The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-12-17

local theatregoers that the engagement
lasts for the whole week, otherwise
there would have been many disap-
Ipointed ones, for the theatre is bound
to be filled at every performance. Not
since The Merry Widow was here
have we had anything approaching the
lbrilliancy of The Chocolate Soldier,
while from q musical point Of view
there is no comparison between Franz
ILehar's somewhat frothy composition
and the musicianly work of Oscar
tStraus.
a., The first thing that strikes the au-
ditor is the originality of the music
and this is one Of its chiefest charms,
especially as it is SO rare. Seldom
does one hear music today of the
lighter variety that is not, in a mea-
sure, reminiscent The warmth of COL
or, which is the foundation of Budgar-
ian music, it's passion and diablerie are
graphically drawn by Straus. Most
artistic is the manner in which he
works up the principal theme from the
dreamy, half unknown, half expressed
sentimental love OF Nadina for her
hero, to the passionate scorn of the
lover, who, as a matter of fact, was
Ia pretty poor hero, when he learns
Nadina had given her photo to the
Chocolate Soldier, who in escaping
from the Bulgarians had broken into
her boudoir, after she had retired for
the night and who was concealed by
her.
Then Straus introduces an entirely
new atmosphere to surround the love
lof Nadina and the gentleman who
loves chocolates better than cartridges.
Not only is the music infinitely SUI
Iperior to anything of the kind we have
had since Madame Butterfly, but the
,orchestration may, without exaggera-
tion, be described as beautiful, and at
times 1t was quite easy to imagine
oneself listening to grand opera. Es-
peciaIiy was this the case in the fine
opening chorus of the second act, and
one hastens to add that it is sung by
real choristers and not lot of SIM
'pering, shrill-voiced girls.
The finale with 'the hero motif
again running through it was also
splendidly sung. AS most people are
aware, The Chocolate Soldier is
founded on George Bernard Shaw's
Arms and the Man, and Straus seems
thoroughly to have entered into the
spirit of Shayian humor, which was
mostly conceived tongue In cheek. The
regular Walker orchestra has been
considerably augmented for the occa-
sion By number of flrst-class play
ers. including harpist. which of
course added greatly to the enjoyment
lof this Fascinating opera bouffe.
The company presenting The Cho-
sC rtf oil he "a
as that which created veritable SEN
sation i'm New York and Chicago and
the verdict of the two big cities was
fully endorsed last night when the APP
plause was hearty, sincere and long
continued There were no homemade
encores, as is too often the case, the
manifestations OF pleasure being too
spontaneous to be anything but genu-
inc. Mile. Antoinette Kopetzky, the
prirna donna, Is a veritable vision of
delight. She possesses every attri-
butte which commands success She
has q beautiful soprano voice OF con-
siderable range and great purity; she
is piquante and dainty; plays with be-
witching archpess; II graceful In all
her movements and has pretty little
face, which every now and again is
reminiscent Of Adelaide Thurston, in
d certain little half pathetic drcop Of
the mouth.
Mile. Kopetzky lg Q Bohemian, and
plays with all the abandon Of her race,
and she makes the average American
comic opera prima donna look like a
chrome when placed alongside an oil
painting by master Another foreign
err. Mile. lion Bergere, also presented
IA fascinating figure as Mascha. She
has handsome stage presence, sings
well. and has Il distinct sense Of hu-
NOR, which Is not 70 rare in y woman