Los Angeles herald., 1890-04-29
ADJUSTMENTS.
"Don Quixote," by the Bostonians at
the Grand.

Reginald de Koven's new comic opera
Don Quirote, was produced for the first
time in this city, by the Bostonians at
the Grand last night. 1t is the work Of
a very young man, and the libretto is by
another, both of them Americans, OF
Chicago. 1t sounds little odd here,
where everyone's ear is accustomed to
hear Spanish "as she is spoke" to hear
the name of the hero OF the windmills
called "Quicksoat."
The costuming of the opera was good,
and in keeping with the era and scene of
the play. The company was quite equal
to the rendition of the music.
Such voices as Cowles's, MacDon-
AIDS, Hoff's, Miss Bartlett Davis's,
Carlotta Macondas and Juliette Cor
den's are not often met in the same
company in this city. They are all
much more fitted to ''star" on their own
behalf than two-thirds of the people in
the business of starring" Cowles,
Miss Davis and Macdonald have voices
that rank among the best in American
opera. Cowles is one OF the very best
bassos in the country. He is greatly
improved since he was here last. In the
comedy line, Barnabee, rockingham
and Miss Josephine Bartlett are hard to
match, and the two men have no su-
periors in their lines. Frothingham's
make-ups are always works OF art. AS
"Sancho" and the knight of the rueful
visage he and Barnabee were laughter
compelling to remarkable degree.
The opera is bright in dialogue and the
words OF the songs are well put together.
The love songs are often really pretty.
The score is melodious and sonorous.
The music is light, very light, but it is
full of very pleasing strains. There are
three or four solos in it that are exqui-
sitely tender, and a few OF the duets and
at least one of the quartettes are fine.
The ensembles are spirited, and most
them are remarkably good. The Spanish
dance is one Of the best bits
of music in the opera 1t is, by the way,
about the only, specially Spanish feature
about the whole thing.
And this leads one to little adverse
criticism. For while Don Quirote is an
excellent light opera, giving hope that
Mr.. DeKovan will do something remark
able in his more mature years, the opera
is open to objection. There is little that
is Spanish about the music. 1t is of all
styles, from rather melancholy Scotch
to the ightest of the French school.
There is too much made of few very
pretty strains. The author seems to
have thought too much of their pretti-
ness and to have repeated them too often
in one guise or another. The tempta-
ton may be apparent, but temptation
is to be resisted. In the libretto the
failure is mostly in the attempts at be-
ing funny. The humorous effect is got
at atratherin the way of dead lift than as
a spontaneity of the authors mind.
The Bostonians tonight will present
last seasons great success, ,PyamaNon and
Ga1ateo, with the same excellent cast of
artists, which includes Marie Stone, Jes-
sic Bartlett Davis, Carlotta Maconda,
Josephine Bartlett, Tom Karl, H. G.
Barnabee, Eugene Cowles, Spencer
Gracey and Fred Dixon.
At the Los Angeles.
Hallon & Hart with their melange. of
Later On are captivating those who at
tend the Los Angeles. 1t is one of the
best things in its line that has ever been
produced here. 1t is on until next
THURSDAY evening