New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-07-21
MUSIC.
BARBE-BLEUE AT NIBLO's.


In transferring Offenbach from the French
Theater to Nibo's Mr.. Bateman has made many import
ant improvements IN his company. He has introduced
into several people with voices (Which arc good things
have when there singing to be done he has betered
his orchestra somewhat he has strengthened his chorus
and lie has lavshed apparently great deal Of money
upon fine scenery rich and gorgeous dresses,
and the many snowy accessories upon which entertain
ments such as opera LOu1e depend for great deal OF
their effect Hence the performance last night was by
far the most complete that he has yet given u.s. ana III
many respects better than La Grdhde DuchcSSt'
while in nearly all 1t surpassed La Belle Helene The
music Of BarJe B to any who has heard the other
operas needs no description or criticism. Onenbach
ia always the same and the character
istio melodies OF all his compositions are
pervaded by the ghost of the idea Blue Beard
at any quite sprghty and inspiring rs the
works from the same rollichng composer which nave
previously been introduced and abounds. especially
in the first act with gems which though not OF the first
water, though mostly Of course mere paste and sham,
have pleasant glitter OF their own, and Will find
plenty OF admirers Such, for example, are the duet
in the first scene between FeWeb mile Lainbele)
and Prince Saphir on Dardguac the very comical song
OF Blue Beard M Aujac) Ma premiere femme est pore;
the chorus at the close the first aot AHOnS rsdeons
the little air "PiTe an beau jour- by Boulote tllle
Irma and her duet with Blue Beard "AmOtS nOureiss
and the rresstbly udcrOus chorus which accompanies
the equally excrucating duel in act the fourth There Is
one great fault n the opera work OF art ar you can
apply such an expression to anything OF OfenDachsG
the first act is the best; and If ballet by Mile. De Rosa
and others had not thrown into the fourth, the
climax would have been passed early In the evening AS
f. however expectation Is heightened throughout the
performance by the prospect OF gOred legs toward the
close aud after the bssfu bewderment OF liberal ana
dancing the sensuous audience goes nome
intoxicated with delight The plot of the opera We pub
lished yesterday and have now only TO speak OF
the performers. All the principal artists OF the
reconstructed company good in their respective
lines The principal d6Jutane Mile. Marie Irma, has
great deal more voice than Tost6e, has IN fact very
nice nezzosopranO which she with all the skill her
part demands She has pretty face but short square
figure which, in the character Of the shepherdess bo"
l0Ue is no disadvantage 20 her. AS an actress, she Is INC
embodiment OF rotous fun. She reyes In the gahetes
OF the peasant girl, making them needlesSly coarse
degrading comedy at times to the lowest burlesque'
filing the stage with spirit of deyiltry, and conyusng
the house with laughter, but lacking that dehcaIe SENSE
OF humor without which fun never can DO made heartily
acceptable 10 persons Of true refinement YETI IL only
fair IN saw that there is certain sort Of oOarseness OF
which she displayed far less than the Dreto gave ner
oportunities for or than Tos6e would have shown In
the same part Mile Lambel6 sang and played tho part
az Fle,lrets alias tho Princess HeFn'id neatly
and pleasanty and did much to eace the disageeable
immersion which sbe made In Orphte du1 EnleTs Inc
principal tenor Aujao blue Beard is most valuable
addition 10 the company. His voice is not altogether
fresh but then Is voice. TO begin with and toleraoy
strong one too, and he is a very humorous actor
and much moro lively one than his prede
cessor, H. Gufroy. The other leading parts were
taken by NJ Francis King BObeehe), paragon o.
lowcomedy old men, Nile. Duclos QueeH Clemenhne' NJ
Dardignac and our old friends MN Duchesne' Lagrl
foHl and Edgard.
when We come to the matter Of decency 1t Is not easy
TO pronounce just verdict the new opera Ihefe ar.
ia the bretto which are entirely shameless aho
are all the more objectionable because they ada nothing
| to the fun Of the play and can nave 10 ehoo
| except TO drive respectable ladies away IRON
the house. There are some exuberances ais'
,n the acting which demand repression But Blue Beart
il not beasty as La Belle Helene was ana Is suscepup
of being trimmed What pity that managers canno
Give us one OF these gay little operas freed from e1rahe
ous nasness the fun without the license, the dancing
without the dirt What pity that We cannot ha''
optra bOuGe in such form that no young genoinan
he ashamed 10 listen 10 with his sweetheart ana no
hand with his wei But this performance goes 700 i~i
and we hope the public will frown 1t into reiera'0n'