Graham's Magazine, Vol. XL, No. 4, April 1852Various
General
Graham's Magazine, Vol. XL, No. 4, April 1852
Various
Literature -- Periodicals; Literature, Modern -- 19th century -- Periodicals
The true conception of Mozart’s Don Giovanni is that of a
gentleman, to say the least, and more than that, a man of
genius: a being naturally full of glorious passion, large
sympathies and irrepressible energies, noble in mind, in person
and in fortune; a large, imposing, generous, fascinating
creature. He is such as we all are—“_only more so_,” to borrow
an expressive vulgarism. He is a sort of ideal impersonation of
two qualities or springs of character, raised as it were to the
highest power projected into supernatural dimensions—which is
only the poet’s and musician’s way of truly recognizing the
element of infinity in every passion of the human soul, since
not one ever finds its perfect satisfaction.
HOFFMAN.
Nature had provided for Don Giovanni, one of her dearest
children, all that could elevate a man above the crowd which is
condemned to be, to do, and to suffer: she had lavished on him
the gifts which bid the human nature approximate to the divine.
She had destined him to shine, to conquer and to rule. She had
animated with a splendid organization that vigorous and
accomplished frame: had inspired that breast with a celestial
spark: had given to him a soul of deep feeling, quick and
penetrating intelligence.
We think Hoffman’s description of Don Giovanni a little exaggerated, but
the Boston imitation is what may be called a “free translation,” _very_
free. All that duality business—“_that ideal impersonation of two
qualities or springs of character_,” is decidedly an attempt to amplify,
if not to improve the German criticism, and is in the usual
moral-defying style of the no-principle school of Harbinger and Phalanx
writers. In olden times our grand-parents, when they saw any thing
particularly broad or free in expression or action, were apt to say,
with a proper shrug of the shoulders, that it was “_very French_.” At
the present day, when we see any thing questionable in morals or
opinions we exclaim, “_transcendental, mock German_, and, _very
Boston;_” and thus we say of this attempt of Mr. Dwight’s to idealize
the very sensual, commonplace libertine of the opera.
We will now give another comparison.
DWIGHT.
Excessive love of pleasure, helped by a rare magnetism of
character, and provoked by the suppressive moralism of the
times, have engendered in him a reckless, roving, unsatiable
appetite, which intrigue excites and disappoints until _the very
passion in which so many souls are first taught the feeling of
the infinite_ becomes a fiend in his breast, and drives him to a
devilish love of power that exults over woman’s ruin, or rather,
that does not mind how many hearts and homes fall victims to his
unqualified assertion of the every where rejected and snubbed
faith in Passion.
HOFFMAN.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account