New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-11-15
THE FENCING MASTER. -

The restoration OF the Casino 10 uses which merit
m@pion by persons who think that The world Is nov
yct wholly given to frivohiy and the celebration
Of that event by the production OF an American op'
as fun Of merit as THE Fencing Master ar" NV"
occurrences which deserve 10 be treated rc-ltcilh'S
and with a reasonable degree OF seriousness IhoN"
who watch and record musical dOngs OF New York
have not often been called Of late years to THINK or
talk seriously about comic opeIctia IDS s'Nie VI
art under English and American Influences Aad IL
deed sunk TO siri n low plane that II was Only oS Il
humilia;ing stretch OF courtesy that lis manifestations
were discussed ut all under a head which implied that
they were concerned with art. BY this II Is not ntehd'
u, reflect In any manner upon the operetta a an art
form II has It's perfect justification and has employed
talent that the musical world has been glad I" hoor
MANY OF those who have been IN )st energetic III '"''
danuncs,tlon OF the mongrel things which have
usnrped its place and tbe favor OF the pub ic are
most sincere and hearty in their admiration OF the
op~rctta as 1t long ago developed by The MUS
clans OF France and Germany. All OF theSe VIII
rotolce in the prospect OF the emancipation OF the
opprctta from yulgarity, and II IL snail TURN o"'
that the nberntng agency is American We 40 mol sec
WHY the rejoicing should not be all te more coroia
on that account. Tie new operrtta by ha'N d.
smith and Reginald De Koven. called line fehHus
Master and brought forward for the first tm' IN
NewYork at the Casiuo last night l. such an agency
This much may be sald without raising the question
OF the relative excellence OF tin comedy ana lt' muso
It Is satisfaction, the keeDness OF Wh'h can on'S
ne apprecated by those who have known the possibilities
of Ills form OF entertainment and lave had thels
artistic scnsbiities outraged time after time by p
foymanoes which 60 under the name OF comic oP'r' l.
sax tim, The Fencing Master is an eniertainUeat
which Will give pleasure 10 the lovers OF g3oi, wloe
some musical comedy, a'd VIII ted 10 rescue II r III
the degradation into which II has allen. As eiag'
sie-iacle II /, agrecabr % eye. a. a 'on'dy II
* entertaining In spite of few ap.es from cong uiiy
and good tasic 4, muSic It f., on the whole. pleas
ing 10 the ear ana free from lhose all to- common
,hings which give OTeuss to intelligence 1t vii
maize no earncst and educated musician ashamed t.
hear II.
These things being 80 &c. tain questions which have
arisen touching IT might Dee ds"h's'd
wrh ruhre propriotS and N Il e. thy
may be r,~nrrod 20 In IA" fHlui"'
for the cpere.ia made marked an imp - Ion uOn Inc
and enc. that crowded tie a-aO 10 hear II last h
mat II WI doubtless remain tong enough feature
~ metropolitan entertainment 10 afford ample opI,'-
tuui,v for future discussion. For the present a
r~rord OF the general impression Of satisfaction Win
ihe work and its performance must silc" IT,
Fencing Master T. credit 10 Us Ingenious ana "'i
meaning authors, and he priormanc" y WORTHY :"
n them. In Nils Tempest Mt IiII. Inc udhi~'I
has found most capibl, and attractive T. preventative
az lis principai prrsonagr ana In mot ~ her a'
s1cat.s ln,1d singers. For The sah" n justice ""
make mention Of Mr. llub't WIKI. NJ MlchG en-
"a. n singer, MIR. jerome -yke>. Mr. William Prod
rrlck Mr. Charles Hopper and Nj. Gustav krhrr
whose deserts are not leS,enrd by The crc1mslHnc
thgt he Is in The orchestra and not on the stage Il
PIE and gratitude" of ne augl"iice wef' a',-l,
and Mr. I'M who with Mr. Max Freeman, ,ng"
manager and Mr.. Kcrker conductor. bowed hcr
acknowledgements 10 the audience after The 5econ'"