Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-05-06

The New Gilbert.Sullivan opera.
From the Saturday Review.
we gladly turn to commend the ingenuity OF
the idea upon which the plot is based-the rails
ing of Ko-Ko, q criminal condemned to death
for flirting, to the rank of lord high executioner
so that no decapitation can take place in Tftipu
till Ko-Ko has decapitated himself Poor Bah,
Lord High Everything Else, who traces his
ancestry back to protoplasma primordial
atomic globule, and whose family pride is con-
sequently something inconceivable, is also q
figure i'm Mr.. Gilbert's own peculiar vein. So
much has been written about the opera that
readers can hardly fail to be acquainted
with the ot,which shows, to put 1t very briefly,
the questionable charms of katisha and fallen
In love with YUM Yum, who is betrothed to her
guardian, ko-Ko how Ko-Ko is to be deprived
cause executions seem to the mikado to
have ceased in Titipu, and how, Nanki'
self as subject for the headsman if he
may spend the last month of his life as the
husband of 1um-ium finally, how though ne
shown to the mikadO who finds that 1t is his
son who has been executed, thus laying those
concerned open to the most awful penalties for
composing the death of the Heir Apparent
The character of the thoroughly benevolent
monarch is one of the best ideas in the work
and the scene in which the false certificate
pointing to the decapitation, is first read by
the mikado, is SO good that we are tempted to
quote it,
MIf D sy seaf THIS
anxiety to carry out my wishes, you have beheaded
the heir to the throne of Japan.
{ Ko. But assure you we had no idea
Together Pooh. But indeed, we didn't know
Pitt. We really hadn't the least notion
- MIX OF course you hadn't. How could yon:
it no fault of yours @an Exalted rank
chooses to disguise himself a second trombone he
to T., see you take on SO I've no doubt he thoroughly
deserve ed all he e. got SIX rss3 .,est
MIX Obliged? Not bit. Don't mention It, Ho"
Pooh. No, of course we couldn't know that he was
PIrTI Il wasn't written on his forehead you know
no 1T might have been on his poc1et-handkerchief
put japanese don't use pocket handkerchies! Hat ha
MIX Ha. ha, ha! Ito KAr) I forget the punish.
MT for comprising the death of the Heir Apparent
nnon. Punishment (7ney drop do,cn on their
piTTi } knees again.
it. fancy Something of that sort. think boiling
f on occurs In it. but I'm not sure know its some
or melted lead. Come, come, don't fret m not bit
Ko On affect terror) If your Majesty will accept
our assurance, we had no idea
of he of ana. act
ing the death OF the Heir Apparent" There's not a
notion There should be, Of course but there ism t.
that's the sovenly way in . which these acts are
1t altered next session.
ko What's the good of that?
ko:, Pitt, and Pooh. Oh, yes-we can wait till
NIX Then We'll make it after luncheon. I'm
really very sorry for you ALL but its an unjust world
ances
The glee which follows is one which it would
nave occurred to no one but Mr.. Gilbert to
See how the Fates their gifts allot,
Yet b is worthy. 1 dare say,
OF more prosperity than A.
And the condition of "happy undeserving AZ
is cOntrasted with that of |'wretched meritori
Gus b. Almost ali the verse in the opera
is excellent, and though Sir Arthur Sullivan S
score Is by no means free from repetition OF
his melodies SO daintily that we have nothing
but praise for his share Ofthe new work Author
and composer go hand in hand with the skill
and senseof humor peculiar to themselves. How
much OF Sir Arthur's success is due to the sug
gestions his partner supplies need not be con.
sidered; the result is delightful. Nanki-Poo's
flrt song when he enters as a wandering min
strel to beg the assembly of mobiles to tell him
where he may find Yum-Yum is an excellent
you in sentimental mood? I'll sigh for YOU
the minstrel sings to a tender melody in E
nat, charming!y accompanied by reeds and
patriotic sentiment is wanted the singer
shows his ability to supply that; Or IF you call
round" he vOcally declares; and dashing all
in G major, two-four time, of the character
which has come to be recognized as nautical sc
carries away the Japanese nobility that they &C
through all the traditional gestures of the stage
sailor, the effect of which in their flowing robes
and hanging sleeves is singulariy comic. We
agree with all that has been said in favor of the
merry trio, Three little maids from school are
we." There is laughter and merriment in the
music; the pretty dresses and quaint action OF
The odd gesture OF rubbing the knees is under
stood to be a direct importation from Japan
What if it should prove that after all am nc
identity to Yum Yum. "There! 1 was certain
of it directly I heard you play!'' is her reply
pothetical duet, Were not to Ko-Ko plight ted
lwould say in tender tone" and so on. We do
not at all regret the absence of the pentatonic
scale, or OF music in minor keys without a lead
ing note, which the critic of the Times seems to
consider a wasted opportunity. The march Of
the mikado's troops, based on the air, if it may
liable mikadO marched in the revolution OF
1868, quite satisfies our longing for japanese
melody. Among the best musical numbers in
the second act are the chorus BRAID the raven
hair" with the episode "Sit with downcas1
eye;;' the madrigaf, brightly dawns our wed
a,ng DAY. With tn Its really powerful transition
chorus, which has an irresistible gayety. The
score is full of ingenuity. Thus where. in the
course Of the mikados story which sets forth
his desire to make the punishment fit the
crime, the reference is made to the muSc-ha
singer being forced to attend a series of fugue.
and "Ops," by Bach, interviewer with SpOhI
and Beethoven" phrase from the G minor
fugue is heard on the bassoon; and when it i!
sdlu oi the criminal VINO was ABOUT 10 De exc
cuted how "he nodded his head and kissed hi.
hand, and he whistled an air, did he," the pic
colo Is not to be heard without laughter De
lightfully funny. too, is the duet between Nan
ki-Poo and Ko-KO. 1t runs as follows:
NASK. The flowers that bloom in the spring,
Ira Ia,
Breathe promise of merry sunshine
As we merriiy dance and we sing,
welcome the hope that they bring,
Ira Ia,
Ola summer of roses aud wine
And that's what We mean when we say
Is welcome as flowers that bloom in the
spring.
Ko. The flowers that bloom in the spring.
Have nothing to do with the case
I've got TO take under my wing,
most unattractive old thing,
With q caricature of a face;
And that's what mean when say or
son: bother the flowers that bloom in tn.
Ko-Ko's perfunctory utterance of the "Tra La
has cOmicality not to be described. They are
totally foreign to the sentiment of his verse
but the melody requires their introduction and
he resents the necessity of singing them. The
best songs have been SO much quoted that we
may content ourselves with saying that they
are very good.
The GrOwl of q Pessimist.
The world is growing better every day
This fact Is plain. 80 hopeful people say.
It may be, but the keen observer sees
That pepper still is largely made of pease.
The pump still aids to swell the milk supply
And"prime old port We get from logwOod dye
The bottom of the strawberry box draws near
And nearer to the top each passing year.
The finest apples, cherry checked and brown
Still af the top OF apple barIS found.