New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-09-15

One OF the pretiest revelations Of the perform
ance by Francis Wilson'S company OF THE
Cheftain" is this affinity between Gilbert and Sulli-
van The Cheftain' is old work. THE Contra
bandsta" remodelled and extended. for which
F. c. Burnand wrote the words and Mr.. Sullivan
the music The llbrettist evinces great anxiety
in the preface TO the printed book of the operetta
to disabuse the public mind OF the impression that
much Of The Contrabandista' Is left in The Chief
tain He says that the second act is entirely new
and continuous Several characters appear the
5cene who had no existence In the first version:
and OF that version it may be as we'll here TO state
only five of the original numbers used in this
opera With these exceptions the present work as
regards songs. choruses. concerted pieces. action
and dialogue, is entirely new. To those inclined TO
depend upon internal evidences furnished by the
things themselves this statement Will sound some
what incredible, unless resort be had to the re-
Election that after all Mr.. Burnand may not
have referred specifically Mr. Sullivan's musical
score Given a toleraby clever and trained judge
of music. and shall be inclined TO say that he
could easily pick out more than five numbers In
THE Cheftain" which belong 10 the vintage OF 1861
rather than 1894. But II the statement Is literally
true IT only to point the moral drawn above.
Sir Arthur's music becomes enthusiastically
pquant and charming. acquires what may be called
distinction of a kind only In pieces whose text
breathes the spirit OF Gilbert few instances
will suffice to illustrate this. and they are all from
ITO Spain" said my husband, Pm forced, dear, to
Said l. II go with you. that's fat
switch doubles expenSes." says he. as you know.
I owned There Is something In mat
Ira. la. Ia!
Financially something in that has something APP
preaching Gilbertian humor In IL. and In IT, II may
be said Sullvan's music becomes graciously and
happily fluent for the first time the best thing be-
fore II being the macaronlc duet between Rita and
vaxquez in which Sir Arthur cleverly PAROLES
Onenbach. GriSg's description of his ride and
slaughter Of the brigands Is Sulvanesque in the
maner OF the Lord Chanceors dream in 'Iolanthe d"
But the most striking illustration Is the quintet re-
ferred to in The Trlbune's first review OF the per-
formance In which we have most ingenious copy
o. the Gilbert and Sullivan OF the last fifteen years.
as all remember VINO had heard the music. and
others can guess from these two specimen stan
zas:
Sancho-
Appointed her private private physician am;
They call me auack; Ills
Because OF my practice.
Take fannie phosphorc.
PHI hum paregoric
Cum aqua caloric.
Benzoc sulpnas.
sarsaparilla. -.
Mlstura mpnilla
Manila.
And / am her chaplain and mai,.e dhote,.
Employment that suits me remarkab bly, well
And aEcetical.
Peripatetical way.
And In this office
Have prophesy.
And foretell the event OF the day.
| Making astroiogy.
I.ectro- biology
| And demono'ogy pay.
There is another illustration In the sextet with It's
refrain OF.
| BE mum.
! To every chum'
vhen the music on with most delicious smooth
ness. as the Old reading-book used to say of tbs
~. command you may your mind from play /"
To IN. nrs act and in parts OF the second the music
1. academic. and Its style suggests young com.
po,er who has not yet found his Individual idiom.
Finally the whole case can be summed up In this
eontsnuon. which 10 not likely to be contradiotsd