when
mother Hedwig comes out and warns them not to touch the outlaws on whom
her curse has fallen.

The second act takes place in Manru's hiding place in the mountains.
The gipsy is tired of the {432} idyll. He longs for freedom and
quarrels with his wife, whose sweetness bores him. She patiently rocks
her child's cradle and sings him to rest. Suddenly Manru hears the
tones of a gipsy fiddle in the distance; he follows the sound and soon
returns with an old gipsy who does his best to lure him back to his
tribe. But once more love and duty prevail; and when Ulana sweetly
presents him the love-philtre he drains it at one draught, and
immediately feeling the fire of the strong and potent drug, he becomes
cheerful and receives his wife, who has adorned herself with a wreath
of flowers with open arms.

In the third act Manru rushes out of the small, close hut. His
intoxication is gone; he gasps for air and freedom. Wearily he
stretches himself on the ground and falls asleep. The full moon,
shining on him, throws him into a trance, during which he rises to
follow the gipsy tribe whose songs he hears. In this state he is found
by Asa, the gipsy queen, who loves him and at once claims him as her
own.

But the tribe refuses to receive the apostate, and their chief Oros
pronounces a terrible anathema against him. However Asa prevails with
her tribe to pardon Manru.

Oros in anger flings down his staff of office and departs, and Manru is
elected chief in his place.

Once more he hesitates, but Asa's beauty triumphs; he follows her and
his own people.

At this moment Ulana appears. Seeing that {433} her husband has
forsaken her, she implores Urok, who has been present during the whole
scene to bring Manru back to her.--Alas, it is in vain. When Ulana
sees Manru climbing the mountain path arm in arm with Asa, she drowns
herself in the lake.

But Manru does not enjoy his treachery; Oros, hidden behind the rocks
is on the watch for him and tearing Asa from him, he precipitates his
rival from the rocks into the lake.

FEUERSNOT

(THE PLAGUE OF DARKNESS).

A Lyric Poem (Singgedicht) in one act by ERNST VON WOLZOGEN.

Music by RICHARD STRAUSS.

The new Opera of the highly gifted young Bavarian composer was
represented for the first time in Dresden on November 21st 1901.

This absolutely original composition was received with acclamation, and
it deserves it. The musical part is so difficult, that it