Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1868-11-29
"LA PERICHOLE.,'
OHenbach's Latest opera BOuse.
Fram be - York Evsuing 80

From the New York Evening MALL
1t Is now said that the overthrow Of
Queen Isabella was brought about by the
Grand Duchesse de Gerolstein. The
performance Of that opera bouhe in
Madrid so impressed the Spanish people
with the disgrace Of having a licentious
court that they determined to get rid Of
their Grande Duchess and her Fritz at
the earliest moment, and so Isabella and
Marfori were not permitted to return,
when once they had left the capital. Of
fenbach has chosen for his latest work.
" La Periehole, a subject from the
Spanish regime in South America, which
so closely resembles the Grand Duchess
that it is the self-same story inverted as
to the two principal characters. In the
one, the reigning monarch, a woman,
makes love to private soldier, who cares
nothing for her, but remains constant to
a peasant girl that loves him In the
other, Spanish vieeroy becomes desper-
ately enamOred Of a vagabOnd street
singer, who will not return his passion in
her fidelity to Piquiilo, young fellow
of her own class in life. The FiceroY
has habit Of wandering about Lima in
disguise, ike the honest CaIiph in the
streets of Baedad, with this difference,
that while HarOun was looking out to
see bow his subjects were getting along
the EicerOy was looking out fer pretty
girls. In this way he stumbles upon La
PeriehOle, who is nearly famished and
who consents to accompany him to the
palace upon the offer Of a good dinner
but who writes a letter to Piquillo prom
ising eternal eonstaney and a speedy re-
turn after she has something to eat.
The Lettre de Ia Psrich0ls IL one of the
gems Of the opera. Upon arriving at
the palace, an unexpected embarrass-
ment is presented in the fact that none
but married women, under the vigorous
etiquette of Spain, can enter that abode
Of vice-rOyalty Ii Is therefore indis-
pensable 20 get husband for La Pc
riehole without delay, and the first man
In the streets Is picked up TO be married
to her She decidedly objects, and Yet
this first man chances. without her
knowledge, to be Piquillo, who, on his
part, yields only to compulsion, being
quite ignorant thatit was hisinamorata he
to take in marriage. The mutual dis
eOvery gives rise to eomieal situations,
and then Piquillo is locked up securely,
and the Viceroy attempts to win La Pc
riehOle with costly presents. which affords
the opportunity of a pendant to the song
of " All, que Jaime les militaires ~ IN
the song Of q All, que Jaime les dia-
mants r. But the diamonds fail Of gain
I ing La PeTiehole's affections. and after a
time the YieerOy consents to Piquillo's
release and possession Of the bride
There IS a latent satire in the opera which
the French censorship did not fail to de-
tect in ordering goHrernBseat to be
changed in one place to pays and in an
other TO administration, but the libretto,
which Is the work of the joint authors Of
the GrgHds Duchssse. hessrs Henri
Meilbac and LudOyie Halevy, Is a matter
of small consequence in comparison with
the music. Piquille's best song Is Sc La
femme il ny a que ca. It's character
istie Of Offenbaeh, and in two months
time, when Bateman has brought out the
piece, viii be whistled By all the little
vagabonds on Broadway.