The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-06-14
ENGLISH OPERA.
LONDON, May 29s 1878.


comic opera" and London should be thankful The
entirely original opera bears the title OF III. II. s.
Pinafor" II is supposed 10 be satire something OF
SORT it 10 said by tho critics to be overfowng
with animation. sparkle, finish, comicalities, DO.
attended the drst representation the other night but
am compelled TO confess that found nothing OF the
above characteristics, either in the words or the
music still the Opera Comique has full houses, ana
All. NJ s. Pinaforev will doubtless have equal
to that previously enjoyed by 1.-The Sorccrer.'
The full title OF the opera Ia H. N. $. Piana-
fore; or, tho Lass that Loved Sailor" The text
Is bascd by Gilbert on one OF his own Bah ballads,
and told is prolonged Bah ballad, ballad
crammed full OF the concentrated essence OF Bah. II
is also said contain full measure of Mr. Gilberls
eccentric genius and many example OF the
"conccit OF his w.t." it may be. Tho story plot
is rdculousIy weak and its repetition here could
possibly interest you Among the characters there
burlesquist captain OF an English man. of-war,
who in order DO obcycd. has always to add to his
orders the immensely funny words, Ifyou please -
An old, ugly bumboat woman, who rejoices In the
extrao rdnariiy iunny name OF sLittlc Buttercup'
aud who sings long recatvcs in good style
about baby farming; First Lord ct the Admiralty,
who visits Her Majesty's ship Pianofore TO WOO the
Captains daughter, and sings song about how he
rose from being an attorneys apprentice, when he
cleaned the windows and swept the floor land pol
ished up that handle carefullee that he made
the ruler OF tho Queens navel" Evidently little
pleasantly aimed at Mr. Smith, tho present First Lord
or tho Admiralty but the point Of the joke is cast IN
tho fact that Mr W. h. Smith has proved 10 be an
cellenJ executive Minister The oDsra" ends by the
good people marrying themselves on all round In
ssentirey original nautical and comic manner" or
dramatic interest there 10 none.
THE LONDON CRITICISMS
Mr.. Gilbert Is undoubtedly writer Of clever smart
things, but his vocation when be attempts
write brctt for comic operas. In III n. s. Pinafore"
he has written verbal Jingle more Jingy than In The
Sorcersr.n ana consequence he has compelled
Mr.. Sullivan 10 jingle his music accordingly Mr..
Sullivan is a writer OF charming serious music when
he feels inclined to put his mind to the task but he
has Tar Jailed prove that he has any capacity for
writing pleasing music TO comic opera ais times times
hardly inspire HIM 10 anything bsttor. The critic OF
the Times very justly remarks that such o text is
hardly worthy of the efforts OF an accomplished and
artist With this all admirers OF Arthur Sulli
van composer OF charming ballads and really fine
same critic however, In believing that Mr.. Sullivan Is
composer whom, before all others, the chances
that national English opera still thing Of the far
future. Al any rate Aessrs Gilbert and Sullivan have
SO tar In ''rhe Sorcerer and IN III. NJ ). Pinaore"
shown but little capacity to carry out their sslfm-
posed task Of creating modern school Of English
OPERA They may DO 'orignal" but originality IS not
necessarily pleasing beautiful or contributory to
the Advancement OF truc ART
THE CARL EosA OPERA SEASON.
will turn TO a more promising quarter: Carl Rosa
has Just returned 70 London, having finished his
vncial tour Saturday last. His success, both In
and the provinces this season, has been very
complete, and the most influential journals, inclu0ng
the Times, Athenctlul, Academy ana the World, have
expressed wish that he may hnd himself able
sons on HIS season a. he Aasnn
in London, was brief one, lasting or eight weeks.
His provincial tour has occupied abous the space
OF time. Mr.. Rosa gave us two novelties and two
vvals besides the operas that generally remain on
his repertoire The novelties were Nieolai's merry
Wives OF Windsor" and lgnnz Brulps sGoidsn
Cross The REVEALS were asners '.Fiying Dutch
man., the OF last season at tho Lyceum,
bis a s
three years ago. Among tho other operas were
.Fsuss," "Marilana." .'rhe Lily Of Killarney" and
the everlasting bohemian Girl" The SUCCESSES OF
the season we're .Faust" with Miss Fechtcf az Mar
gsrita and Mr.. Mas as Faust; ''The Flying Dutch.
Marriage Of Fgaro,n with Miss Blanche Cole Is The
Countess, Miss Gaylord as susanna, Miss Fochter as
Cherubno, Mr. Ludwig as the Count and Mr.. Cell as
Figaro
THE ARTISTIC RESULTS SEASON
Tho performances, taken one with the other, were
In tho highest degree artistic and attractive The
chsrmui rendering OF the Wharfage OF Figaro the
beauty deicacy and tenderness OF tho love In
"Faust," aud the admirable representations Of the
lovers Of opera Mr.. Rosa was fortunate In having
several excellent singers, three Of whom, may add,
are Americana, and one resided With you during the
last TOUR years. Mr. Mas formerly member OF the
Kellogg company, made most decided and complete
success Faust ana US Gontrnn IN tho "Golden
Crossn The critics are proiuse in his praise. He
endowed with one Of tho finest tenor voices we
SAYS one. ssThG Faust oil Mr.. MASS PROD
ably the best 10 be found present on either Italian
English operate stage"
MR. MAS AND MISS PEcHTnR.
But IN praisng SIR, Mas Faust, Tor which he has
gained such great applause, IL must not DO forgotten
that the artiste with whom he played one OF the
most charming Al argueritas ever seen the English
operate stage Taken together this rendering OF tho
roles has never been done better. sweeer trucI
Miss Fechter 10 undeniaby Mr. Rosa's best recent
QUESTION Though tho character OF tho heroine has
been made familiar TO us by the genius Of Titiens,
Nilsson, Lucca and Patti, the Gretchcn Of Nile.
don critics said truly mile. Fechtcr's conception
OF Mar precisely the correct onc In fact,
what one would wish TO see on stage dslineation OF
throughout was as Unaffected ana natural 40 CON-
plctey 70 realize our idea OF the character. ], was
gentle, beautiful and soft, SUCH as, In Short
King Lear would pronounce excellent thing IN
womann 1t Is a pleasant duty 10 chronicle such
cesses as the above. For. MIR. Mas. an Englshman,
has been long among you, and hts many trends will
doubtless be glad to hear Of hts success. Hiss Fech-
ter Is. as you Know, the daughter OF the actor,
memories OF whose past greatness still lingor here.
MISS GAYLORD, MISS York; MI. LUDWIG
L have yet TO speak OF the other Americans. Miss
isn audiences. Everything she does invests
raro charm. As MRS. Ford In the merry Wives OF
as Christina sss 2 'o Taen asa
as Susanna In "rbe Marriage oil Figaro size not
only maintained her formcr rcputston but Increased
IT, which difficult thing u do. MISS Josephine
Yorkc still maintains her old reputation very
conscientious. painstaking artistic Of ssebel In tho
sMcrry Wives &c.. Mr. Packard has been unioriu-
usrsy on tue sick s and he therefore appeared sell
dom during the season. lie proved ss Eric In tho
Duchman, however, that no has lot lost anything Of
his former power or sweetness OF voice. ia the char
acter OF tho Flying Dutchman. Mr.. Ludwig, BY birth
an Irshman, revealed himself as the Nm dramatic
baritone At present on tho English lyric stage s'Ihe
hopors OF the .Dutcbman' evening" says tho Ahe-
n1um fsii to Mr.. Ludwig. For the 1rst time IN this
country he impaired TO the second act the super
natural solcmnily which Herr Beck, Of Vienna, dis.
plays so remarkably The new operas were Moo.
lars "Merry wives Of Windsor" and Brulps Golden
Crossr both Of which proved very great provincial
succcrscs. In London The grander operas were de-
ded, and the "Fausl,u tho "Marringc Of Figaro"
ana the Flying Dutchman' were the successes OF
tho London season. Mr.. Rosa has made several
Important engagements for next season Mr..
Packard, MISS Gaylord and Miss Yorke stay
with him, OF course. Hc has also engaged
Nine. vanzini, Mr.. Ludwig and Mr.. Mans
Hc visits the Continent next la order 10 look
ut tho new Productions, esp, cialy In the German
operate stage HIS arrangements for the fu,uro arc
not yet quite settled IL Is probable TINT he will CON-
nicnce his Lonuon season usual In the fsI. Tho
most influential journals, including the Times the