New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-09-07
NETWORK DAILY TRIBUNE FRIDAY SEPTEMBER T. 1900
MUSIC.
THE ROSE OF PERSIA"

II is strange that neither the nor their man
ayers will take warning-Gnbert and Sullivan
duality that cannot be divided. The two one.
and no confederation OF circumstances should be
permitted to divide them. Alone associated with
another each has commanded the admiration OF
those whose admiration is worth having. because
OF his individual genius; but Gilbert and somebody
else and Sullivan and somebody-else have made
the same failure No one can write for Sullivans
music like Gilbert. and compose for
Gilbert's words like Sullivan. The fact must be
recognized to save disappointments. we'll TO
explain such interesting experiments that tried
at Days Theatre last night when the latest Savoy
operetta. THE Rose Of Persia" was brought for
ward for the first time in America Consider the
work In its two aspects literary and musical You
would not think OF such division In a Gilbert and
sullivan operetta, so ingeniousy. closely knit
together are words and music yet you cannot do
otherwise here any than you could
in the Of ''Hs Excellency" which
was much more entertaining Captain Basil
Hood has constructed amusing play.
and has peppered its lines. whether prosaIc
or poetical, with humorous conceits not unworthy
of Gilbert His spirit indeed informs them all But
the result is not Gilbert At the bottom the bret-
list is wanting in invention. Gilbert's whimsi-
cal plots and his more than whimsical solutions OF
them were his own. Captain Hood went to Shakes
peare's Tanning Of the Shrew" or the story OF
Abon Hassan. the Wag. in the Arabian Nights
tales for his foundation story and to the concet of
a never ending tale (aso from the realm Of Ha-
toun al ttaScnldl7 TOT MS solution HAD all the
elements worked smoothly in the new combination
there would be nothing to proclaim except praise
Cor the elements were all good in themselves But
when Sir Arthur's music drawn In it was
forced marriage. The captains lines do not on
with that delicious smoothness which in Gilbert's
books seduced Sir Arthur's They halt they
stumble, they become unintelligble. and the why
and wherefore seems lie in the want Of sym
pathy between the two Gilbert utters himself
Vhythmicaly, Hood does not. and Sullivan's music
floats like a cork en- Gilbert's lines and cannot
dure straitjacket.
This is the general comment on THE Rose Of
Persia which. nevertheless. has much to COM
mend it. The operetta is full Of pretty pictures,
and musical experts will find many evidences in it
of ingenious purpose. both harmonicaly and or
chestray. But most of these will be missed by the
many. will also be the humorous conceits of the
book writer There appeals to the intellect in
the dialogue and songs, as there always are in
Gilbert's operettas, and the appeals meet no re-
sponse for the same old reason that nine-tenthS
of the and who sing and dance
throughout the operetta do not know what the
words mean, or are unable to speak them as to
make their meaning plain to the listeners The
exceptions John LIE Hay and Sidney Bracey,
but the former has conceived the part OF the mad
Hassan as If he had been studying Lombroso and
were in deadly fear of Nordau's criticism. word
of commentator might also be spoken for the
singing Of Miss Ruth Vincent, but the whole,
the impression created in the days agone by the
There were doleful moments many in the course
Of the evening. Only twice thrice did Sir
Arthur accomplish a pretty squirt with his new
running mate but when he did so what delight
he was!
Following was the distribution Of parts: