The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1911-02-01
February 6 Cecil Lean and Flor
ence Holbrook in Bright Eyes"
Grand opera in keokuk.

ence Holbrook in Bright Eyes"
Grand Opera in keokuk.
1t is perfectly possible to form an
opera company out of men and women
not good enough to sing in the heel
of the diamond horseshoe and yet en-
tirely adequate to give grand opera
in the provinces to the great benefit
of both the public and the manage
ment.
This was demonstrated last evening
by the performance of III Trovatore"
at the Grand theatre by the Aborn
opera company.
1t Is a long time since Keokuk has
had chance to hear grand opera well
done 1t is very gratifying that Keo-
kuk heard one of yerdi's works given
SO we'll, when it did have a chance to
hear grand opera. 1t is also gratifying
that Keokuk attended the perform
ance to an extent which must en-
courage the box office to repeat the
performance some time soon.
III Troratore" has the merit of being
a good opera-there never was a great
er love song than the tower song and
at the same time the kind OF music
that everybody with the least music
in his soul enjoys. 1t is both pleasing
and educative. The Aborn company
seems to have recognized this, and.
what Is better, to have recognized a
duty to give the people of the prov
inces performance which is both
pleasant to witness and valuable in
developing the musical education of
the audiences.
II is a fact little talked about-but
nevertheless a fact-that only small
percentage of the population of the
cities of the middle west of less than
metropolitan size ever heard grand
opera at all. Probably nine-tenths of
the audience of last night was hearing
grand opera for the first time-and
Ottumwa, Burlington, Quincy and the
others are in the same condition If
they are frank enough to admit it. OF
course it is vitality important that peo-
pie hear grand opera. 1t is equally
/ important that they hear it well done
| Hence, this tour of the Aborn com
pany is really very important event
in the musical development of the
second class cities.
1t is futile to make an analysis OF
the work of the different members OF
the company All are entirely ade
quate-they give the opera as well as
! the best theatrical companies give
are better than others, but all are ser
] iously endeavoring to excel. Edith
/ Helena won the right to special men
ton, and one will keep tab on hei
with the expectation that she climbs
still farther up the ladder of success
and fame. One was a little surprised
/ that so much knowledge, art and
( verve was put into the acting: thers
j were some very strong dramatic
scenes in which the expression of the
I tragedy was quite as much by the
/ acting as by the music. Not great
deal of money has been spent on tn:
scenery, but excellent brains have
/ been used in the stage management
/ In other words the opera was present
ed for what grand opera is-the ex
preston of tragedy through the
1 medium OF dramatic music on stage
1 The Aborn management never forgets
for an instant that it is a musica
drama which is being given and MOI
string of vocal numbers threaded or
story That the Aborns emphasize
4 the fact that the English language IL
used no doubt brings out more people
but otherwise the opera might al
well have been given In italian, since
1 the musical and histrionic expression
of the tragedy made words unneces
sary, and for that matter unrecogniz
ed.
There was Zig audience in the
house. Everyone there benefited
musieally, except possibly the two PEI
cent who have heard opera in New
York, Paris, Florence or Dresden. Thu
elderly music lovers were there, AMI
there were hundreds of young people
who need the education most ant
have had fewer such opportunities.
Keokuk did her part last night. |