Life, 1914-02-12 · page 8 of 44
Life — February 12, 1914 — page 8: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page discusses a revival of Balfe's "Bohemian Girl," an old English opera performed at the Century Opera House. The article praises the opera's sentimental and humorous qualities, quoting philosophical lines from the libretto about wealth and freedom. The illustrations show scenes from the opera: a domestic moment between characters (top right), and a dramatic winter scene labeled "OH, THE COLD AND CRUEL WINTER!" (bottom left). The text describes plot points involving characters named Arline (the heroine), Thaddeus, and the "Gipsy Queen," discussing their dialogue and dramatic conflicts. The article concludes by advocating for performing original English operas rather than translating foreign works. The author is signed "S.S."
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
260 “LIFE: tr Opera in English & y Ww can't we hear more of the old English 4" 2 operas? The revival of Balfe’s “Bo- hemian Girl” at the Century Opera House has revealed a mass of unsuspected jewels, not only of true and beautiful sentiment, but of humor and tragedy as well. The mere reading of the libretto, rolling forth its gripping story in melodi- ous measures, inspires one with a speechless rever- ence for the past. What homely philosophy is contained in the utterances of the gipsy chorus! For example: “Ob, what is the worth of the richest man’s wealth, Which the chances are likely he came to by stealth— Unless he can rove abroad in the free air, As free as are we, from all sorrow and care?” The nobility of Count Arnheim literally drips from his speech to the crowd, in defense of Thaddeus: “If from your wrath I venture to have craved The life of one my more than life who saved,” etc. No wonder the chorus answers with enthusiasm: BEYOND REPAIR “Be every hand prepared 5, Their liege lord's hall to guard, With devotion whose bond All ties is beyond.” accused of theft, and Thaddeus rushes to her side with the words: The dramatic climax comes when Arline, the heroine, is “ He who a hand would on her lay, Through my heart must force his way.” At which Arline answers, with upcast eyes: “To all who their belief have lent, Heaven can attest I am innocent.” The sudden appearance of the villainous Gipsy Queen strikes terror to the heart of the innocent girl: “To all but vengeance dead, She stands mine eyes before! Its thunders waiting on my head In all her hate to pour.” Seeing, however, that the thunders have changed their aim in the direction of Thaddeus, she cries with sudden resolution : “The burning torrent I will stem, And him I live for shield.” Count Arnheim is still inclined to disapprove of the match: “Child! Arline! Will thou darest thou heap A stain thine after life will beweep, On these hairs by thee and sorrow bleached, On this heart dishonor never reached?” If we can find this sort of thing in an original English libretto, why go to the trouble of making translations from other languages? “Ol, THE COLD AND CRUEL WINTER!” SS. comicbooks.com