Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1892 edition. Excerpt: ... Spohr is writing an oratorio, The Last Judgment. The text is an arrangement by Eochlitz of passages from the Apocalypse, and very grand and beautiful. The First Part, which Spohr has now finished, was given (the Overture excepted) last St. Cecilia's Day, with pianoforte accompaniment. The music is very fine; it begins rather tamely, but you do not feel this afterwards, when he has warmed to his subject. On the whole, I think it only too modern. The style is beautiful and noble; yet here and there it reminds one of one's own age, whereas, if one looks at the majestic words, "they are not of an age, but for all time." However, you know as well as I do what Spohr thinks of such poetry; he thinks it crude, and excusable only on account of the crudity of the age in which the writers lived. Would it ever occur to one of our brilliant young poets, such as G-. Doering or Gehe, to say, "The sword goeth out of the streets, and hunger dwelleth in the houses?" No, certainly not. The crudity might perhaps be given as a second reason; but the first would be, because anything so great and powerful would never enter the minds of those tame geniuses. Besides the First Part of the Oratorio, we had, that same evening, Spohr's Hymn to St. Cecilia, choruses from Judas Maccabceus, and the Kyrie and Gloria from my Mass, sung without accompaniment. Everything went off very well. Leopoldine Blahetka gave a concert here a short time ago. She is a dear girl--a rose among dandelions and daisies. If she should come to Dresden, please do all you can for her. I might have given her a letter to you, but why should I? Nature has recommended her to every one that loves beauty. I have often heard her play; it was so beautiful, that I never for one moment remembered the...
