The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-04-07
ATTHE T'HEATERS
Observation-Disclosures Girl.


To comprehend the vast difference be-
tween the opera Of to-day, with it's mu-
steal intellectually, and the operas Of
the middle of the last century, with their
pretty melodies and tinkling orchestration
one has but to listen to performance Of
the Bohemian Girl after listening to
an opera Of the class of Carmen or
"Tannhauser." It is the same difference
there is between the literature Of Mrs.
Ann Stephens for instance, and that Of
Balzac or George Eliot.
Last nights bill at the Metropolitan was
Balfe's Bohemian Girl sung by the
Savage. Grand Opera company In these
days Balfe is never heard of save thru
this one opera, and one or two Of his
ballads which are still occasionally heard.
An Irish youth, with English, Italian and
finally French musical training, he was at
one time a leading figure in the operate
world. Berlin WED with St. Petersburg,
Paris and London to do him honor: His
operas-and there were nearly thirty Of
them-were fine successes in that day.
While it is likely that the Bohemian
Grip will occasionally be heard for many
years to come, it will be solely because of
the three orfear ballads which it con-
tains. "The Heart Bowed Down. IT
Dreamed Dwell in Marble Halls ''Then
You'll Remember Me-" and when the
Fair Land Of Poland will always appeal
| to popular favor as songs. The appalling
| thing about Balfe's opera, however, is it's
| utter and absolute lack Of dramatic force
| Apparently it's composer had no ''artis-
| tic conscience Moments which call for
dramatic Interpretation are passed away
with amy old ditty'' which ambles along
| apparently in utter disregard of the ext
gencies Of the case.
/ Last nights performance was lighted
up and made into a really passable opera
| bouffe by the comicalities Of Mr.. Boyle,
| to whom was entrusted the role of Devils
hoof, chief Of the Gypsies His appear
ance on the stage was the. signal for
/ close attention on the part Of the audi
ence,s which laughed at and ,thoroly en-
joyed his, fun making. MIR, Boyle's voice,
| a fine. sbasso, was really too massive for
the other principals. -s- -...t
Mr.. Sheehan made a 1ovab1e Thaddeus,
| and sang in fine voice. His ''Then You'll
Remember Me" was twice encored. MIR.
Golf as Count Arnheim had little oppor-
tunity: either vocally or otherwise to dis
tfngutsh himself. He made as much out OF
the part as was possible, winning recall
with: "The Heart Bowed Down. Miss lie
/ Brun assumed the part Of Airline the
gypsy girl, without rehearsal and for the
first time, but acquitted herself with dis
tinction within her limitations Her voice
Is not strong enough in the middle regis
ter to cope with the orchestra and the
other principals. 1t does, however. show
careful training and method, and her sole
work was especially good. rz
Miss 1vell, as the gypsy queen, looked
the, part, overacted it, and sang it in 9
pitifully crude way. With voice of such
timbre and such possibilities and with he,
i temperament, Miss well ought to be able
! to accomplish almost anything she chose
Mr.. Fulton as the scampish nephew OF
the count furnished another comedy BIZ
which was creditable. -
/ The scenic accessories were ,unus,1aIly
good, but the chorus seemed to be mat.
! tentive and required frequent admoni
4 tons. Two instrumental encores wer,
given last evening. Eugene Salvatore tn,
, concertmeister, was thus rewarded for hi
rendition of a violin solo after the tl1irt
, act, and the oboe player was similarl,
recognized after the second act
l. Howard Boardman,