The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-12-02
The New Opera.

a"hn "f dllhEhT SULLIVAN : LATEST WORK.
"IOLANTHE.'
Opinions have varied as 10 the merits Of
Gilbert X >u'liyan's latest operate produc-
ton. " Iolanthe." II i, evidently not so
taking d any Of their former work.-that
Is, it will not become so popular. With
all IT, charming Wit and really excellent
music. Patience has and never Will please
the people one half so well %, Pinaforc.
Thu, whilst one class Of critic, look upon
lolauthe" as a NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. pro-
iuction. both o., regard. IL llretto and
music, another viii gauge it, excellence by
the favor IL j. susceptible Of cliciting from
the general public. This may De well H.
Illustrated by extracts from the very diverse
criticisms Of Frederick Archer" and
>eraph in the last Music Drama. In
. the course Of his weekly article the former
says:
The future fate II tie new work cannot
De pr0-uostjcltcd with certainty, but it
may Dc stated 10 once that the book /, fully
f mp so Gilbert, usual mark, and the music
full II interest. although frequently ap-
Iealiu- rather t0 Tie musician than the or
binary tbeltTe-Coer.
The story oi the opera may le described
in very few words:
The Lord Chancellor Of England ha, r.
solved % marry one Of bis own wards. #
whom the Whole House Of Lords /, Ike
wise rnamorcd, when Dc discover, that his
son. Of whose existence be- was previously
unaware. La for stalled him in the Young
lalv's affections. Il il then made manifest
ly I0'anthr. q fairy. that she j. the han.
ccl0r'- lou1 lost wife. and the Young
lover. who is bali fairy and hpf mortal.
none other tuln their child. The father
relentS. and on being made acquaint-
ed with the fairy law, which rem
der, marriage with mortal an
offence punishable with death, in
order 10 avert traeical consequences ,ug-
.,e,t, 90 the Queen II the Elves an amend
men. of the statute. Size he>itates, but a,
ail her band tlareupon confess that they
have. one and ail. &c different times. mar
riel dukes. cari-. and lords, It j. then and
there enacted THAT forthe future every fairy
who does n1t marry q mortal shall die.
The G0rdnn knot is thus united. and all
ends happily. .,
Probably DO other living 'JrH'iet could
have constructed au effective and inieie,,-
inc 81. book" with such slender materials
~ these. lint Gilbert bias given Us dialogue.
ir.rre- mated With % quaint and dry humor.
Iene9th which lies delicate vein OF satire
lat is irresistible. while the ingenuity 81
construction, involving the Introduction
f u some most amusing episodes. !, equally
worthy oi note.
TIE OTHER VIEW.
..Seraph " speaks as follows:
The lest that the London critic, can SAY
Of "Iolmthe" j. that il was success
FestimC. Here il "a- q bitter OsAppo4n'-
mcnt. ..,s;,,.o
"a. they were gong our. ana, rom men i.ll
about-town. like Wright >andiord, 10 ia"-
~eT. like ex-Judge Dittenhoeifer-from
r;roi mon9pers, ike Colonel Mctaull, 10
future managers, like james CointT-li rom
literary ladies. like Mr.. Glider, 70 soclel!
ladies. like Mr.. BigelOw-the verdict WIS
unanimous: a disappointment.
The ibretto. full Of repetitions ana pad
ding. and straining after funny ehec,I'
cannot be compared for q moment Win
that Of "Pinafore," OF " Inc fHa'es, VI
II patience" The music may. piea.e
musicians: but there j. nothing in II 10
please the pubic. Most oil aecnis my NJ
snlIiyan's old musi, played over again III
different keys. -, -, ,.,,,
However. Frederic Archer will tell you
all about "Iolanthe, far better than can
in another column. lie looks at II from q
music stool; from a seat among the pun
lie I'm the stall. Whatever he says WIZ oc
scientifically correct; | give YOU me III
nresslon OF the un,cientitic public. FROM
pnr different standpOints we always agree.
He tells you whether an opera ouSnt 10
.nccesd: / tell you whether II VIII succeed
4 III Thought that rip Van Winkle usI
.eryod success; | told you that II "ou'''
E 10 a failure