ne th—Time, 30.47. Win, $1450.
$44.40.
It is the theory held by many, which no doubt has excellent foundations, that "Lo Bourgeois Gentilhomme" 1s one of Strauss's best works. Anyway, one does not come out of it with blood-shot eyes and a headache as with many of the operas. In this york there is humour, nay wit which is one better, subtleties, great economy of orchestral means and finally, a Strauss who cocks a snook at himself, This is to be seen in the Banquet when, among other things, the sheep from his symphonic poem "Don Quixote" are served up as the lamb course. The orchestra played the whole of this difficult and delightful work in an exemplary manner.
"Lo Bourgeois Gentilhomme" is written for a chamber orchestra and with the parts and complications involved it is natural that a good deal of the music is played by solo instruments, This also occurs in that first class joke, Ibert's "Divertissement" (which we hope may be re-L|played in the near future just for the sheer fun of it). Call this play-body music, if you will, it is exceedingly funny and clever. The orchestra of sixteen members was superb.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.