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For you must know, O Father of the Defenceless, that our women go there unveiled even as the women of the people that you see on our streets, and that on the stage, singers of both sexes indulge in open exaltation of that thing called love, which your prophet has confined within the walls of the haremlik." Abu Nozeyr laughed.
"By the beard of the Prophet," exclaimed Abu Nozeyr, "I thought such bliss was to be had only in the Paradise of the Faithful; and that is Grand Opera, Harding Effendi?" "With certain modifications," I replied. "Nothing human is perfect, Abu Nozeyr. It is a regrettable circumstance that the human voice attains its perfect development many years after the human form.
"And are there people who still persist in taking their sculpture, painting, drama, and music separately, Harding Effendi?" "There are; but that is because they fail to recognise that opera is a perfect union of all the arts. To-morrow, Abu Nozeyr, we go to hear 'Tristan und Isolde. It appeals to every one of our senses.
Why, then, should you be so surprised at any seeming incongruity in others?" "I am convinced, Abu Nozeyr," I said, "and to-morrow we will go to see 'Tristan und Isolde. But shall I attempt to describe for you, in a few words, just what Grand Opera is?" "My ear is open to your words, Harding Effendi."
I can do nothing better than to give it here in Harding's own words so far as I can recall them: On the third day after his arrival, my guest, Muhammad Abu Nozeyr, said to me, "O Harding Effendi, I desire greatly to witness a presentation of what you and the wife of your bosom, on whom both be peace, have often referred to as Grand Opera." I replied, with involuntary astonishment.
"Know, then, Protector of the Fatherless, that the music-drama is a perfect blending of all the arts. It calls to its aid the resources of sculpture, painting, dancing, together with numerous mechanical agencies, and to a minor extent, music and the drama. For observe, O Abu Nozeyr, that each art aims to awake its own specific emotion.
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