Charlevoix county herald., 1907-01-26

has been done in this dainty little
music hall.
In the second piece, "The Magic
Knight" burlesque on German opera
in general, and Lohengrin in particu-
lar, Lillian Blauvelt appears, with
but, strange to say, only one song.
Miss Blauvelt has won grand opera
triumphs abroad and concert sue
cesses at home; and although her
starring tour in comic opera, THE
Rose of the Alhambra,' under F. c.
Whitney's management, was not such
an overwhelming success as greeted
those other erstwhile grand opera
singers, FRITZ Scheff and Schumann-
Heink, nevertheless she encountered
a moderate measure of success in
that. However, she is more or less
eclipsed in the new production; al
though since the Weber shows usu-
ally evolve themselves after some
performances into something often
totally different from what the first
night presents, there may possibly be
much more for Nine. Blauvelt to do
ere many moons have waxed and
waned.
Victor Herbert's music is as facile
as of yore, it's tuneful righteousness
extending even to the arid wastes of
German opera, cen though it be but
burlesque. Just what was the motive
this scribe pretends not to elucidate;
but the fact remains nevertheless,
that the performance of "Lohengrin"
in German, scheduled for the Satur-
day preceding New Years at the Met
ropolitan opera house (hard on the
heels of the Weber burlesque), was
postponed until further occasion.
A return to the old-time comic
opera is achieved by Henry Savage,
who produces "The Student King"
with chic Lima Abarbanell as the
star. OF a varied talent is this young
woman. Imported by Conried from
the Berlin Royal opera house for his
Irving Place theater, where perform
ances are given in German and in
accordance with the traditions gov
erning the subsidized theaters of the
German fatherland, the young SOU
brette developed singing voice of
singular sweetness, while at the same
time strongly impressing her dramatic
talent in light comedy. Having al
ready the Conried contract, her ap-
pearance at the Metropolitan opera
house was easily arranged; and the
hit that she made as Haensel in Hum
perdinck's fairy opera, "Haensel and
Gretel," is one of the pleasant mem
cries of last season.
In the interval that has passed
since her Conried contract expired
she has learned the English language;
and her performance in "The Student
King" is all the more piquantly ef-
fective by reason of the slight but
charming accent with which she gives
her lines and lyrics She is all vim
and mirth and laughter, this young
woman; and her appearance as boy
in velvet knickerbockers is one of the
best bits that she does
The story, by Stanislaus STANCE, is
the well-worked one of the king who
abdicates his throne for one day, and
the mirth-making freaks and frolics
of the substitute ruler With the story
located at the capital of Bohemia, and
the time about 300 years ago, it will
at once be seen that there is delight
full latitude for the librettist and cos
tuner alike; and due advantage Is
taken of this fact Reginald de Ko.
ven's music is tuneful If not striking
ly original while the lyrics by the
late Fred Ranken have a swing and a
go to them which the music we'll
serves to emphasize.