New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-01-12
NEW LtHAR 0PERETTA
liking of the Mountains" Pro.
duCed at MoIiere. in Brussels.

uuCeQ al W0llcre, IN brussels.
London. Jan. 4.-Franz Lehar's operas
are the most popular theatrical produc-
tons in Brussels nowadays. and while
Eva is still drawing crowded houses at
the Alhambra another one. The King OF
the Mountains" has just been presented
at the Moliere. According TO the Belgian
critics, it shows great development in
Lehar's musical art, and they are
prophesying that before long he will leave
the field of comic opera and operetta and
produce a serious work.
The story OF The King Of the Noun
tains' is taken from a romance OF Ed
mond About dealing with famous Greek
brigand Hadgi Stavros, who lived sixty
years ago and was the terror OF the
neighborhood of Athens. The characters
are both Of the East and the West, while
the costumes are chiefly of the crinolne
days. There is an English family OF
tourists, Mr.. and Mrs John Barley and
their daughter, Mary Anne. The father is
made up to represent John Bull. The
mother is stout and voluble. and has
catch phrase. How do you do? ! am de-
lighted to sec you look SO WELL" which
she addresses to every one.
Mary Anne, young and pretty, is wildly
romantic and longs for adventure. There
is an old German professor, dividing his
heart between 4 love for beetles and
Mary Anne, and there is an American
naval Lieutenant. whose ship apparently
, lies at Athens geography being ignored
.ko he Of IL &c
called Bill Harris, out is spoken to and
of as "Billaurris' all through the opera
There is besides a wealthy Greek prince
with a palace n Athens, 10 which his
beautiful young daughter has just re-
turned after many years spent at school
in Paris. The prince leads Hyde-Jckyll
life. being also the famous brigand, Hads
Stavros. His daughter is unaware OF
this, and his one object is to keep her in
ignorance, although, like an the rest Of
her compstriots. she has learned to ad-
miro the bandits courage ana daring OK
PLOTS and considers him a hero.
Wher the curtain rises the young prin-
cess is giving a musical party. at which
the Barley family. Or. Clerimsy, the pro-
fessor: Bllaurris and Pericles.. the smart
captain OF gendarmes. arc assembled. The
Princess Photin being chaperoned BY
Christodoulos a retired organd, and Ma
rula. his wife who report to their chief
all that goes on. Billaurris loves Photinf
and there is charming duet between
them when they confess this but Bill
aurris is not rich and is afraid TO ap-
proach the wealthy prince. He remem-
bers the enormous reward offered by the
town for the capture Of Hadgi Stayros
and determines to win il. Presently Hadgi
Stavros arrives as the prince, and his
daughter. rushing 10 his arms, confesses
her love story.
The father sings song OF advice 10
girls about to marry" and finally consents
with sly humor to the match. provided
Billaurris really arrests Hagdi Stravros
The second act shows the mountain re-
treat OF the brigands. where their leader
is auditing the accounts, giving every
amusing detail OF profit and loss and an
nouncing a dividend of so per cent. The
outposts bring the news Of the arrival of
a party Of tourists lured to security by a
paragraph in the papers. sent by himself
that the brgand Is far away. Pretty
Mary Anne appears alone on the scene
wild TO sec the brigand and eager for ad-
venture. but a very frightened girl when
she really meets him. There are charm
ing scenes between the two, ana for once
there Is a middle aged hero OF an opera.
Perhaps the duet they sing little later
is one OF the best. There Is the inevitable
waltz. which lost nothing by being slow.
Every one Is, OF course, seized by the
brigands and there is much fun with
Mrs Barley and the professor. who have
10 pay a heavy ransom. and finally Bill
aurrls and his sailors appear to share the
same fate.
The third act is on board Billaurriss
man-of-war which he commands. lie ID
giving a luncheon party in the messroom
al little tables. There is capital duet 10
two-step time. and Bill confesses that he
has llred Hadgi Stravros on board by thu
news that he mas mis- daughter IN custody.
Hadgi comes, and hnally confesses all 10
his would-be son-!n-law. The repentant
Hadgi declares he will go to Australia
and lead a new life. but Is implored by all
the party In a concerted piece 10 Stay
with us" and although he and Mary Anne
do not fall into one snother's arms in true
stage fashion as the curtain falls II 10
made pretty evident that she has won her
loyer-and the title Of princess.
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