The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-11-03

"When new musicians, other hearts Their tales of music tell,
 In operas whose excess impartS The pow'r they feel so well,-
 There may perhaps in such scene Some recollection be
 Of days that have as happy Deen,- Then you'll remember mel"
 Such might have been the appeal that Michael Balfe's delightful opera 'The Bohemian GirI'', made to its old friends among the big audience which sat in Jackson's Theatre last evening for three hours crammed with enjoy ment, listening to the charming me!o- dies and expressive songs which SUIT red the world 70 years ago. when Ire lands brilliant composer conducted the first performance of his master piece.
 And certainly it seems true. that as long as the love for music exists III the human race, the appealing tune. full melodies of "'The Bohemian Glrf and the simple sentiments of it's songs will find a warm place in the heart of the public despite the grandeur or all the Wagners, the warmth Of all the Puccinis and the intellectual mazes of all the Strausses of the future.
 The opera which was performed at Jackson's Theatre last night ana which will be repeated this evening, was by no means The BOhemlan Girl'' that our forefathers saw: It was far and away more brilliant spectacle, in fact the staging was magnificent and the stage management was of the highest order. But the good old music was there,-in fact, Tn revising the opera, the present produc- CTS, the Aborn Opera Company, have fol rfu xuit '"The Bohemian Girl" is produced al- most intact as Balfe wrote it, but to it has been added far more brilliant scenic arrangement, and 1t has been made much more of spectacular pro- duction. And in one instance. some foreign music has been introduced in
 to it, but it is good music,-the Bal let of the Hours from La Gioconda. The Aborn Opera Company has spar ed no expense to make '"The Bohem- ian Girl' brilliant in every way. some of the spectacular effects are compar- able with the most gorgeous of mod ern musical comedies. The company
 is a very large one: The cast l: headed by very capable singers and the chorus includes a number of pretty girls. No scene in the entire produc' l tion has been neglected. The spec tacle of the fair in the third scene of the second act is a marvel o1 clever staging and the whole perIorm' ance goes off with a creditable snaI | and dash.
 In only one particular might fail criticism be directed against the pro | duction as at present staged. seems reasonable that a heavier or chestra might be carried. The house orchestra, augmented by additiona violins and lead by the musical direc tor of the performance. does very cred | itable work, but is lacking somewha in volume and tone-color, a defect du simply to the absence of additional in l struments.
 This handicap is quickly forgotten il the excellent singing by principals am chorus, the vim and dash and spiri of the production and perhaps to nine tenths of the audience is not notice able defect,-but to the other tenth is the one flaw which makes the per formance not quite perfect as com
 pared with the biggest of metropolital productions.
 Among the principals no singer mad a more favorable impression thal James Stevens, who takes the part o Count Arnheim. To this role ia some of the most popular melodies c
 the opera, including the favorit
 Heart Bowed Down." In singing thi last night MT. Stevens handled his ex