The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-05-11
Single Numbers Well Sung
Justify Presentation of
"The Serenade."
Chorus Not Fully Trained,
While Comedy Situations
Are Overlooked.

/ In numbers the admirers Of 1.-THE Sere-
made were considerably behind lovers
OF Robin Hood" bat easily made up
the difference in enthusiasm, when the
Herbert opera was presented for the
! second week of the summer season at
the National Theater last evening
THE Serenade' lost some of its COM
edy and a little of its musical charm
! IN it's rendition by the Aborn Comic
Opera Company. But TO atone for this
were several numbers well sung, and
these, judging by their reception, were
fun Justification for the revival of the
opera
The musical worth of THE Serenade"
lies in its choruses rather than in it's
solos, and the chorus last night was
not trained TO the degree that marked
the singing Of robin Hood by the
same company. The finale of act one,
and the opening choruses IN the convent
scene were hardly acceptable. To this
criticism there was one striking excop-
ton. Seldom since the days OF the Bos-
tOnians has Washington heard the song
of the convent bells better sung. Miss
FRITZ Won Busing's rich contraItO blend
ed well with a chorus that had been
trained very nearly TO perfection on this
one number. The singing OF this mum
Der holds out hope that. with a little
more practice the other choruses may
be considerably improved.
Merit of "Serenade."
''The Serenade' has been called the
most tunefuI of Herbert's operas. Tune
full it Is. TO the point at times where
harmony is almost peurile. For the
greater part of the score, therefore, an
orchestra OF a plano. a clarinet. two
comets, and three violins was adequate.
but it hardly served TO bring out the
rich f1Ilness Of the choruses-as rich IN
;heir coloring Outlines as any DeKOvsn
has composed
One feature for which this opera is
notable is the fidelity with which its
theme. sounded in the serenade. IS pre-
served Exigencies OF the plot demand
its repetition again and again. But
whether Harry B. Smith. the author, or
Victor Herbert, the composer, vas re-
sponsible, the fact remains that therein
lies much OF the operas charm The
skill with which the musical numbers
are woven into the telling or a sub
stantial story seems another difficulty
Of achievement by composers of 19OS-O9.
opera The Serenade- is worth while
aside from the enjoyment It affords.
Miss FRITZ Won Busing sang Dolores.
and scored as heavily as In Robin
Hood The part is not difficult, but its
interpreter possessed a full understand
ing of fits dramatic as well as OF its
musical value, and gave q clear ex-
preston to both. Next to her singing
in the song OF the convent bells, she
was most heartily applauded after she
sang, with Forrest Hun, the serenade
song OF the first act. Miss Helen
Bertram brought TO Yvonne a clear
and strong soprano voice, heard last
week as Marian Within her range she
sang well, but the solo Of the second
act seemed little beyond her ability.
Male Voices Prominent.
The male voices this week are dis
tinctly the strongest feature OF the
production. John r Phillips. as Lopez.
seemed the favorite. He has a voice OF
remarkable clearness within a limited
range. Forrest HUFF is too well known
in Washington TO demand praise. He
sings well as Alverado.
Gomez, the tailor, affords George b.
rockingham an excellent opportunity
for his capa.bility as a comedian. In
fun making at least the "dear old
of them all. But possibilities OF un-
usual richness and situations that
should afford genuine mirth are over
looked by other Members OF the cast
whose duty It IS TO interpret the lines
Of Smith as well as the music Of Her
bert. The musical eminence of "The
Serenade," when compared with the
list written by these men may be in
doubt, but there is little question on
the poin. of comedy. This Is probably
. the most comic OF the comic operas
that Smith has turned his hand to.
And the comedy rings true. 1t is well
within the Representations.
Especially rare is the opportunity Of
Sol Solomon as Colombo. but his
methods are a little too obvious The
company also managed to slide the
scene in the convent with the abbot
and the Mother Superior asleep with
/ out provoking laughter.
William West made good this week
I as surely as he did in the robes of the
sheriff Of Nottingham. His udctibus
humOr found expression IN Woman,
/ Lovely Woman" despite vocal handi-
/ caps that he would probably be the
/ first to admit and he was compelled
/ TO answer repeated encores.
/ j. r. HILDEBRAND.
]