mother, _Gertrude_, enters she is angry to see them idle, but wishing to strike them, she upsets a pitcher of milk instead. With all hope of supper banished she sends the children out into the woods with little baskets to look for strawberries, while she herself, bemoaning their poverty, sinks exhausted upon a chair and falls asleep. A riotous song announces the approach of her husband, drunk as usual. She is about to utter reproaches when she notices that he has brought sausages, bread and butter, coffee--enough for a feast. He tells her that he has had good luck at the Kirmes and bids her prepare supper. When he asks for the children he is horrified to hear that they have been sent into the woods, for a wicked fairy lives near the Ilsenstein who entices children to bake them in her oven and devour them. Both parents rush off in search of _Hänsel_ and _Gretel_.
The second act takes place near the Ilsenstein. _Hänsel_ has filled his basket with berries and _Gretel_ has made a wreath with which her brother crowns her. Before they realise what they are doing the children eat all the berries. Then they see that it is both too dark to look for any more or to find their way home. _Gretel_ weeps with fear. _Hänsel_ comforts her. They grow sleepy. The sandman sprinkles sand into their eyes, but before going to sleep the children are careful not to forget their evening prayer. Fourteen guardian angels are seen descending the heavenly ladder to protect them.
Morning comes with the third act. The dew fairy sprinkles dew on the children. Suddenly they notice a little house made of cake and sugar. They start to break off little bits when a voice cries out from within and the witch opens the door. She throws a rope around _Hänsel's_ throat, urging them both to enter. Frightened, they try to escape, but after binding them with a magic spell she imprisons _Hänsel_ in a kennel, [Transcriber's Note: missing 'and'] she forces _Gretel_ to go into the house.
When she believes _Hänsel_ to be asleep she turns her attention to the oven, then rides around the house on her broom-stick. When she alights she orders _Hänsel_ to show her his finger. But it is still thin and the witch orders more food for him. While she turns her back, _Gretel_, seizing the juniper bough, speaks the magic words and breaks her brother's enchantment. Then the witch tells _Gretel_ to get into the oven and see if the honey cakes are done. But _Gretel_ pretends to be stupid and asks her to show her how to get in. Together the children push the old witch into the oven and slam the door. The oven soon falls to pieces. The children then see a row of boys and girls standing stiffly against the house. _Gretel_ breaks the spell for them as she had done for _Hänsel_. There is general rejoicing. _Gertrude_ and _Peter_ now appear, the old witch is pulled out of the ruined oven as gigantic honey cake and everyone on the stage joins in a hymn of thanksgiving.
THE GOLDEN CROSS
Opera in two acts. Music by Brüll; text by H. Mosenthal, after the French. Produced: Berlin, December 22, 1875.
CHARACTERS
GONTRAN DE L'ANERY, a young nobleman _Tenor_ COLAS, an innkeeper _Baritone_ CHRISTINE, his sister _Soprano_ THÉRÈSE, his bride _Soprano_ BOMBARDON, a sergeant _Bass_
_Time_--1812.
_Place_--Melun, near Paris.