The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-02-02
IssIs{,l 11bach
As the + ounder
Of Comic Opera

A notable event planned by werba
g. Luescher, in which souvenir per-
formances will probably be given by
their Spring Maid" and Rose Maid
companies, will celebrate the Often
bach centenary, which occurs within
a short time. Nearly one hundred
years have elapsed since the famous
composer OF light opera. who Is the
real founder OF the school OF oper-
eta, was born. 1t is planned to give
the occasion honor In some informal
way. for the Werba & Luescher sue
cesses are the latest musical plays
Of the now immensely popular style
which Jasques Offenbach first gave
TO the musical world.
Jacques Omenbach was a German
who achieved fame in Paris In COM
bination with Meflhac and Halevy he
broke into the customary restrictions
then prevailing in France. and with
his playful fancy produced the first
Of the opera bouffes which have since
constantly retained popularity. His
Love Tales of Hoffman," has been
done repeatedly of late years on the
grand opera stage in New York, Lon
don and Paris. while his orphans
in the Underworld" is announced for
production at the Metropolitan opera
house in New York during the coming
Belle Helene" and others of the Of
fenbach successes are often played
both here and abroad.
The school of light opera founded
by Ofrenbach has developed many
equally popular composers whose
works have had lasting qualities. Lee
COO, who wrote The Little Duke
and ia File de Madame Angot":
Audran. composer of ''The Mascotte,"
"OIivette,' La Cigale" and THE
Grand Mogul': Pianquette with his
"Chimes of Normany," and others
who followed, added still greater
popularity to opera comique, and to-
day operetta of THE Spring Maid
type is perhaps the best liked and
most profitable entertainment on the
stage.
Johann Strauss, the waltz King.
were he alive today, would see his
aper Fliedermauss being done in
Countess" while his descendant. Oscar
strauss is drawing .princely royalties
Tor THE Chocolate Soldier"
the time OF offeenbach, Johann Strauss.
Audran, Planquette, Miiiocker and Won
suppe, has led to a constantly develop
nperettas of the master were perfect
and lasting and have always served as
models Tor composers OF today. modern
ers @ Fac rio eaST e0 spp fs
Maid" 'The Merry Widow" and "The
Chocolate Soldier" coming within
year or two of each other. formed per-
feet examples OF the ability OF com
posers and writers of the day and all
have wonderful lasting qualities. The
Spring Maid" now being played under
the Werba g. Luescher direction In
this country, In Australia by two com
panies with whose management Werha
numerous organizations in France,
Germany. Austria and other continen-
tai countries, has been called delight
full example of the perfect operetta, n
type which has for its reason d
romance set 10 music In which the song
mum beers develop part OF the story and
are not as In musical comedy merely
songs and dances thrown into a farce
and having no direct reference TO tho
plot
Its authors and composers are re-
European stage by half a dozen
opsretta successes. Thsir success haa
resulted from their ability 10 take a
story which ahounds In romantic in
terest and sustained plot set ii to the
dashings sparkling Niennese music
which bubbles over with action and
swirs-s and combine the whole into ara
opert which liz TO grand opera what
farce sa41 comedy la to the drama.
by the success of the Vienuese
eperetta in recent years feel that some
fitting memorial should be erected 10
the founder Of the school of light
opera Va hich has come to he termed
"Elennese" in recent years. whether 1T
is of German. Austrian, English or
American CREATION.