The herald., 1894-02-25

second opera written in America, but
not by an American author.
1t is doubtful whether a more popular
series of operas was ever written than
| those of Wallace. Bale wrote three
operas to Wallace's one, but only one
the Bohemian Girl-seems to have sur
vived the wear and tear of time. Yet
that WAS written IL years before Mari
tana and IA before Lurline. and it is
played oftener than either of them. Up
to the present writing Wallace's operas,
like Balfe's, contained beautiful ballads
but his choruses and concerted pieces
evinced the higher talent of the two;
and 1t is very questionable il the entire
range of English opera contains another
heroic song to equal Let Me Like o
Soldier Fall, in Mariana. Since Lur-
line was produced very few American
operas have been given to the public.
Most of them have been relegated to
dust and cobwebs at the end of a week;
and many of them have not been gifted
with even that period of longevity. One
that has run through several seasons
and at one time had three companies on
the road with it was the Little Tycoon,
written by Philadelphia. 1t was very
pretty but painfully lacking in origin
atty, being replete with Iarcenies from
tho works OF Sullivan, Bale, Lecoq and
an occasional steal from Offenbach.
Richard Stahl, who at one time con-
Quoted the only decent orchestra in
San Francisco, blossomed out as an
operate composer about five years ago,
the piece being called Said Pasha. 1t is
full of clever work, in spite OF its trashy
libretto, and contains enough sparkling
IN 10 of o4n
dialogue. Said Pssha was printed by
some fellow in 1890 and carried over to
Australia, where it has been produced
as Sultan of Mocha, and the composer
got nothing for what made a good deal
of money for Williamson & Musgrove.
II the libretto could bs rewritten, Mr..
Stahl need not be afraid to try Said
Pashs in London.
But of ali American composers up to
date, Reginald de Koven is fairly and
honestly entitled 90 first place. No
matter who gets second money, De
Koven should be placed first Even
granting that he had written nothing
but Robin Hood, that should entitle
him to the front. Who is there of ua
that forgets Promise Me. as sung by
Jessie Bartlett Davis; or that rolling
river of melody, the blacksmith's song,
by Eugene Cowles; ana still more
gratefully through the corridors OF
memory, like a ray of sunshine on an
autumn day, comes the resonant swing
Of Macdonald's voice in The Brown Oc-
tober Ale. The Bostonians are losing
time in their own country. They
should have produced their operas in
London already.
AS to Mr.. Dc Koven's other two works
l am not able to write 40 apprecistivsly,
as never saw the Ogallalas but once,
and OF the Knickerbockers but one act.
However, one must accord to HIM the
merit OF conscientious work and origin
ality throughout, which is more than
can be said OF either Golfers Dorothy
or Soiomon's Billee Taylor.
A New York paper calls the Ogsllslss
dime novel set to music, and such
may be the case; but, all the same,
Macdonald's rendition of the chief,
War Cloud, is the greatest bit of
operatic acting ever achieved by any
American. have heard many baritones
whose singing like as well as Mr. Mac
dopald's; and l like Jack Murray's
vocalization even better; but they are
all tyros along side of him as lyric
actors. | do not expect to zee such
clear-cut picture as his "War Cloud"
again in years. 1t was bit of work be.
yond the reach OF any but high.class
artist.
7 The Knickerbookere is, IN my belief,
an opera that cannot be accurately
judged by witnessing a single repre-.
! sentation. The same applies to the
Mikado, which nobody at fret fsncies
but which, on close examination, turns
out to be one of the most sparkling COM
edies ever put upon stage.
HIDALGO