The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-04-15

'sCsenevieve de Rrabnr,.O

Mr.. Graus troupe of French artists made n brilliant
commencement Of their season OF opera boufs at the
ACADEMY OF Music last evening The house was
crowded with enthusiastic audience. the singers
and actors were competent, the music was good and
the performance up to high mark of excellence
throughout Ge'leuteve de Brabant is the most Ella
Oorate OF the burlesque subjects which Oenbach has
set to music and the extreme length of the piece Is
an objection that little judcious cutting would OBJ
Wate without removing anything that is worth re-
tanning
The plot Is burlesque upon o touching medieval
story which has been sung by more than one poet
but az treated by Messrs. CremleuX and Trefeu it Is
Frenchifed, and Of the salient points are given
with broadness OF humor that Is not altogether In
accordance with the strict notions of proprety that
hold in the best society at the present day Any OBJ
Jectonable features however in the piece itself
toned down in the performance; and, as given last
evening at the Academy, there nothing that pru-
riency could justly cavn at, while the rolllckng
spirit Of fun which pervades the opera won
for II the heartlest laughter and applause
Of the large audience in attendance. As finished
musical work, Genevere is scarcely equal to either
La Grand Dtohesse Barbe BJeue; but 1t contains
some Of the sweetest airs that Onenbach has writ
ten, and in some passages he has surpassed himself
The seronade of the page" "En passant sous Ia
enetre," in the first act, is melody that would do
credit to composers of far more prctensions than
O1enbach, and, as sung by Madame Rose Bell and
Mad1le Desclauzas, it fully deserved the
rapturous which 1t received. Other
airs which scattered through the opera
are bright, sparkling, and in Ohenbach's
best vein, and the duet of the geniarmeq
In the second act, although not remarkably good Of
ITSELF Is made OF the features Of the piece by the
comical manner in which 1t Is rendered by Messrs
BOurgoin and Francis. This bit Of hrst-rate bur-
lesque acting and singing was honored by q double
encore, and many of the audience did not seem dis
posed even then to be satisfied The chorus "Le
clarion que sonne" which concludes the first act /,
very spirited, and the grand march for Palestine is
remniscence OF Bdrbe BIebe, while the train OF cars
In which "Charles Marte" and his followers are about
to embark for the Holy Land is In accordance with
the whole spirit OF the burlesque.
Mr.. Grau has a strong troupe, although he has no
actresssinger equal to Lma, nor any artist equal to
Leduc, Lagriffoul, or Duchesne. Madame Rose Bell,
who personated "Drogan," the page, is tall, hand
some with clear sweet and highly cultivated voice.
She acted with great deal of spirit and established
herself favorite with the audience from the first
Mad1ie Desclauzas, the representative of Scene
vieve," is stout but good looking and her voice. al
though not quite 80 strong as Madame Bells, Is
sweet and fully equal 10 the requirements Of the role
M. Carrier, who appeared as "Duke Slfroy," M.
RVenez as "Golo,' N. Beckers as 'ChareS Martel,
and Messrs BouTgoin and Francis the representatives
of the 0enddTmeS, are all excellent actorsngers. In
fact all the parts well sustained, the choruses
were full and well trained, and the whole perform
was given in style OF completeness and ele-
gance that would be delighted to initiated by
the Italian opera managers The tunes, appoint
ments, and mOuntings Of the opera were all hand.
some and in the best TASTE but is to be regretted
that Mr.. Grau did not give the benefit of his own
scenery, which was painted expressly TOR this work,
instead OF that belonging to me aa Academy, win win
are beginning to get a little tired OF IT.
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