New-York tribune., 1867-09-25


mont Well, then. you are that no longer
GRhHD BeGurs sm Sat g9a Of III it, assure y,, yEU
FRITZ thought was a General
GRAND DUCHEss-I said Colonel
you wish2
fRITz-Why not Lieutenant?
GRAND DUCIIESS-Lieutcnant 1t shall be.
fRIIZ-Shant it be Sergeantq
GRAND DUCHESS Yes, that il understood
fRIIL-Oh! this Is too funny
ana all this we say again, is quite French. The Prn
cess about to bestow the honors on Baron Grog
Dut learning that he has wife and children at horne she
shreWdy forbears contenng herself with the matrimo
MAI unatum of Prince Paul Boum is restored to the
honors OF chieancy, and Fritz requests TO be made
schoomaster In his native village "Do you know how
TO readF asks the Dutchess "No." answers Fritz ait
Is for the purpose of learning how"
our narrative and extracts have done suggestive Just
Ice to the comedy of Messrs. Meilhac and Halevy To
literature the Duchess of little WORTH but to music of
oHehDachs genius may be great deal Considered only
Us satire upon the petty royalties of the Continent-the
htle fveto kingdoms that arc scattered like hafpence
through Germany-has the Duchess meaning applica-
uo without either OF which 1t has consistency
ana point than the Duke of Buckngham's nexplicably
popular Rehearsal would possess to modern eyes
with exceedingly trifing incidents the lbretsts have
managed to make at least lively sketch for the com
poser 1t contains all the songs and ensembles he proba
py desired, ana without particle Of wit, absolutely
speaAhs Is sometimes quite drOl always garruOus and
unagging The bretto is valucless as compared to the
rapplngs and suits of the sparkling opera bouic as we
hear 1t sung by the chorus and ddlcd by the orchestra
are lea 10 rvocivo n. maxim that
a comic composer requires neither wit nor
fun in his librettist, but the milder humor Of
pleasantly and drolory. Tho buo gives us the heroic
and elegant side OF jest but outright the opera
bOuAe gives us the more heroic size Of jest and bur
esque is therefore the favore order OF musical comedy
1t will be observed that the libretst always leaves
margin for the humor and poetic feeling of his composer
on the principle that music is required to complete the
poem and thus understand why it is that lbrettos
have much higher merit than that OF being ap-
prOpTiatc and tactical.
The Duchess of GerOsten can be best described
extravaganza The composer the actors the costumers,
and the libretsts oil have share in its humor but
it derives very great essential from the latter.
without the ghost OF plot, it is throughout its success
sions of tablcauX telling satire. Made Tos-
tee appears before representative of sylishness
rather than power She is French woman and her ec-
ment is therefore drocry rather than fun Mons Guroy
Ft- is amusingy but not always tasefuly overactcd
He presents in clever style very amusing songs,
equally welcome to the stage to the soldiers Of the
grGnde drm6e their cups but Mr. Gufroys tenor Is
inconspicuous without the help OF his action Baron
Grog Mons Vaer is perfect picture OF the diplomat
and Gen. Boum is undoubtedly the very flower
OF martial extravaganza. We doubt IL anything
in the opera will, at first hearing, be more
agreeable TO English ears than the sweet and simple
"GOod Night sung in the last act must forget TO
say with what archness and droery Mile Tostee sings
the song OF her bbulous ancestora passage which will
do for wild buresque OF the King of Thule The Duchess
has altogether n scope Of humor and effect which We
would regard unaccOuntabe did not remember the
genius OF OGenbach This is sometimes volatile. but
oftener it sterling in spite Of its extravaganza Of bur
lesque. The opera will be repeated indefinitely.
Madame Peralta appeared last night with
great success in Puritan, notice Of which We reserve
Tonight ROssni's Othelio will be given at the Academy