New-York tribune., 1869-06-02
MUSIC.
FRENCH THRArER-uERvE's cHrLPRl

fREN VIII THEATER-HERVES CHlLPEklC'
Whatever Grau, Fisk, and lrma may have 10
store for u.s. think the conviction this have
fa6tened itself upon the public nnnd that we have sounded
the depths Of oper bOue and the stimuant upon which
we rioed SO long has power TO tickle the palate
with fresh sensation. We have seeD hope, the
drtiest OF the works OF Ofenbach and his tribe; ;
we have seen alSo fear the funniest and most
spTighy. Mr. Grau exhausted his Of scenic
display when lie brought Genevicye dc Brabant"
and no new opera is likely equal that a spectacle.
1t Is only In tho way ot music, in whic there limit
TO the nyentiyeness Of genius that look for any
fresh pleasure; but music is only q small part
OF opera bouffe, and the better the work Is
composition the further generally departs from the
roIicking spirit Of the typical boue such "Barbe
Bleue" and LA Grande Duchesse" Herv6's "ChlpeTc"
for instance, which produced last the French
Theater contains OF the best music which have
heard from any OF the French companies, and many
Of It's airs well worthy OF the Italian
lyric stage IL opens, for example, with
fine chorus Of Druids and a broad decamatory
for baritone admirably sung by NJ Chopin 1t embraces
one or two other choruses OF similar character and
nearly equal merit several OF the concerted pieces, and
few OF the solos, would win approval even in serious
opera and there perfectly charming air for Madame
Rose Bell, with unaccompanied chorus behind
the scenes, by which the composer produces a
striking effect by original and legitimate means.
Yet "Chilperc," judged by the boue Standard not
entfely successful. lt embraces great zeal
but the fun In detached scenes separated by dreary
intervals OF dialogue that just falls short OF being funny
and by musical scenes which have often 10 be ntrusted
to incompetent performers The libretO Is from the
pen Of Herv6 himself. 1t Is less extravagant than
"EGn Crews" and less decent though many OF Mr
Grau's patrons will probably be disappointed to hear
that the ndecency does descend TO beastness in
some OF the works previously produced at that theater
The story OF King Cperie (Carrier who encounters
n
makes her his mistress His brother Sigebert Geno and
sisterin-law BrUnehdm GuerettD induce him TO marry
Galsuinthe Desclauzasl BrtuehauPs sister, and Fr6d6
0onde is accordingly sent adrift. BY conretemps the
daring Of which certainly must admire. the dis
missed shepherdcss, with her luggage, mattresses,
bandboxes, stOyepipes and other household goods
piled upon handcart, marches through the grand
hall OF the palace in the midst OF reception
given to tho bride,-One Of the officers OF the
household explaining that he cart too big to be got
out any other way. This leads to general quarrel and
the curtain falls upon shower OF domestic utensils with
which FrtdtgOnde pcts all the company, and they all
pelt another In the act everybody seems to be
conspiracy to kill everybody else. except smart
little page in yellow boots lle " Maurice) whose bus
ness is that OF a private detective. How the con
splratOrs foled, and what ultimately becomes OF
them, could not for the life Of discover from the
play; but Chilperie goes of and wins victory over
somebody aud when he back there Is grand ju
bee chorus wherein a German band is burlesqued by
the principal artists Rose Bell playing tho Voloucelo
Descsuzas the carouct, Madame Guerett the
trombone. and NJ. Beckers the bass drum. When
add that ChHperie rides live horse. and NJ Beckers
has comic business with live donkey and that all
the best members OF the company engaged I'm one
way another it will be easy 10 imagine that there Is
great deal 10 laugh at. The opera could be much i'm
proved by cutting out OF the parts which
are not particularly laughable, and by curbing
the natural ambition Of certain very inefficient
singers to do great deal OF singing There Is litue
party OF pages for instancc-stuied aud padded crea
lures, Miss Olive Logan would say-whose exhibitions
Of musical dcprayiy ought TO he suppressed They have
abundant opportunity for exhibitions OF another kind
lack OF sufficient rehearsal apparent all
through the performance, but that Will DO remeded
with time. Madame Rose Bell made her chief
hits with The Legend OF Chiperic" fascinating de
temps waltz tho first act; the Lamentations OF Fre-
degondc in the second and the MAI fotunee with
chorus behind the scenes, OF which have already
spoken. Descauzas has little 10 sing except a
volcro and fandango, both OF which are
good Carrier has plenty TO say and to do
but very few striking aIIs. Beckers, the court
physician has nm excellent song H oae G1dire sort
OF dution OF Figaros Largo CdetO not plagiarism
of the music but on adaptation tile idea TO the tastes
of the Bouncs Parisionnes and he sang It exceuenty
well The scenery effective. aud the dresses arc all
that could be desired-st least for quality
MUSICAL NOTES.
Ole Bull will play first violin in the orches-
ira at the Peace Festival.
The Paris correspondent of The London Tel
egraBh says: Miss Minnie Hauck, one OF NJ Bagiers
fTOuraifs has just returned from singing In Holland
she has hpt great success In consequence Of which she
has rcd. aud has accepted. two years engage
ment at the Grand opera at Vienna"
Madame Parepa Rosa sang in "'The Creation"
at Chicago Friday evening, before enormous audi
eucc hundreds being turned away frOm the doors The
receipts were $1,000 Mr. NOrdblOn, the young Swedish
tenor and MIR udophscn OF Boston, took the other solo
md carl orchestra
was TO bt repeated Tuesday and Saturday there
was a ballad matinee.