The sun., 1908-12-06

has come ID be an eotabllsifsd law
OF criticism In judging Viennese oper-
ettas TO gauge their merits by the
first and second acts. II theae are sui-
floient they are supposed to cover mul..
htude Of eins-though they are only OF
omission-in tho concluding act. Judged
by this standard "The, Brave Soldier
will not be found wanting.
II would not be q Viennese operetta
II IL lacked az chief number the swing
Of q captivating waltz, and sThe Brave
Soldier has. been provided Hssrewith
as generously as the most exacting
taste for such an article OF export can
demand. It comes in the flrst act from
the lips Of the heroine In the shape Of an
soldier lover Come, hero OF my dreams')
and is then most oleverly repeated In the
brilliant finale to Act IL. But .suoh 10
ite clear suggestivenees that u had not
TO wait foE its repetition and its more
effective subsequent setting to- be ac-
claimed enthusiastically by the first
night'g audience as the waltz OF the sea-
attempt roughly TO calculate how many
thousands Of feet and hands will keep
time during the approaching winter 70
its swaylng measures.
Then too there are the polkas, the
prettiest perhaps that OF the Chocolate
Cream Soldier" which appears In the
guise Of a duet in the first act-and the
marches that cover all the musical ground
from the Balkan States to the capital on
the beautiful blue Danube. A very pretty
ending is made to the first act by cradle
song for the three women's voices, while
BtuntschR, overcome by fatigue, falls
peacefully asleep.
The second act brings among other
pleasing numbers a quintet that 10 par
IL. II. - a.
1nerii, as THE Brave Soldier is called.
that with Its oowbells and suggestions OF
Swiss rdnz des aches furnishes an anus
ing bit OF opposite coloring which even q
more serious composer like Giordano did
not disdain in Fedora
polka mazurka in the shape OF
dance duet, a particularly clever sex
tet and above all the exhilareting finale
complete list OF such portions OF the
score as not alone found the most favor
on the first night but also are most likely
to become familiar by frequent repeti-
ton. They bear on their face the marx
OF popularity.
The Theater au der Wien, the scene OF
80 many first productions OF subsequent
international comic opera successes has
made special effort to bring out Oscar
Strauss s work in a manner worthy Of
SO important an occasion. Mounting on
the comic opera stage in Vienna never
means the lavish expenditure familiar TO
New York or London audiences, and in
The Brave Soldier" there was nothing
calculated to dazzle the eye. But the
mise en- scene was in every way sufticient,
and the costumes as we'll as the uniforms
were picturesque and becoming.
Two newcomers replaced the fayorites
Of former years--the Widou and Prince
Duniio-and both the lady, Frauiein
Grete Holm. as well as the gentleman,
Herr Gustav Werner. avoided the be-
setting sin Of their colleagues here, well
established in the favor Of the public
they did not unduly emphasize their
vocal or histrionic efforts.
For the tenor role of Sergius the in
destructible Herr Streitmann had been
chosen who sang in America with Lillian
Russell nearly a quarter Of a century ago.
Time has not mellowed his throaty tones,
but he still appears here with certain
show of justification, and In spite OF his
venerable juvenility can still boast, as
in his palmy days, a faithful following,
The Viennese are pleased now and then
to prove themselves conservative.
Though Arms and the Man of all
Shnw's Dlays is the one that In its German
form has perhaps least taken hold OF me
public, what is to be found OF IL In the
Iibretto of THE Brave Soldier is sure
to appeal pleasantly to theatregoers here.
fail to charm whenever and wherever
it will be heard. 1t is unnecessary 10
be a prophet to foresee a prosperous
career for the new work, whether in
the original or in a translated form.
English speaking audiences will assuredly
be curious to see how Bernard Shaw
fits into the frame of comic opeta and will
probably be glad TO acknowledge that
the musical illustration Of Oscar Strauss
deserves to be commended.
Whether in giving rs The Brave Sol
der" he has bestowed on his many ad-
mirers a second waltz Dream Is ques.
ton it would be hazardous, even in face OF
verdict as unequivocal rs yesterday
evenings, to decide. Non bis IN idem'
is pretty safe motto for all things con-
nected with the stage, and yet there are
already to-day plenty Of people ready
to admit that nothing short Of d triuInphai
career should be in store for 80 courage
ously attractive a work as the Brave
Soldier w. Won SACHS.