The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-10-19
MUSICAL REVIEW.

"GENEyIEvE DE BRABANT,n oos,u 0OaGtin three
acts and nine tableaux, Onenbach, represented Tor
the trss time at MenuS-paijlr5 theatre, Par4As
Christmas, 1857.
"Geneyieve'' is by far the most important,
most pretentious and the most varied work In
point OF music that we have yet seen from the pen
Of this acile and popular composer. It com.
bines, besides, all the extravagances, brilliancy
and effects which opera oou1s united to
Black Crookism, can condense within the bounds
OF o single piece. There are roles for three prime
donne In IT, O large number Of very effective
choruses, some fine ballet music and cIrcan music
without end. For grotesaue music, dialogue aud
action there Is nothing In the other works OF Osn-
bach which can compare with the roles Of Grabuge
and Pitou. the gems d'armes. or course, In ro-
viewing such o work 1t is impossible to give
any adequate idea OF the effects Of some
OF the numbers as the composer dealA
in some OF the strangest and outy5 orchestral
and vocal combinations which have entered the
brain OF any musician. The gems d'drnaes particu-
larry must be and heard to be appreciated. The
music Of Onenbach without being original In the
slightest degree, and being OF o nmsy and cap-trap
description, only derives It's popularity and merit
from its adaptability to the sparkling and In
many instances questionable dialogue Of the libretto
and the ludlcrous situations and scenes of the
opera, which can only be interpreted by French
artists. BY itself this music is In general hardly
up TO the standard OF some OF our negro melodies.
consisting OF a potpourr OF galops, waltzcs, okaS
Any one who ganccs over the score OF "Genevieye''
VIII iind succession Of those popular forms OF
oSsT brains ae nat tns ., w shass are from
Grande Duchesse,' ala Bele Hflene- and "Barbc
Bleuen VIII be recognized IN many OF the
numbers, FOR this operate Menus is In the habit u
repeating himself IN his works. sun, Judging the
music OF ''Geneyieve" according to the moiern
Standard We must say that It Is ar superior 10 any
OF the operas By the same composer whic have BEN
80 far produced in this city Many OF the airs aud
chcsse ana yet superior in Character. The open,ne
chorus uhe overture being a mere rehasR
OF two OF the principal arsl "Flamands de Tous
q good one at that. The burgomas:er makes mia
bow with baritone solo, which can only be made
effective by the action, costume and situation. IL Is
OF tue same character rs the "Pf PAT pouf 70 the
pastry cook or page tsoprnnol has pretty little ma
zurka air. ..Cest un pate" which Is sure to become
follows Is the Judgement de Paris with some
slight changes. The Curacaoans' chorus comes
next and II march OF pleasing nature,
The song OF the hel, which the bake (tenor, sings
IN one OF the most luicrols anu striking pieces the
opera. The orchestra aud chorus give an Imitation
oil the cackling OF a hen aud the Growing OF cock.
Passing over tile chorases O1 the maids OF honor and
Brigte's very clever song of the toilet we come to
sparkling trio sung by Genevieve Brigltte and Dro-
gan. the page Siiroys tenor solos "Ah de mon
cnur,n and the "Couples du the;n Charles Martel's
enectlve bass solo, J'arrive arme de pied enzcap,N
aud the dashing finale Le CLARION qui sonne.r with
Is very like the finale OF "La Belle Helene, the
Otncf rcmarkdDe features In 1irst ACT. WOuiu
be impossible to describe the music OF the
genstarDtes, which occupies the first part Of the
second act. IL Is ulicrous and cxtrapagant In the
extreme. Those two heroes are the principal
characters In the opera. A Bacchaialian chorus
opens tho next scene. 1t Is followed by the "Ronla
des inhdeiesr and well known s'ryroenner sung
by two sopran and basso. some OF the best balle5
music VIC have heard in French opera comes
nextand "Farandoe," which Is by no means orgf-
nal, but very brilliant and taking The page then ex-
plains the cause OF Gcnevieve's nar becoming gray
~ some very pretty measures The hunting quartet
tue song OF the fawn the return from Palestine und
Golo's complaint, the two last being very droll,
are the principal numbers In the last act. The
hunting chorus, In particular, IL very effective.
When to this music united ballet mise en- scene
OF the most Gorgeous description, rich and varied
costumes and singular stage effects, there IL hardly
doubt that II shall make q sensation. -
A. Il. Blackmar New Orleans, publishes the ioi-
lowing:-
'lgnis Fatuus,o capriccietto. Albert Jungmann.
Alight graceful little walf OF melody, with an up
proprlate accompaniment cx,,..
.'May has CoInc." Idye. A. Jungmann. i ,n,sns
not as good "a the preceding. The accompaniment
In the last part Is nonsense. ,,.,....
.'Pensees Melodiques.U c. r. Frey. EXQUISITE
little gems Of the schubert school. 100 r.. 49,.
Schirmer publishes new practical me,nou ta av' ia
piano, by Gro5chei, which 10 excehens io' w.
ginners. vv.m.r p,.,-
iished by w. A. Pond q 90. cneIacse Y. .s'v p.ovo
with fiimy dutterng arpeggios quite Ia keeping
with its name Tho waltz finale, however, migns %
iery out sr ~ IN the benefit OF the rest Of the
niece DaIv nubshes the "Grecian bonu Polka"
bv Il r. f5ieason q very pretty little piece OF the
popuar KIND unpretentious In character but pleas
Ing.