Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-18
Balfe and English Opera.
WITH few exceptions, English opera

WITH few exceptions, English opera
was represented exclusively for
almost % years by Michael William
Balfe in the Victorian era. For some
peculiar reason the art of operate COM
posing had been nurtured in almost
every country on the European conti-
nent except Great Britain, until Bale
appeared on the scene. He composed
many operas which first saw light OF
day at the famous Drury Lane Theater
in London. Out Of all his works that
made him the toast of London town
he is only remembered today by The
Bohemian Girl"
Bale was born in Dublin during 1903
and came Of family who for genera
tons were associated with music. When
he was he was considered child
prodigy of the violin. He studied sing
ing and even participated in grand
opera in England. France and Italy. In
the latter country he also applied him.
self to composition. Returning home, he
devoted all his time TO composing; q
thorough knowledge of vocalization
stood him in excellent stead. It can
be argued that Balfe found a method
in avoiding the snares and pitfalls that
plague composers who seek hearing,
for he sedulously managed to collab-
crate with one Alfred Bum. the major
domo intrusted with the dictatorship
OF the Drury Lane Theater, and thus
eased himself into that institution with
less effort than it cost other composers.
Bunn's duties carried him to Paris
periodically. where he managed TO take
in almost every theatrical attraction on
display In this way he was always
posted on the newest stage innovations
promulgated by his brother managers
in France. Upon one of these occasions
when he crossed the Channel for
France he attended a ballet In three
acts, which was featured as The Gyp-
sy" on the play posters in Paris. This
was during the Summer of 1889 Bum
was of the opinion that the slender plot
of this ballet would serve admirably for
the text of a new opera at the Drury
Lane Theater. He was also under the
impression that the Frenchnan. whose
name was listed as author, was the
originator of the theme.
Upon his return to London Bum set
to work to elaborate upon THE Gypsy"
and when he finished an entirely new
libretto he turned it over to Balfe. The
latter was at least certain that the
opera would oe assured hearing at
the Drury Lane Theater. He went to
work at the task of supplying the tunes
to accompany the text. And it is not
too difficult to comprehend the facility
with which the composer accomplished
the score He mad an inexhaustible flow
Of melody and wrote smoothly and
gracefully.
Bum was at loss for name for
the completed opera. After discarding
a number of titles he finally settled
on THE Bohemian Girl" and as such
it was given to a listening world for
the first time on November 81, 1S43, at
the Drury Lare Theater. with the COM
poser welding the baton. It was on
that opening night that Bum learned
for the first time from a few erudite
critics that the central theme owed its
genesis to story by the immortal
author of Don QuiXote."
For a few nights The Bohemian
Girl" did not draw and Balfe went to
Paris, where he fulfilled other engage
ments But the theater was filling up
and the composer returned Immediately.
His opera created a sensation and soon
all London snatched up the melodies.
Balfe lived long enough to see THE
Bohemian Girl" staged In almost every
country in the world.
Copyright. 1927