New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-09-25
MUSIC.
FRENCH OPERA.

FRENCH OPERA.
lies Mousquetaires de la Reine,n produced
last evening by French company the Academy OF
Music has a lively dramatic subject terminates with
happy marriage and is not incumbered by wearisome
recatve the greater part of the dialogue being spoken
IL therefore comes properly under the technical desgna
of comic opera but an opera with less OF the joyous
spirit OF comedy far the composers part OF the
work goes has seldom been thrust upon any nation we
could any number Of Italian requiem masses the
Of which Xuberan In comparison The factisha
Hal6vy had the gift of natural spontaneous mel
ody and this deficiency, obvious enough III his serious
writings is even more conspicuous in his attempts at
light and vvacIous composition. How his ponderouS
peasantes could have been accepted by audiences
familiar for years with the delightful inspirations OF
Auber and H6rod and the less brilliant, but still capt.
waiting fancies of Boiedieu, Adam. and host OF minor
musicians, who. though they never aspred to rank
among learned possessed at least fertility ofnven-
ton which always saved them from the accusation OF
dullness 1t Is difficult to understand. Of all
his contributions TO the Opera Comidue we can only
recall one lie Val dAndorre," that exhibits In any
degree the qualities Of freshness and vitality through
which alone such works retain any permanent hoid
upon the public mind sumptuous stage accessories may
go far toward carrying an ineffective grand opera
through but with comic opera such expedients avail lit
te On its first production twenty years ago. Les
Mousquetares" had the advantage OF some OF the best
French singers and actors OF the day, ana
the efforts OF these, aided by the indisputable
skill with which NJ de Saint Georges had
constructed the drama, was sufficient to keep 1t for
while upon surface Of popular favor. But 1t never
had any real value with the public and it will
have in France or elsewhere. Musicians may find Ger.
tain things to admire in it, but musicians do not const
tute audiences and their passive appreciation goes but
very little way toward forming the universal reputation
Of All opera.
The performance last evening was not the whole OF
btpd the ind wit VIII
ouetalres" Ia commonly regarded Mile. Euphemie
Beau who made debut in the character OF the hero
ne Athenais de Solange made success ana NJ Ieste
baritone, produced good impression In the part OF
Roland but the representatives OF the other roles re-
ceved little applause and established claim to the only
recognition presume they would desire We therefore
dismiss them without remark. OF Mile. Beau we may
say that she possesses sufficiently powerful and extern
voice, hard but not inexpensive In quality ana
trained 10 high degree OF uency and rapidly In exeou-
ton This last faculty especially shown In an inter
eced of variations upon the theme Of the Carnival
Of Venice" which though not very good considered
merely as music served well enough to display the adys
peculiar abilities NJ Teste has a firm and resonant
baritone somewhat dry wltha and sings with taste and
discretion His method especially good, as far as he
has developed it. The choruses and orchestra were
toerabe so, also, the mise 81 scene We suggest
however the omission OF the ballet altogether. unless
it can be better done than IL last night The oaper
ngs for thirty seconds OF four Incapable dancers were
simply mockery and deuson
TINS afternoon at o'clock La Juve" will be given.
lies Mousquetaires" is announced for repetition on
Monday next.
MUSICAL NOTES.
"The Bohemian Girl" is announced for rep
etition this afternoon the French Theater In the
evening Fra Diavolo" will be performed for the first
time by the Parepa Rosa Troupe.
Mr.. Theodore Thomas's "Last Grand Gala
Concert will be given this evening at the Central Park
Garden His season will close next Tuesday with a
special entertainment for the benefit of Mr. j. Levy
A most attractive programme is offered Ior
the concert which takes place tomorrow evening at
Stenway Hall in aid Of the Ayondae FUND All the lead
ing artists OF the Parepa Rosa Opera Company VIII ap
pear and several Others whose names may be found In
the advertisement else where have also rendered their
services The generous object Of the entertainment will
commend t to universal attention. apart from its high
artistic character
Miss Carlotta PATHS temperance this even
ING will be welcomed with enthusiasm For many years
she held an altogether exceptional position the regard
OF the musical community OF NewYork, and her long
absence has done nothing toward ehacing the remem
brance Of former trumphs She Is Of the very
few artists living In listening 20 whom there is
risk OF disappointment We could well be satisfied with
her as she was when left but rumor tells us that
her voice has gained In richness and body and that her
execution is even fluent and dazzling than OF old
She will be assisted the public have been informed
by NJ Theodore Ritter pianist OF high reputation, and
NJ j. + Prume, vioinist who comes among us with
excellent credentials. A competent orchestra, under
Max Marezeks direction, will contribute to the variety
OF the concert