New-York tribune., 1910-09-21
THE MANHATTAN OPENS
"Hans, the Flute Player" Gets
Enthusiastic Reception.

Oscar Hammerstein is not a man who
allows the grass TO grow under his feet
The days OF the Manhattan Opera House
as a home for grand opera closed last
spring but last night the house opened
again, this time dedicated to a lighter form
of music The opera was Hans, the Flute
Player" music by Louis Came and book
by Maurice Vaucaire and George Mitchell.
d work first produced in Monte Carlo. in
1906 and which last spring enjoyed a sue
cessful run at the Theatre Apollo in Paris.
From the size and enthusiasm of last
nights audience there seems no reason
why after a little cutting and Frightening
of the dialogue IL should not enjoy an
equal measure of popularity in this cOun-
try The audience filed the house. and its
applause was of the old-fashioned Manhat-
tan order.
Hans the Flute Player is a genre Of
cpera that once was much more popular
I'm New York than it has been of late years.
though the recent successful revival Of
The Mikado'' and the production of such
works as The Merry Widow and '-The
Chocolate Soldier show that the public
taste for good light music still survives.
Mr. Cannes little work bears many points
Of resemblance to the light operas that
made the Casino famous. such as Plan
quettes Les CIoches de Corneville" and
the works of Audran. It's music is light,
graceful. alluring; music with tune in it;
with one air at least. a waltz that New
York will certainly be heard whistling be-
fore the week is out.
Mr. Hamnerstein. toe. has fulfilled his
part with the effectiveness that the public
has learned TO expect from his four seasons
of grand opera. In the first place, he has
given a cast in every way adequate. and In
several cases more than that. Miss Sophie
Brandt in the role of 'Lizbeth. showed
that her years training abroad had added
greatly 70 her voice While not large in
volume. il was pure in tone and used with
more than ordinary skill Mr. Pollock as
Yoris. the poet. sang with much sweetness
though handicapped at times by the size
Of the auditorium. Mr.. George Chadal.
French barytone. who had learned English
expressly for the occasion. took the part of
Hans. Dramatically. Mr. ChadaI gave an
unusual performance but his diction, un-
fortunately showed so much Of its French
origin that little he said could be under
stood. Yet this is a defect that will un-
doubtedlv be remedied Mr.. Doane as Van
Pott and Mr.. CoOmbs as Willum were both
amusing, and a special word should be said
for the character acting of Miss Alice Cen
tie As the Burgomaster's wife.
But there were other features of the
performance that were far above the aver
age of the light opera offerings usually
seen in New York The chorus was large
and we'll drilled. singing with admirable
spirit and precision, and the ballet was
also most effective But perhaps most en-
joyable of all was the playing of the
orchestra under the leadership of Mr.. Jo-
siah EURO, who last year was Mr.. Ham
merstein's chorus masters Mr.. EURO led
with gratifying sympathy for the spirit
of the score Mr.. Coinis stage manage
ment was also ssilfully carried out the
crowds being especially we'll handled The
scenery was effective, and one set-that Of
the second act-remarkably rich and mas
sive.
1t is unfortunate that as good things
cannot be said of the libretto, which on
the whole was cumbersome and lacking
in spright1iness. The story of the piper.
who browns the cats and mice and in the
end eases the heartaches of the lovers.
has an appeal that could have been made
much of. A vigorous cutting and rear
rangement will NJ doubt wonderfully inn
prove matters.
himself was called before the curtain and
spoke a few words. as follows:
The deep regret and grief l experienced
in being compelled to abandon grand opera
are softened tonight ~ the cordial recep-
ton you have given me- l go TO London
tomorrow, but il will not take me away
from the city I love. Ny presence in Lon
don will only aid what I am doing now in
comic opera. in giving New York the finest
opera of that kind it has ever seen. love
TO stay here. and I believe I will The
cast of Hans the Flute Player was as
follows: