Directed by JOSEPH MUSCANT
From THE COMMODORE THEATRE, HAMMER-
SMITH
A LTHOUGH the United States claimed him as a citizen, Victor Herbert was an Irishman by descent, a grandson of the Irish author and composer, Samuel Lover. Herbert spent most of his life in New York and was principal violoncellist in more than one of the great American orchestras: His first compositions were for his own instrument, and many of these are still counted as welcome additions to the 'cellist's rather scanty repertoire. For some years he was a Military Bandmaster, and then went to Pittsburg to conduct the Symphony Orchestra there; but in 1904, in his forty-fifth year, he resigned his post to give himself up to composition, mainly of light operas and operettas. He produced in all no fewer than thirty-five of these, as well as grand operas and important cantatas. His music is all melodious and graceful, with no suggestion that he ever had to strive for. effects or to search for ideas. Mainly of the light and immediately pleasing order-what the Germans would call ' music of entertainment '-Herbert's is still rightly esteemed by all whose task it is to compile popular and melodious programmes.