The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-11-17
GIFT TO A KING.
Mr.. Hanson's Opera Goes to
Oscar Of Sweden.

Charles f. Hanson sent by express
to the king of Sweden and Norway, yes
tsrday. a very handsome autograph
copy of his opera, "Fridthjof and Inge-
borg" which is to be produced at the
Worcester Theatre, December s, 8 and
10. The book is elegantly bound in
green morocco, with gilt lettering, and
the dedication page bears this inscrip-
ton:
ITO his most excellent majesty Oscar
II, king of Sweden and Norway, this
work is, by his majesty's gracious per-
mission, most respectively dedicated by
the composer"
Permission for the dedication was OBJ
tanned through the good offices of Mr..
Thomas, the American minister TO
Sweden and Norway. The book will go
to Southampton ON the North German
Lloyd steamer Fuerst Bismarck, and
from there will go to Goettenberg, and
Stockholm. 1t will be first entrusted
to G. H. Won Celsing, the kammar-
here, or lord high chamberlain to the
king, by whom it will be delivered to
his majesty About ten days will be
required for the transit of the book,
and as much more time Is likely to
elapse before the expected royal ack-
nowledgements are received by Mr.
Hanson in Worcester. The composer has
been in America since he was 16 years
old, but like most of his race, he still
cherishes a warm attachment for the
old North country.
The manuscript itself as a work of
art and Mr.. Gustave Berg, the engros-
ser spent six weeks at the task. The
title page looks like a piece Of copper
plate, and the dedication and synopsis
Of the plot are no less carefully exc
cuted The 1888 pages of musical manu-
script, covering the three acts of the
opera, are beautifully done, both words
and music being as distinct and legible
as a printed score. The text Is given
both in Swedish and English, but all
other lettering is in English Inside and
outside, the opera. is as handsome a
book as royalty itself need have in the
library.
This operate enterprise is purely a
matter of recreation, a labor of love, on
the part of Mr. Hanson. The perform
ances at the theatre are not given for
the benefit Of any organization, and if
the composer and manager clears ex-
penseS, he will feel satisfied. In case the
opera should happen to attract the at
tention of other managers and result in
q sale or in royalties on other per
formances. OF Course Mr.. Hanson would
be pleased, but he lays no stress upon
any expectations Of this sort.
The libretto is founded upon Tegner's
"Fridthjof's Saga" which has been
dramatized for the purpose from Anna
Cronhjelm Wallberg Of Boston, who
taught music and languages in Worces-
ter. The plot is romantic though it CON
tains single tragedy
1t was necessary to go to Chicago to
costume the opera, for in this section or
the country the Scandinavans are not
so numerous as to need a national cos
tuner. Schoultz of Chicago was the only
one who could supply the ancient de-
signs in sufficient number and variety
to fit out Mr.. Hansons operate troupe
of sixty-four chorus singers and a
dozen principals
The theatre orchestra will be aug
mented for these performances to hf-
teen or sixteen, by the engagement of
Boston instrumentalists, and Mr.. Han
son himself will conduct, The ticket sale
will open at the music store of c. f.
Hanson & Sons, next week Saturday.
The opera has been in rehearsal for two
and with very gratifying re-
suits 1t is needless to say that the per-
Torrance will be in English.
The cast is announced as follows
Fridthjof, John Lloyd of Boston; In
gebor, Mrs. Lillian Hanson Gray; King
Ring, James Gilbert of Boston; King
Hedge. f. E. Rowland; King Haitian,
Fred I. Hanson; Bjoern, Hjalmar Nell
son: Skald. c. Albert Gray; Gerda, Mrs.
r. c. Knapp; Olaf, Mr. Rowland; War
rior and Harold, DR.. G. II. Davis.
Mr. Hanson is largely self-taught
musician. His father was manager of
a royal band in the old country, and the
boy grew up in an atmosphere which
his father apparently did his utmost to
dispel Nevertheless, young Hanson
acquired a wide experience of musical
matters, both vocal and instrumental,
and became a versatile performer. At
the age of six or seven he began COM
posing. and upon his arrival in Boston,
at the age of sixteen, he became direc-
tor of what was probably the first
Swedish singing society ever organized
in that city. His subsequent career in
Worcester need hardly be described. He
was one of the first Swedes to settle
here, and since 1869 he has been promi
nent among the rapidly increasing
number of his countrymen settled here. /