Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-03-10
BEIIRENS OPERA CLUB
REVIVES COMIC OPERA
Lortzing's "Czar and Carpen-
ter" Yields the Pleasures of
Mirth and Melody

The Behrens Opera Club renewed Phil
adelphias acquaintance with Gustav AL
beff LortzinE last night by n highly cred
table revival of Car and Zimmerman"
itshouid be called Gear and Carpenter"
in consideration of the fact that the per-
formance like that OF all given by this
organization OF unsel1sh endeavor and
laudable purpose, was sung In English.
The metropolitan Opera House this time
the scene of the activities of the society,
formed by his associates of many years
standing to keep green the memory Of
Siegfried Behrens. The production marked
an artistic advance II was made under
direction of John Curtis and was the 34th
opera In English to be written down to
his managerial credit.
Surely in n whole cltyful there should
be an ample audience for such romantic
and tuneful work Last nights house"
could hardly be called scant. absolutely.
but Il certainly did not count up" so
largely as the merits of the enterprise.
which Is strictly non-commercial, de-
served. Possibly only Mailer symphonies
and Metropolitan Opera can draw
crowd here.
The nature of the plot is fairly divulged
In the alternative titles of Gear and
Carpenter" and "The Two Peters" 1t
VIII be familiar to those of the older
generation who were taught out of
was used by Bouilly, Gretry and other
composers Lortzing took as the basis Of
his libretto a one-time favorite German
farce, THE Mayor of Saardam, or Prince
and Carpenter" The third act, however
was entirely original with him. He him.
self sang the buffo role when the work
was first given December 90, 1897. He
was forced to piece out the meagre stl.
ponds awarded composers of his day in
the German "Kleinataaterei" opera houses
by taking turn at song and comedy. II .
Is of record that his honorarium for Gear I
and Carpenter" was what now amounts to
$50. Still, that was more than Schubert
received for some Of his immortal lieder
Previous to It's January. 1910, produc-
tIon the work was tolerably familiar here
Caroline Richings used to sing Marie in
IL in English. The German company
which for years performed at Mrs. Drews
old theatre in Arch street gave il tre-
quently. AS produced last night It would
have pleased even the critical Kaiser with
whom 1t was favorite until Russia got
into the world war.
The libretto is founded on the we'll
known tradition that Peter " " .'.Nw.
,alled the First and the Great in history
m an attempt to better himself fer his Job
rs the Little Father Travelled about the
world seeking knowledge in the various
arts and crafts AT Saardam, in the Low {
Countries, he became shipwright. Work.
ng In the same yard was a Russian mr.. ,
'enter, also named Peter, who deserted
he army. Considerable confusion of
IDENTIFY ensues. This is promoted by in I
rigueing foreign diplomats anxious to
nveigle the emperor into alliances with q
heir respective countries. A romantic
ttachment for the dunderhead Dutch
pretty niece, Marie. on the
art of the humble Peter adds further
omplications. Amid MISUNDERSTANDING
the familiar. farcical kind, sentimental
assages and agreeable melodies, the mar
alive moves to happy conclusion after the
lconsequent logic of comic opera.
Old fashioned in comedy and compost
on. yet the opera has a pretty mirth
nd melodious score of naive sort There
a good duet for the Car and Marie, II
ne tenor solo, and a seXtet that is really
masterpiece of skilled part writing. Rus
ell Sppuance. u baritone of smooth rich
dice and pleasing personality, as Peter
he Great, and Katharine r. G.. Wales, u
ociety woman, and founder of-the Opera
lub. of Wilmington. Del, as Marie, were
cry effective in the duet. Mrs. Wales
as sprightly and vocalIy ingratiating.
ohm b. Becker was agreeable in voice
nd divertng in action as Peter Iwanoff
Henry Gurney's tenor, Of professional
Deratic quality, was delight In the
leasure allotted to the French Ambassa-
orrand his fellow diplomats of Russia
h0 ANAibiehiAN "NAN "NShusANSiS BtA 'OlltiNtu
v Frederick Hackenburger and George
Mahl. The ludicrOus burgomaster ful.
He'd the demand of comedy in the hands
{ Rudolph Sternburg, and Ethel O. Bait
ell was good as the mistress OF the ship
ard. Karl Schneider won deserved ap-
lause for his work as conductor. The
aliet performed some picturesque and ap-
ropriate Incidental dances, and the
horus. trained by Stanley AIuschamp was
in every respect w. r. NJ.
wrrux1 mo M, mnrep,,r,,rD,