The entire work is rigorously
constructed upon Wagner's system of representative themes. Each act runs
its course uninterruptedly without anything approaching a set piece. Two
voices are rarely heard together, and then only in unison. So far
Bruneau faithfully follows the system of Wagner. Where he differs from
his master is in the result of his efforts; he has nothing of Wagner's
feeling for melodic beauty, nothing of his mastery of orchestral
resource, and very little of his musical skill. The melodies in 'Le
Reve'--save for an old French _chanson_, which is the gem of the
work--are for the most part arid and inexpressive. Bruneau handles the
orchestra like an amateur, and his attempts at polyphony are merely
ridiculous. Yet in spite of all this, the vocal portions of the work
follow the inflections of the human voice so faithfully as to convey a
feeling of sincerity. Ugly and monotonous as much of 'Le Reve' is, the
music is alive. In its strange language it speaks with the accent of
truth. Here at any rate are none of the worn-out formulas which have
done duty for so many generations. In defence of Bruneau's work it may
be urged that his dreary and featureless orchestration, so wholly
lacking in colour and relief, may convey to some minds the cool grey
atmosphere of the quiet old Cathedral town, and that much of the
harshness and discordance of his score is, at all events, in keeping
with the iron tyranny of the Bishop.
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