AN ENGLISH OPERA.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1521, 17 August 1912, Page 11

AN ENGLISH OPERA.

"CHILDREN OF DON." Mr. Hammerstein has produced an English opera, writes the musical critic of an English newspaper, and the work is worth all elso he has given since he came to London. When all Mr. Hammersteiivs other labours here are buried in oblivion musical chroniclers will still remember the production of Lord Howard de Waldea's and Mr. Josef Holbrooke's Celtic music-drama "The Children of Don." Immeasurably the most musical opera yet heard at tho London Opera House (Chapentier's "Louise" may be left asido as an exception), and furthermore staged with a distinction and artistic care that surprise- and charm, "The Children of Don" is decidedly the most important English opera ever produced. It is the first English opera to be, at the time of its production, abreast of the technique and general movement of tho foreign musicworld. • Londoners need not now blush when they hear of Busoni's operas produced at Hamburg, Schonberg's at Vienna, and those of Dukas at Paris. This is not saying that "Tho Children of Don" is an imr;ortal masterpiece. But it is a work which it is the duty of the serious English music-lover to listen to seriously. For two subsidiary reasons alone tho opera is eminently worth hearing. First there is the novel pleasure, of hearing English sung. True, that mistakes made both by author and composer have largely squandered the. aid of the invaluable principle of opera in the vernacular, but had not the language used been English I do not believe the audience would have stayed,to the end, much less have created the scene of enthusiasm that followed. Then there were the singularly harmonious and poetic scenery and dresses of Mr. Sime (whose name was not on tho programme). Each of the six scenes had a beauty, a mood, a decorative feeling that comforted the eye, and the costumes all bore the stamp of a true artist's hand —even that of Lyd, the sea-god, who was barely seen until he came before the curtain for applause. Unforgettably beautiful was the scene of the Druidic temple in Act IT. with its mystic hemic-cle of gaunt triliths, and agnin the rocky coast and dim cliffs in the last act. Adequately to describe the music, is in restricted space, impossible. But on the whole I cheerfully affirm that it is the | ugliest opera I have over heard. Of course this does not mean,that it is not noble in poetry, admirable in style, and loftv in aim, sentiment and effect 'some of "the finest things in all the arts are the ugliest). The essential attraction and charm in this music lie sheerly and simply in sonority and in the conflict and contrast of sonorities. The opera lasted from 7.30 till 11,15. At the end came a scene of enthusiasm such as has never before been seen in Mt. Hammerstcin's opera house. The singers were recalled during about ten minutes. Mr. Nikish was compelled to appear, apparently against his will. But neither author nor composer came forward.