Conductors (Music) -- United States -- Biography; Damrosch, Walter, 1862-1950
There was not a more amazed person amongst the audience last
Thursday than your old friend here. Having plowed away and
wallowed in storm for some time on my own One Act play, I know
of the difficulties, the doubts and hazards that one encounters
in the business of writing an opera. It is therefore with
genuine admiration, that I take off my hat and bow low to him,
who could write the Score of Cyrano. It is a masterly
accomplishment of a treacherous task. I did not see you on that
exciting night; there having been some uncertainty as to my
being able to obtain a bed on the 1 o’clock train, I finally had
to give up the pleasure of going to your house. I press your
dear old hand now in spirit and in sincere admiration.
Your orchestration sounded superbly. Your choruses blended
wonderfully with the orchestra and I have no doubt that with a
slight _remaniement_ and _raccourcissement_, Cyrano will give
great joy to many in the future. I understand that you have
already made considerable cuts, still do I advise cutting out
more. Four Acts is a long proposition and some of the best
things come in the last Act. But the public begins to tire and
can no longer thoroughly enjoy the beauties of this Act. A few
things have occurred to me besides. In the scene on the balcony,
I think it is a mistake to let Cyrano say what Christian shall
repeat to Roxane. Is this not what happens in Act III, “How
could I love you more,” etc? Would it not be more expressive to
let Cyrano prompt his stupid friend in whispering and pantomimic
gesture? Curiously enough, this scene which one would have
picked out as “made for an opera,” was perhaps the least
effective part of the Opera. After the climb to his lady love,
everything is again admirable.
Then, in the last act, I believe if you were to shorten Cyrano’s
delirium and hasten his death somewhat, you would strengthen and
heighten the final effect of your work. Cyrano dies hard and one
thinks of the nine-live-cat-death of Tristan! All this may only
seem long coming at the end of the preceding three intense
hours. There are really extraordinary effects in this final Act
of yours and one would like to look at such a score as yours.
Probably, like all telling things in this world, your effects
are obtained through simplest means.
The whole work is to me a delight on account of its real
musicianship—a work evolved from a highly sensitive, very
intelligent brain, that has absorbed and assimilated much,
without imitating anybody or anything.
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