New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-17
MUSIC.
1.-THE sERANApE." AN oPERETTA

1.-THE SERANADE" AN OPERETTA
c,o,,or co,cets which work out we'll when mixed
with operetta music are not 40 many that hDre'-
tist should despise them because they nave serve"
their purpose or even oftener a s'neie ,"e"'e
has done duty in the modern French society nrain'
for decades and there Is no indication That the emu
4, near So Mr. Harry Il. Smith deserves 10 Dc
praised rather than faulted for his choice OF an Ola
idea rs the foundation Of the operetta called inc
Serenade" for which Mr.. Victor Herbert wrote
the music. and which had It's first performance at
tho Knickerbocker Theatre last night note on
the houseblll credited ".he theme to Goidoni-a
source which llbrettist need hesitate 10 coh'es'
but we fancy that the Italian classic reached MI
Smith through a French filter, and IL VIII not
wrench even weak memory TO recaII that o"e Vi
tho dramatic notions In the piece-that OF person
who is bandit and monk on aiternate days-was IN
geniousy exploited by Mr.. Gilbert In The Mounte-
bank" But this Is not necessarily ni1.eriai pc
culiarly pat to opereta purpose. such as the run
damental idea OF THE Serenade' Is. All the com
plications Of the plot (conceding that there arc
complicat ions for the sake of the demonstration"
grow OF the fact that an operate barytohe mas
won the heart OF a senorita with serenade "i'C"
his duties at the Madrid opera compel him to sing
tailor of grotesque pattern, In love with the
same woman tries to learn the serenade
in the hope OF winning the ladys heart
by singing 1t her. The ladys GUARDIAN
who also loves her. seeks to hide her from the
sereEader in convent school Wnlcn ddJoihs d
monastery maintained by a brotherhood. to whom
belongs n bandit chieftain the days when ne
devotes to penance The barytone lover joins the
monks TO be near her. The fun which arises from
the situation thus created can easily be Imagined
and also the viclsstudes Of the serenade' which
is the peg which the greater part OF the huSic'
humor is hung broken down operate tenor
tries TO teach the song to the tailor. Inc latter III
a fit of gratitude presents the music to the bandit
monk He teaches IT to his ghostly brethren, VINO
sing 1t to churchly harmonies and ehect the
complete bewilderment OF the Duke, VINO is huht-
ing the pcstilent serenader with horse-pistoIs MI
Herbert has handled this element with real inge-
| nuity and indeed, has written a score WHICH, lor
righteousness. variety and freshness, surpasses al"
OF his previous efforts the line of comic oper-
eta His travesty OF a singing lesson, beginning
with exercises in MESA di voce. Is most exceiieht
musical fOoling; a waltz song IN the seco'ih "c''
written for the soprano OF the company Is charm
Ing though not strikingly original; spanish
| dance which occurs early In the same act ana IS
utilized in its finale. bright and effective as Sir
Arthur Suvan's CachIca In The IondoHefs'
| and an Angeus song for contralto solo and cnor"s
with oblgato DELL chimes. IS decidedly ambitious IN
it's structure and admirable.
The operetta achieved a decided success. which
was weakened only by the too great anxiety OF Mr.
Herbert who conducted the music of the perform
ance 10 repeat the most popular NUMBERS AS
consequence the audience left the theatre thorough
~ weary half an hour before midnight Al the
end of the second Iibrettst and composer Joined
| the company on the stage. and Mr.. Barnabee, Mr.
! Smith and Mr. Herbert told the audience how CRATE
ful they all were to the dear public and now much
| they admired each other one Of MI. Smlth re-
marks was not only wise observation, out one
which II was safe to venture on in the presence OF
! the many indications which the evening AFFORDED
| that THE Serenade" is bound TO be more than
| ordinarily successful lie gave 1t as MS ooserNa-
| ton that when a comic opera succeeds the peop'e
| cav What beautiful. music" and when 1t fans
| What a bad book!'
! A recent accession TO the Bostonians, Miss Ahce
! Nielsen carried off a large snare OF the hohofS
! earnered at the performance. She IL whsoh'e
| little body with graceful unaffected action ana
| b,igb, voice which shows considerable culture
She formed most agreeable contrast to the coarse
moss ~ Jessie Bartlett Davis, who has so long oeeh
accounted the principal woman singer OF the COM
many Among the men the best eXhioltloh OF ac'-
! inc was made by Mr. Harry Brown, whose ihper-
onaton Of foreign opera tenor, far gone IN decay
,s nc ingenious and correct a piece 81 character
ctino az can be seen to-day on the operetta stage
| Mr. Rarnabee Mr. Macdonald. Mr. Cowles ana MI
| rockingham we're all heartily welcomed