ish national airs is
particularly successful, because they tinge the piece with peculiar
local colouring.

The Spanish melodies are chosen with exquisite elegance and skill.

Reznicek's manner of composing is thoroughly modern; he has learnt much
from Wagner and Liszt and not least from Verdi's "Falstaff";
nevertheless he is always original, fresh and so {358} amusing, so
sparkling with wit and genius, that I am tempted to call Donna Diana
the modern comic opera par excellence. Sometimes the orchestra is
almost too rich for Moreto's playful subject, but this is also quite
modern, and besides it offers coloristic surprises very rare in comic
operas.

In the first act the waltz is particularly charming; in the second the
ballet music and Floretta's song (im Volkston) are so beautiful that
once heard they can never be forgotten. The bolero-rythme and the 3/8
measure are typical of the Spanish style, which flows through almost
all the songs and recitations giving sparkling piquancy to the opera.
In the last act, where love conquers intrigue and gaiety the music
reaches its culminating point.

The scene is laid in Don Diego's palace at Barcelona at the time of
Catalonia's independence, Don Cesar, Prince of Urgel is resting in
Diego's Hall after having won the first prize in a tournament. He
muses sadly on Donna Diana's coldness, which all his victories fail to
overcome. Perrin the clown takes pity on him, and after having won his
confidence, gives him the advice to return coldness for coldness. Don
Cesar promises to try this cure, though it seems hard to hide his deep
love.--Floretta, Donna Diana's foster-sister enters to announce the
issue of the tournament. She fain would flirt with Perrin to whom she
is sincerely attached, but he turns a cold shoulder to her and lets her
depart in a rage, though he is over head and ears in love with the
pretty damsel.--The next scene {359} opens on a brilliant crowd, all
welcoming Count Sovereign of Barcelona and his daughter Donna Diana.
The Count accosts them graciously, and making sign to the three gallant
Princes, Don Cesar of Urgel, Don Louis of Bearne and Gaston Count de
Foie, they advance to receive their laurels on bended knee from the
fair hands of the Princess, who crowns Cesar with a golden wreath,
while the two other princes each win a silver price.--When the ceremony
is ended, Don Diego turns to his daughter, beseeching her to give an
heir to the country by selecti