The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-12-26

OF all the music in New York and
every other ciyt every season, month.
week. day or even hour, ii L. passing
strange that one form is entirely ie-
iored. 1t If the opperetta. We have
IN vaudeville many delightful little
piaylets We have in magazines many
excellent shcrt stories, and we have
verse Of like character. but nowhere
the short crera. In New ork the
American singers Opera company is
presenting interesting REVEALS of light
operas, the Gilbert ana Sullivan group,
de koven, Herbert and others, but
except in one or two Isolated cases
such as Maid Mistress W. do not
hear them any more in little operas
And yet IS was this form In which
Trey were born and received their first
nctice. New York, happily. is more
fortunate this year than 1t has been
The Theagrr Parisien, n new NAV
house where the French language is
used in presenting dramatic and lyric
q productions some excellent short
operas are Icing done. "Chonchette"
WAS one, and it was as delightful as
it way uYffnue. This week another
short musical PITY is being presented
In combination with the comedy And
the treat is considera BILE Richard
bi
theater. is an American imprcssario
with intelligence, and ne has sensed
the value II this form of musical art
and his dear may be folliwed by
others. Tho lack of this style Of
musical entertainment Is indefensa Bile
from every point. and 1t ia remarka bic
that no studied effort has feen made
to bring the subject properly before
music lovers of the country Grand
opera is almost prohibitive TO all save
the elect OF the larger cities, but these
little operettns may be given without
undue EXPENSE throughout the United
States
Madame Marguerite sylvia. the most
cosorful &C lrmen' OF recent years. be-
iievcs that tie I1nitde States is losing
inc great advantage 1t derived music
al'yduring the war 1t IL recalled tina.
TINS country met the musical demand
as II met every other demand during
these trviar days Now that. the
world victory has been won, Il an
pears that we have fallen again into
N'usical lethargy. we deserve only
that which we fight for" Madame
sylvia nilitantly declares. This NAV
be due to the fact that she is married
to aTnous Tnitde States Marine Coros
officer. Major Bernard l. Smith. "If
The great advantage vhic hthis ~onn
try GAINED by presenting her nausirs |
nest - not followed un. all will be lost
ana n 1t Is, the fault viii lie not with
thoso who have established Ariaerjcar
musical SUPREMACY here and else
where. but nv those who should give
this encousa cement anr support" 7.
~ matter Of universal regret that tho
beautiful voice III this beautiful wo-
wan has been temporarily si1snred
while he acts for the inevitable
movies. But her charge activities
VIII do murn tn convince the renera1
pnhlic that In SYLVIA the dramatic STA ye
lost one Of its greatest emotional, ac-
tresses while the operate stage was
proportinnatelv benefited In noint
or TACT 1t Is generally tried out that
the o@"ra STAGE hnd no actresses who
can FOG. or her sin~ine little need
ne said, AMI those who have loved
ner IN opera will now be per,nittnd IN
500 how great Ia her htstrionic A.,
denied 80 they win be-, the beauty ri
h"r voice FOR the nonce