New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-07-31
MUSICAL COM N ENT.
Popular Censorship in Paris-Novcl-
ties of the London Opera Season.

Paris Judge has decided IN favor Of the th-e.
young men who created a disturbance at a ChateIa-
concert by kissing when any artist played a con-
certo. "a was explained tina. the demonstration
was not directed against the artist his perform
ance. but protest against the inclusion of a
concerto. which the disturbors considered a false
form 81 art in Chatelet programme. II n a
singular decision. The young men knew what tire
programme contained. and. viewed from this side
Of the water II would seem II all the rights
which law and equity allowed them summed
up in the privilege to stay away from the con
cert. IF the Judge right. they should pro
coed IN their campaign cf artistic reform by put
ting stop TO all concerts which fail 20 meet TIE
standard OF their censorship. organizing TO Kill
the enjoyment Of all persons whose tastes differ
from theirs. Their. they might go q step further
and make a business Of bestowing their approval
FOR consideration new industry would thus be
less satisfied with the color of artists eyes. the
cut Of his clothes, the length OF his hair The
make of his instrument. the taste Of his printer
and q hundred things more
London heard two rev operas N the Covent Gar
den season. both French and both obviously
brought forward for The purpose of exploiting the
favori,e singers of the London peope--Mme. Melba
AID Nine CaIve Helene. one act piece ty
Sa!nt-SaSns. new having had its first repre-
seEtat.or ct Monte Carlo las; February but Mas
gused in title and by change of names and scGe
is an old work. having been brought forward m
Brussels twenty years ago An explanation OF its
hardness in reaching English performance was
the attitude of the Lord Chamberlain who is the
British censor toward stage plays based Biblical
subjects Il does appear that the censorship
WORKED any serious deprivation III the of Mas
seiet opera. which has not struck deep root,
In France. but IL Is calculated To cause "a smile
when one notes what gauzy subterfuge sufffced
TO remove the bar in this case. IL is more TO the
purpose that tfOidmarks Queen of Shsba" and
Satnt-SaensS Samson and DeliIah" are still
strange to the British stage
Saint SaGns's little opera had one point OF al
tractiveness to the Londoners in that il kept Nine
Meba the stage continuously for an hour
from the rising of the curtain till the falling there
of. IL treats OF episode only in the story %
Helen of TrOy-the woOiag Of Paris and the elope-
ment At the opening Helen, escaped from the
palace of Menelaus. seeks the seashOre with the
purpose OF drowning herself TO escape the love
which she feels growing within her As she is
about 10 cast herself off a rock. Venus rises from
the sea surrounded by her nymphs in a grotto and
aGmOnishes her not rebel against the passion
Helen calls upon Zeus for help Pallas appears
in and seeks TO dSsuade her from the course
advised by Venus, coajurins up a vision OF Troy
in flames and presenting it the outcome of her
fateful Nevertheless she yields TO the
wooing Of Paris and the opera ends with picture
Of the departure of the pair in a galley. The