He bought himself a five shilling ticket and sat in the middle of the
balcony overlooking the floor. He was annoyed again when he discovered
that he had been given a ticket for the "non-smoking" section of the
balcony.
He had heard no Wagner since August, 1914, and was anxious to discover
the effect that hearing it again would have upon him. The effect was
disappointing. The music neither caught nor held him.
"The Meistersinger" had always been a great opera for him. The third
act music that Sir Henry Wood gave to him didn't touch him anywhere. He
also discovered that six years' abstinence had not enraptured him any
more deeply with the rushing fiddles in the "Tannhaeuser" Overture nor
with the spinning music in the "Flying Dutchman." Then came suddenly
the prelude to the third act of "Tristan." That caught him; the peace
and tranquillity that he needed lapped him round; he was fully
satisfied and could have listened for another hour.
He walked home down Regent Street, the quiet melancholy of the
shepherd's pipe accompanying him, pleasing him and tranquillizing him.
Pages:
525
526
527
528
529
530
531
532
533
534
535
536
537
538
539
540
541
542
543
544
545
546
547
548
549