New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-12-29
THE GONDOLIERS.
NOTES ON THE STORY.
From The Saturday Review.

From The Saturday Review. 1910
The story of The Gondoers- may be very briefly
summarized. one OF the two, Marco or IulssPpo
Palmieri. is believed TO be heir to baratara Ies i'm
both married but If either is king, he was married III
infancy To some one else so that there two nus
bands and three wives, and mystery attaches W W.
problem who is at once king and blgamist. very
neat end is, however provided for II appears VA.
King of Baratara Is quite another person anu " hom
has long been devOtedly attached to the girl 70 W
Inc welded at the age of six months ms - VA
main story the clever satire OF monarchy tsIuPO ra
with republican equality being Incidental. Inc ~ ~
which describes this form Of government wouin e eo
well worth quoting but that Mr. Gilbert, who IS 50
rarely slipshod does not able TO hnd ry me or
of the Duke of Plaza Toro, impecunious hldaiso
who is being made into limited company, love- no
fathers SUITE his drummer Luz, the sole atteuhh.
upon the Impoverished Duke: Casilda learns th ma
Size was married in infancy TO the Prince of Barstarls
and he lives, LUZ and she must part ii,hn.
forth" she says any life is anothers' The dialogue
continues: 49,. ..o, arc
but s't sSo at a least is ours
can it from As we NAV reve in nsu9ht ei'e'
CAS- don't think I grasp your meaning. ....o
Luz-Yet 1T is logical enough. You say you cease
CAS- Cdemurely),1 say NAV not love , YOU mn,
casI loved you WITH a., tren teo h1 T 3a are
efGs 70 Nv t own ou H until ten
since own-my lately loved my recently adOra.' I'll
i'm in ali i'' to p thee cfmbraeing herr
that e"I aes s y0 Sarse afa Is ingenious Out u'
Luhere can be no harm in reve Hs5b6 n I b taken
to act It. retPPo o.gect Sdy
Cas-we may Iecollec. an embracc-1 recOiec' many
but we Pg' let not r rpsoe e few "A moments pause
they rccoect, then both hcave deep sigh %
Luiz-Ah, Casilda, you were 10 me as the sun 70
Cas- quarter Of hour agOl
css-And think that but for this n, miserable dis
Luz6rough te to deatha Guse To OF an ba hor drunk
tho Golden %e Es " hos sweet Words auaerwe
it's about twenty minutes since looking at her
L"ii1-About that. In such matter cannot be
The verse is frequently poetIcal and is charming to
note the manner in which Sir Arthur sullivan enters
! We're Called GOndoler7 is light and gay. until
reference is made IN the course OF II to vespers ana
is cunninCly suggested in the score by other means
than simple piano. The good ideas are discrcetk
turning the Duke Of Plaza roro into limited COMPANY
is in point few sentences spring from the
| announcement. The daughter trusts that she NAV
never be called upon al any tine TO witness her
hOnored sire in process Of quidaton and her mother
neceSsary TO wind him M 3thcrwiSe little is heard
of the Duke in his novel capacity until the excellent
the nature OF the functions they fnlhl, the Duke eA
pa ing how ne secures hon9S 10 satsIy m'esp
manufacture he admits that Robinson Crusoe would
ebc: while part Of the Duchess's confession runs:
! write letters blatant
And use any other you mustn't.
H DeGIv S9w its @y pc Sg%4lcAion
From somebody soap--which It doesn't
at certainly doesn't" the Duke quantity echoes
The ladies who advertise themselves and soap
are so familiar and the business is so obvious and
absurd. that IL wonder satirlss nave had nothing
/ effective to say hitherto.
Sir Arthur's music is unfalllngy meodous, and
the freshness Of IT, considering that this is his tenth
opera. is quite extraordinary. only very rarely in
deed do we catch faint echo of his own work in
will not quote and perhaps strain examples; still
rarely IS there suggestion Of the work OF any
always with taste and gracefulnessthe manner Of a
school one Of the most remarkable and delightful
] in il Art a
marvellous aptitude for fitting his music to the
occasion and can be gay or tender md with equal
Che composer Of the day, at any rate the one
English composer who can extract genuine hum0I
/ is NOT TO be heard with a grave face The song OF
/ the Duke allegro marzale Is without special value
/ but the ballad for Luiz is little gem. In several
respects the savoy operas are far superior to any
| furnishes an example. Mr.. Gilbert has adopted the
! style Of the seventeenthccntury poet-though
date t t6e opera ga'o" at later period, 1870
and Sir Arthur has entered into the spirit Of the words
with wonderful feeling and refinement Such work IS.
il NAV be feared wasted on many hearers. but it will
be cordially appreciated by those who have perception
Tessas song, When merry maiden I.l MARI Is
bright. with just touch Of sentiment while Gianettas
air Kind sir YOU cannot have the heart our VeS 10
reverse 81 TesSas song in treatment sentiment slightly
prcd0minateS, but there is light undercurreni OF
humor. ~ we come 10 the quartet Ihei one OIL Us
viii be a queen" a burst Of unmitigated ioyousness
and fun and surely the fortunate Circumstance that
Miss Jessie Bond was pc the representative OF Tess,
must have been in the writer's heads when the num-
Der was set down. more We find the happy
blending Of sentiment and gcntleSt humOr in IN"
verses with the beautiful refrain Of o my darling
nv pet" which the brides sing to their departing OfuS
| And we have spoken Of the melody and slgnlil
! canoe of the music without Mentioning one
of il, chief sources Of fascnation-thc instrumental
scGIing. full Of grace. fancy and sugec,ivene-' Ihe
horns have had deal TO do that j. always curlousy
effective the other brass instruments arc very sedo n
employed but the woodwind is constantly called into
| tfpc Tor
hacsoo will remain model of what can be accom-
pllehcd when perfect taste i united to thorough
mastery Of orchestral resource Passing on To the
second act we would direct the special attention Of
the hcarer II he be musician to the accOmpar lmcnt
of the tenor song. Take pair Of sparkling eyes -
captivaing melody I'm & fiat major siX-eight time.
the RHYTHM recalling the circumstance that Marco
has been gondOcr. and acquainted with barcaroes
| The chords are exceptionally rich and at the same
time singuarly delicate woodwnd being Joined with
nizzicat0 victims. As for the cachuca. the writing
~ II must have been an easy task for sir Arthur: but
il makes great hit. as. happily, docs the quartet,
{" In a contemplative fashion, which doubtless cost
the composer good deal Of thought.