Triumphs and wonders of the 19th century, the true mirror of a phenomenal era, a volume of original, entertaining and instructive historic and descriptive writings, showing the many and marvellous achievements which distinguish an hundred years of material, intellectual, social and moral progress .. . r character, entertained the French people for many death has left a vacancy that has not been filled. The modern French composers cannot be called great. Saint-Saens, whosemost successful work is ••Samson et Dalila (which is more of an oratoriothan an opera, and which was produced


Triumphs and wonders of the 19th century, the true mirror of a phenomenal era, a volume of original, entertaining and instructive historic and descriptive writings, showing the many and marvellous achievements which distinguish an hundred years of material, intellectual, social and moral progress .. . r character, entertained the French people for many death has left a vacancy that has not been filled. The modern French composers cannot be called great. Saint-Saens, whosemost successful work is ••Samson et Dalila (which is more of an oratoriothan an opera, and which was produced in 1877), has composed other operas, 14 210 TRIUMPHS AND WONDERS OF THE XIX CENTURY such as Henri VIII., Ascanio, et cetera, which lack originality andinspiration. Massenet has composed Le Roi de Lahore, Herodiade, Manon, Werther, et cetera, that have had passing successes. Both Saint-Saens and Massenet have attempted to follow Waguer in theirsonorous orchestration ; but their works lack distinction. The French com-posers of to-day have been demoralized by Wagners affectations. The death of Ambroise Thomas, in 1895, caused France the loss of one ofher most successful and accomplished operatic composers, whose Mignon will be long admired as a very charming opera comique, while his u Hamlet,. METROPOLITAN oiEIiA HOUSE, NEW YORK. though containing portions that are ably written, has never attained outsideFrance any remarkable success. Reyer, whose Sigurd was produced in 1884 with considerable success, isa follower of Meyerbeer. His Salammbo was produced in 1890, but didnot attract the attention expected outside of France. German opera of the latter part of the century has been so demoralized bythe influence of Wagner that the German composers have become little morethan imitators of his pronounced mannerisms. Webers Der Freischiitz remains the most popular of German operas,just as Verdis II Trovatore is the most popular of Italian operas. Spohr, Lindpainter, and many other Ger


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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, bookidtri, booksubjectinventions