Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-04-14
THE MUSIC WORLD.
Boston Ideals to Produce the South
Sea Bubble, an Opera
COMPOSED BY TWOPITTSBURGERS.
The Plot Laid in England and Peru Sew
eral Centuries Ago.
LOCAL MUSICAL NEWS OF INTEREST

The production by first-class operatic
company OF an opera written and composed
by two Pittburgers is an extremely rare, if
not wholly unprecedented event in local
musical annals. Much interest and curl
osity will be awakened by the announce
ment that the Boston Ideals, on their return
engagement at the Grand Opera House during
the week of May 6, are to produce new,
romantic opera, entitled "Lion of Peru book
by DR.. E. A. Wood. music by Leonard II.
Wales, both Of this city.
The contract for its performance was con-
summated between Mr.. Wales and Manager
Foster only last week at Louisville, where the
Ideals were then playing. and the first re-
hearsal held there under the composers super
vision. Some weeks since Mr.. Foster had
agreed to produ ca the opera on suitable
scale. with scenery, costumes and properties
made especially for it. and to give 1t strong
cast from his excellent troupe, provided the
other party to the contract would pay the sum
of 1000 toward these extra expenses. The
amount was quickly raised by subscription
from friends of the writer and composer and
other public spirited art patrons.
The full score of the opera is not now &C
cessible but cursory glance over the hbretto
recalls some points of interest," The plot ID
busted with and turned upon the South Sea
Bubble" the action occurring in England and
Peru in the early part of the eighteenth CEN
tury. Historical names are freely used, though
there is no pretense at maintaining historical
accuracy. The plot, briefly. is this:
The South Sea Company has just been sane
toned by Parliament, and has completely
turned the heads of the people; but Sir John
Blunt, its manager. and the Earl Of Stt1der-
land Premier of England, while extolling the
enterprise are met by the severe denunciations
of Wdlpole, whose clear head detects the emp
tiness Of the bubble. This is the more cour
ageous in Horace since he is represented as
hatr0fhod lanOlter.
Lady CGscine, besides being so powerless in
the hands of the Earl that the latter
can, and promptly does, commit him to
me e frams uoTsr fUr host song and business % that
is likely to prove quite effective however trans
parent the motive Of its introduction. Through
the aid of AddLe, and his sweetheart, Jane, the
iailor's daughter, the prisoner is set free, but
only to be surprised in Epping Wood by the
King and his hunting party, with the usual
'tally-ho' chorus WGlp0Le is banished to
Anzd, and does other doughty deeds, winning
the title of the 'Lion of Peru" An escort OF
natives, ranking from the Princess down, to
accompany him back to England, just in time
to see the speculative bubble burst and to find
ready-made commission as premier, enabled
him to triumph over his foes, pardon his in
tended father-in-law for imprispning him,
marry Lady CdScine himself and divide up
the other girls and the offices among his party
workers in true Jacksonian style.
The lines are terse and clear for the most
part, the versifcation quite smooth and some
of the lyrics really pretty. With the comedy
element strengthened by judicious stage bust
ness, the new opera would seem to have ele-
ments of success, in its book, at least.
organists and choir n masters will confer
favor by sending in to this ONCE, not later than
Friday afternoon nert. the special programmes
of Easter music to be followed in their respect
i've churches together with names of singers,
director. organist and composer and hours Of
service.