The opera, which, nowadays, is sung but rarely outside of Germany, contains music of a finely lyric and oftentimes strongly dramatic character. Heiling's aria from the first act, "An jenem Tag " (" On that fair day "), still has not infrequent performances in concert both here and abroad and is generally regarded as the gem of the score. Of worth are also the Queen's aria, " 0 bleib bei mir " (" 0 stay with me ") ; the first act finale; Anna's scena and aria, " Einst war so tiefer Freude " (" Once was such deep contentment ") ; Conrad and Anna's duet, " Ha! dieses Wort " (" Ha! such a word ") and Heiling's conjuration, " Herauf " (" Appear ").
The prologue introduces us to the realms below the up per earth, where the elfin work goes merrily on, where are gathered earthly treasures for which man gives his all to possess ; beautiful glistening gems with all the colors of the spectrum, great masses of gold and of silver to shape into settings for the gems, or into vessels to grace a royal table. It opens with a chorus in which the restlessness of man is depicted, his discontent with his possessions, and his foolish longing for the things that can give pleasure but for the nonce. The prelude also contains a duet be
tween Hans and the Queen in which she tells him of the power of the magic book, presents him with the diamonds, and Hans replies with a song of joy at his liberation and at the prospect of the love he is to gain in the land of men. The chorus is, to the German musician at least, the rather familiar " Rastlos geschafft " (" A Restless Nature "), and the duet, " Genug beendet." Because of its purely German atmosphere this opera has never attained any popularity in America. A num ber of years ago its name appeared in the list of twenty two promised operas to be given in New York, and later over the country, but "Hans Heiling " was one of the dozen on the list never given. It was a great disappoint ment to music lovers, and it is to be hoped that before many more years pass this most interesting although most German opera will be heard in our American theaters.