New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-03-02
MUSIC-THE DRAMA.
DELIBES'S "LAKME."

I'm AUril
generally agreed that the art Of Miss Van ZahuC h'u
much IN o with the success OF the work. but there was
also on the part OF liberal minded critics, geheTo'sre
cognition Of merits Of the score Ever since inc
yas first presented Paris there has Deeh aA vi E's
f. here Madame Cerster studied the title role VIII" ho
composer and confidently expect cd to appear III ne ope
here during the season OF s53Sl but though sue went
On far "a 10 offer TO purchase right OF performance
from Heuge publisher, nothing came OF her oNPco'
aton NJ. Heugel II was said at the ume' WIS Vi '"o
opinion that Mr. MaplesOn already owed nun 50 h"o"
for ROYALTIES that 1t would be wise to give the mana
ger an opportunity increase tho Indebtedness O
ing the same season Miss Emma Abbott carried |o'
sion of tho opera for which the orchestral parts haa
been prepared from the panofore score INTO tne "o
aud brut .ht down upon the devoted head Oh Denoes
vast amount OF undeserved condemnation Last seasou
Mr. ipIeson came back the Academy with vouchers
OF various sorts to back up his promise TO give
tba ouera There was Miss Nevada, who, we all
know had enjoyed the instructions OF NJ DelD'S
and VINO had trunks full or Lakme ureSseS
There were tho gorgeous uniforms OF tho Brltsh
sodiery with history OF conrsc and the models Tor the
scenery al. open tho inspection OF doubling newspa
nor reporters II was only matter NJ week or so aud
the opera would be put on the stage In fine Style TWAS
stll a matter OF week or two when Mr. Mapesons sea-
son came to end. Whether or not lie ever nal the
score no one learned. Tho uniforms found their way
into the wardrobe Of the American Opera Company and
were the boch-s Of prosac red and blue among the pct
uresque Iudoo costumes In last nights representation
Notwithstanding the masDhcence OF recent produc'
tons at the Metropolitan Opera House and Academy OF
Music there is room in operate lists for French
works, not only for such as are counted
among the classics, but also for the pro
ductions OF that eager young generation Vi
musicians who have followed GOun0d out OF the Ola ruV
aud proted like him. by the teachings ana examples oi
Wagner Without loss OF their National characteristics
There Is enough appreciation here OF the rhythm cal
piquaucy the yyaci,y, moloIic grace and technical
nus which are characteristic OF the best French muSic
TO welcome especially good examples OF opera co"tqe
OF which we have had exceedingly few In recent de-
Gales RinteiiSence exercised in the So
lection imperfect only VIII prevent the
,ptnce OF such works by our public with warm favor
If uo with great entnu.ias The danger or Imperfect
| Representations. however is not small; the del-
cato touch nice appreciation OF the essential
tnugs in Gallo art, harmonious cooperation
Of all the elements Of artistic expression
d,ny polso ton. decoration and music warmth o.
feeling In situations which trivial aud conventional
compared the emotional apparatus on modern Ter
man ma steal tragedy aud which ca for the utmost To-
hurmeut Of treatment Instead OF the broad effects III
which the American Company has thus far been most
,uccr.-fIltnrso things which are seldom FOUND IN
new org,uz atoms composed of heterogeneous clements
with no uniformity Of tho ~ ideal Of dramatic OF
musical style. and minimum OF experience.
Lulnc Is child OF the stage who uherts tue traits OF
several predecessors. that strongest being de-
rived from Itia and Ssi0. Like the former she loves
man whom her father believes the arch enemy Of his
native and and also Ike the former she Is the means OF
brtrayug him int, the nan Is Of the ayenger Like the
heroine Of leyrrbccr's po.thunous OPERA she las
faal know cdae OF tropical botany aud uses II 70 hrr
own ic.tructou Her scientific Attachments are Ill
about the same ratio with her amiabity. her abnormal
sense Of Mai duty and her musical accomplishments
Sue loves a man whom her father wishes her 10 lure l"
hi. death by her singing aud she si p eh'rdhc'heJ
enough TO bring about the dreaded collision between her
loy,r., back AND her fathers knife That she does
I.r. frIis t.Ig frtl.J JtTg
IN muricr due only the bune!Ins OF the OIL man
I'm, dome suc turu- physician and nurses the wounded
mau Do. 60 health. only 90 sacrifice "cr love To th" du''
which lrr lover thinks hc owes 90 On" invaders OF he'
country aud op.rrs-ors % her people Then sh' makes
the f,t, app icattou OF her botanical KNOWLEDGE such
Things are possible when ono to India for an
our,.,Ir hcro.n.. Bat the story viii mik 10 clear
| Ia.pts 4, the daughter OF NdakUtha a ianaucal
| Rr,hmin priest who has Withdrawn TO
| ruined temple. deep TN on Indian Forest some
/ ~ whose paIm trees beud double when. TO JUG
by an the rrst Of the foliage lot breath OF AR
f. .trriue Tai, the Inst hight at least at the
Arad,ruy of Music. IN his the old man nurses
DIFF th pray, --duou-iy to irnhni and waits FOR the
time when b, cav wr,ak h' revenge on 'h' H.
y,d.r. ~ ms country Ldirm> sings Oriental
tl,t, win her slave N,1itr. G,y0id an English ON
Ger r- T.. through hamnOo fence AMI makes love TO
LlNut. Huo Co cApgllt" the opra Wq"te' the p'S'oh
mans Ger r 'I,' rn"niny IIa1 does hm credit
tnt an lns,hnai has prof uue the sacred spot ans
o., the hu-Iur-o ui At l. Ia Acc H. tGe iilntI 'S''
a. "A t.g.lr with dread ul digger. aud his du-hirr
dsyuis. rs street singer. visit market 10 neiEu
borns town search ~, tue pi"t1ncF LcE"' sings inc
"brl sOu-,' whose l,n"'t ms 'c'n H NJ ~ ,i
concert room and Gsrah recognizes her Inc tAn"uc
ana bloodtnusty BrinmIn "n'eiVrs tnht br"Hna n,'
smlcu and cut. SPORT G'r~dS soHo4l'@nE win nag Jag
ger thrust Idku, with the help OF a latLlu'
cor, Led hutin The forest. While he is conyalescins
the par sug duet aud tA'hahSc VOWS Oh uiy nT ~
1ns ms ~, III. nSr,T .ni informs him that
, ..Is an he &
, mrn Latmt ha, gone FOR some sacred water IN wHcn
r VI 10 r.e,Ir eternal love Tor each OTHER GeIgid
finds the rau OF = urlm aud life corps more po"orIn
Am the voice OF love LUtiRe understands Tue stidENIe
IN Ms soul aud e'ir'rs IN OF H's "1Sn'J@ 1,r 1
Nratn0HtuBD between h"r teeth ana dyhS, as IL VIZ
srcu. tue irght Of h'r idt"er' VINO S
urnoids her dwelhus win lrAnnA. mus is STU
example OF poetic justice satisfied ana tue opera ""E'
10 sc dies, except to furnish motives Tor
uopIcal scenery, undoo dresses ana OiraiHt mus.
f. ans little romance tnttHu &c
NJ, LIN" Three English woiuen urn ioSs hNu l,.N,
IjcuiyDn figure IN the play. Out "Ithou. pu.o'o
bo 80 i@Ao part Ia an MAJ when Inc opera
MA. ,i,rn uy Mss Van Ktndt ana u French compa.y
l.n'on i,' Ill nv mos, who knew IL had made
LIST night they perm tot 10 hinder what tnete Is
f poe tical spirit the play 'nd their cnnvor 1
composed by D-lheS to take the place of the
spoArn dialogue used al thr Opera ~" to
wAoh first attracts tho DISCRIMINATING ;iI'9.' t mo
Drlbcs. music Is the marvellous techuc, u'" VI -,
~ I'm limited circle OF effects which
II are most charming To the EAR N thrlr uis, J%o
nothing 10 taught thcS" y"unS fr1ucni Gu u VIC
ar lamentations In the uISt d't
"i " win MS orchestral cololng and his insiunat-
ins oriental melodies which Tor WINE que Que
,..,,ta ma the perfection OF poetry bus
" ro.o,naa ouolis then wearies. then Opprrsses
az, nri IN. lyrical movements aiuneShOw Indications
p t n.nufy dramatic aud energy are absent r" Tue
I'm I'm the second he moveshls listeners ohv once
- mn the attempted repetition OF the Ben Sphg Hl.e'
= ! alDT h,s recognized her lover. ninety con
:, cr,vrd and expressive melody, perhaps the h"st
- An the score Is sung to words o'EJn nm
= | Thus 70 stray ny L"hWe
- I'm ty first act, which l. far the most gra) lE mus"
r.lv and nrentally, OF the whole Work, ana Wohl ps
sni II contained only this song. the exquisite uuet
r\rnth Yon Dome" IA vertable treasure tIoNn 10 .ne
c,nno,sr who uses melody dram ideally thro1Hhout
a 90 ,y,ruI and 1ey1LPs air "Chedtlng Fancy hca