The sun., 1910-05-23
atYIea On Oneretta.


The composers who have recently at
tracted the attention Of the world % the
new school of Visnnese Operetta are not
likely to contribute 40 extensively to
their particular field Of entertainment
in the next year and the old time glOFies
Of the Theater an der Wien must be re-
vived by others. LEHAR, who has done
more than any Of his colleagues to
make Vienna once moro the home
Of light music has promised TO rest
for term, that his muse may recover
from tho unmistakabls fatigue that
has marked his latest offerings; 20 for
a year nothing will come from his
pen. OSCAR STRAUs. who founded
a new dynasty Of that name on the
Danube with his Opsretta The Choc-
Olate Soldier now has his eyes
fixed on the Imperial Opera House in
Vienna and Is soon 70 have ready an
opera for that institution, unmindful Oi
the fate that beiell JOHANN Of the same
name II not Of the same family when he
attempted 90 conquer that ambitious
stage. There IA consolation, however,
in the fact that LEO FAILS, who sup
piled beautiful music for The Dollar
Princess, will be represented in the next
seasons novelties at Vienna with two
operettas. That this harvest from its
own sons will be insufficient for the
viennese public Il shown by the import
tatiOn Of GUSTAV KRRKKR from this
country TO compose for the Theaier an
der Wien, while LIONEL MONCKToN and
Ivan CARTIL have also promised TO send
one Of their distinctively London speci-
mems 10 contrast with the bubbling
genius Of the Viennese spring.
The secession Of OSCAR STRAUs 10 the
more e1acting stage Of the Imperial
Opera House has its consolation in the
happy arrival Of LEONCAvAILO in the
lighter field Of operetta. II is with
e Marbrlck, the Italian composers frst
venture into the comic domain, that
iis direction is next fall TO open the Carl
Theater. which is also a playhouse with
honorable traditions in the line Of oper-
eta, although its record il less notable
than that Of the shabby little Theater an
der Wien.
The state Of the Viennese supply Of
comic opera II interesting 70 New York.
since those that are worth impOrta-
tion always arrive here In Way the
librettist bears A important a relation
toward this country as the composer.
From its earliest days the lbretti of
Viennese Operetta have been their fee
blest point. Even the dwellers in the
Austrian capital have recognized this
weakness and tried 10 put some Of the
old wine into new bottles BY rewriting
tho old teKts or fitting the scores 70 new
books. Nowadays there is undoubted
in this phase of the work !
81 the new school Of operettas; but 10 far !
a. this country Is in question great sue
cess IL possible for these productions
only when certain conditions exist that
do not seem at NIL essential TO the in |
experienced observer Of tho subject.
These are more or less intimately con-
nected with the character Of the librsttO.
although not an essential part Of II.
New York had a long experience Of
London musical farce while the muse Of
the Danube capital was refreshing her
self for her latest flight. In that time
comedy with music came tO mean 10
local audiences numerous young women
in attractive dress and men In the same |
kind Of everyday attire. In might be |
that for one art or for several scenes
these habiliments n artistic realism
could be exchanged for fancy dress, but
wisdom sOon discovered that
tho productions which showed their
characters in the latest Of Paris or Lon
don models appealed most strongly 20
the public NJ New York. Peasants or
soldiers, unless they were smart London
giardsnen, inhabitants Of Outlandish
countries or wearers Of picturesque but
unusual dress-they wers found %
have 10 little interest for Broadway
audiences that no ingenuity in plot or
melody in music could ooInponaats for
he lack Of up 10 date metropolitan
Or maybe cosmopolitan garments and
manner nov Indispensable. Even thsas
musical plays seem 20 have come tsn-
pOraTily ~ much under the influence Of
49, isfSgE' llasFcB rsSsEA !