Evening star., 1903-11-07

people results in the rehabilitation Of
opera comique In this country their efforts
will be warmly applauded and will, no
doubt, receive the material approval of
generous public.
In any event, 1t is pleasant to announce
that an earnest attempt is about to be
made to bring back to the American stage
the glories of the days Of Judic and Aimee
and to provide for the lovers Of light, but
good. music something better than the
ragtime farces of the day.
No grand opera artist ever came to
America and achieved a more immediate
success than did little Fritzi Schef. Maui
rice Grau introduced her to the audiences
of the Metropolitan Opera House in New
York in December, 1900, in the not very
important role of Marcellina in 'Fidelio."
Her vocal gifts. great talent as a come
dienne and youthful beauty-she was only
twenty years old then-brought her to the
instant notice OF the Metropolitan's crit
ical and aristocratic clientele. and she be-
came a popular favorite on the instant Her
success since then in the three seasons
that she has been before the American pub
lie Is matter of history.
The yet untried opera, 'Babette,' promises
great things. Victor Herbert. Its composer,
has already given US three most meritorious
scores. those of the "serenade," The
Fortune Teller" and The Singing Girl
besides his less ambitious compositions,
THE Wizard of the Nile" and THE Idols
Eye" His muse has lain dormant since
The Singing Girl was given by Alice
now be in splendid form for the creation of
a fresh. melodous and virile score
The story of 'Babette' is laid in period
of chivalry, intrigue and romantcsm-the
times of Louis XIV of France.
As Babette Miss Schef will appear as
the professional letter-writer of a Belgium
village. The peasants among whom she
lives are opposed by the soldiers of the
grand monarch. who even break up a lit
tie game of skittles at which they are
engaged when the curtain rises, and there
by preciptate a revolution. The troubles
which follow bring the girl TO the court of
Louis, after she has become strollng
player. and her adventures ultimately cul-
inmate in her marTi ge to Marcel painter
and the man of her choice. William Cas-
tleman. the tenor. IS. of course her artist
lover. Other characters are Mondragon, a
braggert freebooter played by the buffo-
basso Eugene Cowles: Baltazar a profess
sional cOnsprator represented by the CO.
median, E. J. Connelly: Vinette. his firta-
tious daughter, interpreted by Ida Hawley;
Van Tynpel. clock ker, who is seen
in the person of Louis Harrison. and Eva,
his wife. played by Josephine Bartlett.
Bewigged slk-attired courtiers, the emf
nent monarch himself, French peasants
and court beauties disport themselves in
the three acts. which range from a garden
scene in a village of Belgium to a roadside
inn. and then to a final picture of spectac-
ular beauty. the throne room at the court
of Versailles.
The period Of the opera offers every
chance to the costumer. for at no time were
gowns so gorgeous or the attire Of men so
splendid as during the reign of Louis XIV.
when silks and satins, periques and pow
dered wigs were not only en- regle, but
imperative features OF daily attire. and
when, according to the furniture authori-
ties, clawfeet were the prevailing vogue.
1t Is claimed that the grandeur of the
production of "Babette' and the size and
vocal brilliancy of the company which will
interpret it will practically make this a
presentation of grand opera in miniature.