excerpt from 'Thirty Years of Musical Life in London, 1870-1900' pp. 285-6 (209 words)
excerpt from 'Thirty Years of Musical Life in London, 1870-1900' pp. 285-6 (209 words)
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Not that Augustus Harris left a stone unturned to direct to a successful issue the policy and the task bequeathed him by Carl Rosa. He signalized the very first year after his old partner's death by arranging for the company to renew its Easter visit to Drury Lane. Rosa had commissioned Frederic Cowen after his return from Australia to write an opera expressly for him. The libretto was supplied by Mr. Joseph Bennett, who, knowing the composer's fondness for Scandinavian color, founded his plot upon an episode in the ancient Icelandic tale of “Viglund the Fair." Cowen's “Thorgrim" was duly produced at Drury Lane on April 22,— some thirteen and a half years after Carl Rosa had brought out his “Pauline" at the Lyceum,— with Zelie de Lussan, Barton McGuckin, and Frank Celli in the principal parts. The Prince of Wales, to whom the work was dedicated, attended the first performance with the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh; and the composer conducted an admirable rendering of his opera. Yet, despite a cordial reception, ”Thorgrim" failed quite to hit the mark, and the effect of its many beauties was lost because of a story too unattractive and too undramatic to appeal to the popular taste. |
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