The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-10-26

ana at times exquisite compositions nave
pleased the ear OF music lovers both In
America and in foreign countries. ana
who arrived I'm Providence with the Red
Feather organization last night Is one
OF the latest authorities to deplore the
prevalence OF modern musical comedy and
urge return TO the old line light operas.
When Mr.. dc koven argues against the
trend OF popular musical taste, or what
has been the taste and desire for some
years past he does not insist that the
taste OF the public is decadent. not that,
he is satisfied to characterize IL az an
"ephemersl wave. which Will unaues-
Lace Handkerchief" Robin Hood.
ROB Roy" Pirates OF penzance' and
q few others OF that period Is Mr.. de
'The run OF trashy musical comedy ls
nearing its end. l nrmly believe. ne ssid i
much of this slap trap stun. too much
Sush. tumble and clash TO satisfy. NOT
one OF the musical comedies, so called
but In truth miscalied. have a number
In them which will be in vogue more than
today. and then something else VIII
sprfng up and take It's place. The So
no weight and without body or weight
Il is impossible for IL TO survive.
When say that a return to the form
9 flight opera observed IN tne Senso Sercb,es..
and my own comporltion, robin Hood"
do not DO so because there IN an over,
abundance Of ego in my makeup. put !. !
believe 1 understand fairly well what ~
music and what is froth. There are many
individual numbers in both these operas
In high favor today. and Robin hoou
all the light operas. There are no mu-
sicai comedies which mighi even ualo
last one-tenth as long as 'hobin HOO mas
lasted and will last YET
..Twenty-two operas In the years have
been writing Is my record Not always
have ] managed 10 satisfy happly tne
public taste and desires, but trust tnat
I nave given the world some meiodies
which had more worth In them than nave
some OF the Jingles now being piayeu
and sung 10y musical COMEDY orsah@a
This much be known that when comic
oneras or light operas were In vogue
some years ago, there was Vaster'
amount OF merit displayed by the writers
OF music than there Is today. am not
going TO specify. or attempt 10 specify,
bou MANY real musicians. men who have
the ability to compose, there are IN Amer
lea IL might and Il might not be nara
task hut | will say that IL there are
many. OF them then they have been woe
fully lax In applying themselves 10 their
.vocatlons, for nothing has been done IN
recent years 10 indicate that talent was
running with a high hand throughout the
world.
"My personal belief two years ago was
that musical comedies would have brief
innings and then there would be de-
mand for the truer form or nght opera,
for music and this without ego, ! be-
gan forthwith TO devote my attention 10
the score OF Red Feather which mas
been given a magnificent production by
the Ziegfeld Opera company with Grace
Van Studdiford In Red Feather l be-
ueve there is music which Will live. end
music has life on the occasion or its
premiere the critics were kind enough to
say that II was superior TO even hopin
Hood.r and myself have no hesitancy
In saying that n is positively the best
score have ever written.
Had not been of the opinion that this
was new era for the light operas
would not have touched my hand TO pen
10 write IT, The reception accorded the
opera when IL was produced gives me
courage and demonstrates what | am
now arguing that musical comedies have
been satisfying for the time being. II
has been enough that the comedians
should come on the stage, fall through
trap door or down a flight OF stairs to gain
q laugh bevy of young women viii rusn
on and deliver themselves OF hodge
podge Of sound. not melody. there are
gorgeous costumes and adequate Access
,sores but when the audience is on the
street. IN cars or carriages bound home
ward they do not say, the music was
exgusite' the general utterances are,
weren't those gowns beautiful and that
comedian is assuredly hrimming over with
fun and not a word regarding the music.
The reason for this there was no music.
"At no great distant date a recog-
nized musical critic was instructed by the
city editor of the paper upon which he
was engaged TO visit certain theatre
and write critical review Of the music.
prefacing the assignment by telling the
musical authority that the dramatic critic
had characterized the production and the
music as being startlingly novel.
Through the first act the musical au-
thoriiy sat and when the curtain came
down he left the theatre. walked TO the
manager Of the house and said. I have
listened 10 the entire first act Of this pro-
duction and have failed TO hear any real
music. Will you tel me when the music
will be introduced. and that explains
the general condition Of affairs. The
musical comedy lacks real music, the
old line light on opera had IL I'm abund-
ance and believe that this year will see
moro really meritorious operate pro-
ductions than ever before
"The musical comedy unquestionably
has had its run There are scores OF
them travelling about the country u II
true but the few prima facia operatic
organizations are vastly successful and
this would indicate that the public seeks
return TO the school Of the real light
opera
MIR dc koven In a between the acts"
speech AZ tho Academy OF Music I'm Balti-
mores on the opening Of his newest work.
Red Feather" stated that II was per-
haps the best thing he had ever written
and that he had written II because he
believed the public wanted music of
different art than has been served up 20
n for some few years. and he announces
now that he II enga ged on a work which
he believes will he a masterpiece. but
what n is he fails 10 say and the musi-
cal world will no doubt be well satisfied
With his latest creation. think over and
discuss his words and anticipate the era
he 40 happily prophesies. an era when
Hight opera will be on the plane IL once