de is acknowledged to be one of his most
poetic conceptions. None of Wagner's work was successful, however; and
after this point he relinquished the hope of popularity, and determined
to write only what seemed to him great music. In this lofty spirit he
planned Der Ring des Nibelungen. His subject was taken from the old
Norse mythology, the myths altered to suit his purpose. The whole work
is in five parts: the Ring, the Rheingold, the Walkuere, Siegfried, and
the Twilight of the Gods. The plots of these should be read, and such
music heard as can be obtained.

Then came Tristan and Isolde, called the Romeo and Juliet of music, and
after it, strangely enough, followed a light opera, Die Meistersinger,
at once a success; and last, what is considered his greatest work,
Parsifal, which he called a Sacred Festival Drama rather than an opera.
In this he returns to the theme he used in Lohengrin--the Holy Grail.
The wonderful and touching mystical music must be heard to be
appreciated. For years it has been given at Bayreuth, and musicians from
all over the world have gathered to hear it. It is only of late that it
has been produced elsewhere.

Wagner's life-work was to alter the whole course of modern opera and
give it new dignity and power.

VIII--THE FRENCH SCHOOL OF TO-DAY

Gounod, born in 1818, is the greatest composer of French opera of modern
times. His masterpiece is Faust, with its familiar Jewel Song; his
second best work is Romeo and Juliet.

Thomas, the writer of Mignon, full of melody, and Hamlet, with its
brilliant and powerful music, is distinctly a follower of Gounod.

Bizet shows in his Carmen the influence of Wagner; the Toreador strain
is its guiding-theme. His work was to raise light opera to almost the
dignity of grand.

Saint-Saens has one well-known work, Samson and Delilah, somewhat
suggestive of oratorio.

Massenet, who died but lately, was full of originality. His operas, The
Cid, Le Jongleur de Notre-Dame, Manon, and Thais, are all to be seen on
the modern stage.

Charpentier in Louise has also struck an original note, and his
orchestration is considered unique.

Debussy has written Pelleas and Melisande, a new opera of great
interest.

Delibes has one charming opera, Lakme, founded on the love of a Hindu
girl for an English officer.

IX--THE LATER ITALIAN SCHOOL

Verdi, born in 1839 and dying only recently, is the master of the modern
Italian composers. Ernani is typical of hi