The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-28
ROMEO AND JULIET
AT CENTURY OPERA
Gounod's Work Brought For
ward With English Text
Once Again.
ORvILLE HAROLD HEARD
Performance One Of General
Merit and Audience
Seems Pleased.

Gounod's Romeo and Juliet" In Eng
iish was brought forward at the Century
Opera House last evening. Tho opera
had not been heard here since II en-
loved one swift and passing representa-
ton at the Metropolitan Opera House
on January IS, 1911, when the remark
able Mr.. smirnofr was the Romeo ana
Miss Farrar the Juliet. Owing to the
extraordinary character Of Mr.. Smirnons
art the opera was retired the next morn
ing and no attempt has been made 10 re-
vve It,
There IL no startling novelty about It's
presentation in English, for II was In
the repertoire or the Castle Square opera
Company at the American Theatre II
IL not the most satisfying of works In the
| translation, for the sufficient reason
that the French text departs widely from
Shakespeare. and when this text Is turned
| into the language spoken In this land the
libretto disSloses itself as something
periousy near to literary bosh.
with all the advantages we are to gain
| from hearing operas in English We cannot
rejoice in the presence of the poor stun
so carefully enunciated By some or the
| singers last evening. The sensitive lover
Of Shakespeare must have wished at
| times that he could not hear syllable
| of the text Even the literal trans
Y
| "Ah, desespoir Capulet est son PEREZ.
/ by "Ah, despair! Capulet 10 her father"
could not be said to have captivating re-
suits.
| But let this vexed question rest for
| time. The performance brought credlt
to the Century Opera House. and this 10
the chief point. Ii was not finished
| performance and II was sadly lacking In
| style, but IL had certain musical excel
lences. There was the added M
terest OF Orville Hnrrold's first appearance
with the company. This took place despite
many loud assertions that 1t would not.
Mr.. Harold turned out to be n pretty
good looking Romeo, except when he was
trying to put his chin on his breast IN
accordance with some marvellous theory
Of tone production not yet rightly com,
pretended by such tenors as Caruso and
Bonci Mr.. Harrold's voice has not the
brilliant quality Il used to have and the
chin on the breast may possibly be re-
lated to this condition.
But he sang Romeo in tune. with some
= art In phrasing and nuance, ana win an
enunciation which must have satisfied
|. evey advocate OF opera in English
He let no syllable escape. lie II
:, a distinct acquisition at the Century
u because he has had good stage trainini
and knows how to get about and pose
. Beatrice la Paine was toleraoiy goot
o Jul,st She sang with more taste thar
> she has shown in some other roles an'
. was generally faithful to the pitch. Mr.
;. Chalmers was the Mercutio II can b
- said for him that his fresh voice wa
pleasing to hear and that he sang will
good intent but a complete Mercntt
!. has larger command OF the resources
!, OF the stage than this young singer ma
yet acquired.
:. Mr. Adkins was n respectable Cdpu'ei
" and MIR Kaufman wore the robe of Fra
- Laurence. James Davis was commend
-, able as Tybdt The staging OF the oper
Was good The scenery, costumes AN
ace, ssories were quite worthy of an oper
house conducted on the plan of the Cen
= ,ur, The audience WAS not large. bu
5 II seemed TO be well pleased.