Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-12-24
MUSIC AND THE DRAMA


After an absence of several seasons the
Bostonians. the leading comic opera or
SaniZation of this country. opened Il brief
engagement at the Coates opera house last
night. and were welcomed by perhaps the
largest audience that has assembled in this
thcatcr this season. The prestige of the
past, the long absence of the singers. ard
the announcement of Il new opera. serve to
concentrate unusual interest upon the four
performances to which the present engage
ment is limited. The advance sale has been
remarkably large. but it was given out last
night by the management that there are
still seats left for each of the remaining
presentations.
In general average the company and the
production do not differ materially from
those to which the public has been acGus-
toninns. OF the old members OF the com
pany. Mr.. Barnabee. Mr.. Macdonald. Mr.;
F~rothinEham, Mr.. Cowles; Mrs. Davis and
ton of Mr.. Frothingham. who had il severe
ccld last night, all of these old farorites
sing as well as when they last appeared on
The new opera, The S~erenade." with
music by Victor Herbert and book by Harry
L. Smith. is the most meritorious work the
Bostonians have brought out since Robin
Hood was produced, and, from the ortho-
dog standpoint. Mr.. Herbert,s score is de
tliGulE superior 10 tldI ol WI
Indeed. Mr., Herbert has demonstrate that
i, is quite feasible to employ digniiied and
strictly musical methoas even with "a a
long accustomed to the merest trash in the
way of so-called light opera that 1t IS pleas
ant to have a reminder of what comic opera
should be as distinguished from opera
bouffe and operate burlespue. Mr.. Her
bert's crchestration, which was played last
night by, a goodly number of muslcians nn-
der the direction of competent Mr.; Studley,
is exceedingly rich in effects that nave
been beyond the reach or beyond the re.
gard OF most Of ,v our fom ncs opera ndi h whats I TO to
illustrate a triviality or II bit of hurlesque
by appropriate digressions from MS accus-
of musical treatment throughout his score.
Several of his choruses are especially eHec-
tive, arE he has written three or four melo-
dies. a duet, and one seXtette OF STRIKING
1t has been a long time since Mr.. Smith
has done himself so much credlt as IN
writing this libretto. His subject Is a GOOD
one for comic opera treatment. and ne mas
followed it with superior wit. rarely DE.
scending to the cheap style of comedy that
has been doled out to our operate stars
with such extravaganza. His general work
is of such high order that the few "toplcal,
verses that find place in the opera, although
they meet with favor, seem distinctively
homogeneous.
We no longer expect Mr.. Barnabee to de-
light us with the admirable voice that
served him and helped to populariZe him
in the old days. but we do expect him to be
continuously amusing when he occupies the
stage. and in this expectation there is
no inconsistency; for, ike joseph Jenert
he can make us laugh. Years are telllng
on his voice and features. but they do not
dull his keen sense of humor nor maj mis-
inimitable drollery in expressing II.
Mr.. Macdonald is singing better than
when he last sang on the Coates stage.
even if his voice has lost the ring OF ten
years ago. One of the best numbers of the
opera. the Positions song, falls to his lot.
There was a particularly hearty. welcome
for Mr.. Cowles. whose first number: with
color. is a particularly happy medium for
the display of his splendid voice and
healthy style. There is no other American
base in light , Gpssa ,T With Pfs fhis sinre so
if he chooses to extend his studies and
round himself into the requirements of
grand opera. That he should have been SO
long content with his present field has long
been Il surprise TO his admirers. for he
ought to be a great artist, singing great
music.
teresting organization who might have
climbed the heights. Mrs. Davis Overtops
the requirements of light opera. and while
voice in the popular bills of the Bostonians.
there Is the somewhat disappointing re-
Election that she might have been a second
of Nordica. for example. She has Il good
share of the best things in the new opera.
the gem of her songs being "The Angelus."
in the second act.
Mr.. rockingham has n low comedy part
that suits him we'll and he gets the big
gest laugh in the opera when. disguised as
the mother superior. in a moment of spir-
tied expostulation against the frowninS
presence of an old f1intlock pistol. he or
ders the damned thing away. Miss Bart
But in estimating the strength of the
present engagement of the Bostonians. one
must take into consideration the presence
IN the cast of Miss Alice Nielsen, the new
prima donna soprano. who is a Kansas
Cityan. coming home in triumph; as it were.
Miss Nielsen has not been heard in Kansas
City since she sang in the amateur pre-
sentation of "Chanticleer,' an opera writ
ten by an amateur composer and an ANA
teur librettist. Since then she has had
company and with the Bostonians. and has
a repertory of well nigh a hundred operas,
and has become a capabl singer and n
charming actress. Her voice is not strong.
uses it with good method. She made a
particular hit last night in her song Cupid
and l." In which she carried a difficult
cadenza. with flute obligato, in a way to
make considerable claim to artistic attain
ment. She was given a most enthusiastic
is Mr.. w. f. Philp. the tenor, whose Op-
portunities are limited. but sufficient to dis
play a very sweet. though not very strong,
voice, which would be more effective if
some delightful comedy work in days past,
but who has not been seen in Kansas City
since he appeared In Tangled Up has a
sketchy part but makes a good deal of it.
The Serenade' is handsomely staged,
both as to scenery and costuming. The new
night. Christmas matinee the bill will be
Robin Hood" AUSTIN LATCHAW.