New-York tribune., 1886-05-04
MI SIC-THk ORA VA.
A NEW OPnRETTA.


Tho new ooeretta. Don Caesar.' produced last
night by Mr. McCaull at WallacAs Theatre is Mari
tana in a new dress The novelty in the investiture
extends little but only little beyond the music:
adLI ed od story has been reworded ana the new
opera or opereta Dellnger has made hybrid out Oh
IT. is what sprghter in lis action sud more ORA
matte IA well ds more amusing than aaoe's opera,
which i, now fast advancing t.. ri its semi-cente-
nary With the help of most adm rable stage docora-
tons rish and tasteful costumes, aud spirited and
generaly excellent performance. Don Caesar" made
u most favorable impression. sati'facton with 1t
grew in proportion with the wlln OF the listen
ers TO cast aside of conceit which have
up with industrious cultivation of comic OF eretths
which we Witnessed in recent years. The most silly
OF these conceits Is that no oPerea can be successfully
transplanted here from Europe unless its Look be
adapted" This means Q, nerally that the literary
quality of the original comedy be degraded to the level
of the feeble wit and gar taste of the "adapeI.
" Don Caesar" has been spared this deradation and
for this Mr. McCaull. and Mr.. William Won Sachs. who
put the book into English merit th thanks Of the pub
lie. The slight touch Of bdnoonery which Dir. Hopper
has introduced is kept within bounds and serves to
give lud yiduslity TO CHARACTER which otherwise
would have none it be pardoued. Had the book
fallen INTO the bands oi the hacks who have inflicted
the bulk of recent translated operettas upoa us the
Good opinion which is chsl eneed by Don Caesar
would uuqestonably have been reduced 70 "A minimum.
Rudolph Dtlinger. the composer Of" Don Caesar
is graduate of the Musical Conservatory at Prague,
aud was recently if he Is not now, conductor at
theatre ia Hamburg There this. his first work of the
kind saw the light of the stag. lamps. 1t las had
considerable degree OF success IN Vienna. Munich ana
other places though the greater part OF the admiration
of the Germans has been called out oy the book.
Dellnger like the majority OF the yOnng composers of
l. "A
his materials tho subj CT in hand. Ito yearns tor
biz apparatus and satisfied ouy with ranks OF brass
and all tine orchestr.l instruments wblch mtdl)crr
talent to hide deafth OF ideas be tact that ne
u,.e hi. large forces slially does not bis scorr
ouently disappointing Nould-Oe writers ot opttett
and com operas would do Neil alter acquiring the
knOwedge Of the theory aud technics OF cDmpo7ton IL
the German schools take leaf from he DOCKS OF te
French composers who the less prorcient IN
knowledge stl mantaD the hght aud grac 'inl touch
winch is essential 10 in thls department. Her
- Inn 2cr'o melodies al0 SO"oll.nrs pre- y ana HIS
nanduu. OF dramatic Situations l. able flan My ne
has u}h talent ihAI II Is hl' own ault II We are
compelled to dcpore tue f'ct that ms score Detray.
ere.tsr ootisencs, respect ue DaHH and tuum IN tie
matter OF neUdc inv ntlon Ia II we Nko To condone
serrnpde winch appears in the r,t ana Is used to
dcatn il the second has physlosh my which Is eh-
most original and creutib wort seemed 10 ,s |" De
tue dnalt ot tue secoul act. Ia which Do" '@ST Twh"
Is supposed TO have 0cen shot on era III the IhNr o.
monk aud lltern ,tos rapidly IN ais musical uterancrs
between mock so.emny and fost"rus gye y. lfthiS
tho p.cttiest IL MdritOds entr air, wtich IL ex
tremely pretty aud appropriately untel Win spanish
NJ. McCaul. we have already briefly mtcatei.
pre- sents we'll ir. Pesug al carri = tne cef
burden Ilde"- more ease an grace thh
tnoight u otpaulr Ui He acts wcll ana NlH- just
"a, well hc does reach ter IN" hot~ that are
40 Ion ger in ns Mr.. Hopper anus ii and hewi-
dcrrd the audience '.linS III tutaSliral c"N"iue
which ,ine my ste0Wsly To ave tdlci foot o. his
stature and ton to his capacity for pro tuclng fun
Miss Mn -. (Ottrr and to others n tho cast
mrrite kind words than time for on tins
an
TIN oushOut with nTm a id able hand.