Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-14
ADJUSTMENTS.

sembled last night on the opening of the
grand opera season, under the direction of
waiter Damrosch and Chas. A. Ellis. Rep
resentatives Of every phase of Washing
tons cosmopolitan society were present.
The diplomatic corps and the army and
navy were largely in evidence, and there
was nearly quorum of both houses of
Congress in the boxes and on the lower
floor. 1t was a society event in that re-
spect. and the brilliant costumes Of the la
dies, their jewels and their animation made
scene possible nowhere but in Washing
ton There is this difference between
washington and New York society at the
opera: Here, while society goes to the
opera chiefly as a duty, because it is "the
thing" and not to be seen at the opera
would be to argue oneself unknown, its
members, or most of them, have an appre-
citation and love for music and are willing
to listen and enjoy the work Of the per-
formers while the curtain Is up, and don't
interrupt them by loud and irrelevant con-
versation. 1t had been two years since
Washington had heard Italian opera, and
the lovers Of that melodic school had be-
come very anxious to again listen to it's
sweet strains. This was evident from the
fact that the balcony and gallery were
crowded to overlooking. and those who
were up there were the old lovers of music
and the musicians who, though not bur-
dened with an abundance Of wealth, freely
kind.
The great audience was not demonstrate
I'VE at first. There were many who were
disappointed in not hearing Rossinis Bar
Der, and the welcome to Melba, when she
made her first appearance as Violetta in
Verdfs La Traviata," was not over-warm.
1t was the respectful recognition of an art
ist and not the hearty welcome that would
be accorded an old acquaintance. And yet
before the first act was over Melba had
SO daZzled the people by the purity of her
tones, her brilliant vocaliZation and the
perfection of her method that the applause
became spontaneous and enthusiastic At
terward the demonstration of the audience
was a tribute to Melba. This great sing
er-undoubtedly the greatest now before
the public-seems to have improved since
she was last heard here in Romeo and
Juliet She is now apparently in the
zenith OF her glory. Her voice Is mature
menoW; resonant; her vocalization marvel
ously fluent and faultless in its accuracy;
ner precision of attack and her sustain
Ing quality wonderfully true and powerful
Melba last night also developed dra-
Her artistic work as an actress was recor-
nlzed as well as her pre-eminence as a
singer: VI course the rich vocal embroid-
cry OF the score was given with the rich
ness OF coioring and the sweetness of tone
tnat only Melbas voice could fmpart to it,
ana she gave renewed evidence of her
anilty as colorature vocalist. The "Ah
Fors LUZ and "Sempre LIBERIA were the
most brilliant, but in every number. wheth-
er solo or concerted, Melba was fully
equal to all the requirements and aroused
the most enthusiastic plaudits of the au-
dience.
fence was Campanari, whose rich yirile
baritone was heard with splendid effect in
the role OF Germont. An artist in the full
Gst sense OF the word Campanariss work
Dotn vocal and dramatic is always salts
lying. His singing of the "Di Proyenza"
was exquisite and fully deserved the an
pause 1t received. Salignac,. as Armand
aispiayed voice of good lyric quality and
ne sang with artistic expression, although
ne is handicapped by his size and some
mannerisms He is earnest and conscien-
tious In his work, and his limitations are
tnose OF power. Others in the cast did
sood work. although there was not much
allotted them, and the chorus sang with
good volume and effect. The orchestra
Mr.. Damroschs own organization, was in
every way competent and was ably con-
Quoted by Sig. Bimbon There should be
word of praise for the effort made by
the management to give some stage effect
me scenery wasn't what it should have
been. but it was better than the setting
usually given to Italian opera.
Ionlght Lohengrin' will be sung in
German, and Mr.. Damrosch will conduct
COLUMBIA THEATER-Mr. Roland
Reed and the players associated with him
last night proved to be more than clever
performers; they were benefactors. They
~ oNiuSu Oilc VI tHe lew entertainments thai
the present season has afforded which did
not compel the auditor to stife whatever
Intelligence he might possess in order to
De amused The Wrong Mr.. Wright Is
not lofty attempt. 1t is farce, pure and
simple, but an admirable specimen of its
kind. 1t owes it's existence to Mr. George,
ii. Broadhurst. who has proceeded indie
penoently OF European sources and evolved
his own plot. Therein THE Wrong Mr..
Wright Is again welcome historian as
sLrance that the public is not to depend
wholly upon adaptation. The complications
are worked out with ingenuity. The dia-
! logue is distinctly humorous, but there is
| no apparent effort to be funny. The COM
| edy flows easily from the situations them
selves. The auditor waits in vain for the
| overturning Of sofas, the crash Of crock
cry or for some one to swing across the
STANCE on wire. And the audience did
not evince the slightest regret over the alb
sence of these accessories.
The excellent work Of the company was,
OF course an important consideration. Mr..
Reeds acquaintance with the play-going
public Is of long standing. In THE Wrong
Mr.. Wright" he does creditable service,
| not only in his own part Of the familiar
stage old gentleman who is ''unbottling the
repressed hilarity of years." but he brings
| to prominent attention some people of no.
| table cleverness. Mr.. Bert Coote in his i'm
PRESERVATION OF a self-admiring, impudent
but amiable young nobleman gets far away
from conventional lines. and gives a char
| acter picture which Is the most enjoyable
thing of its general sort since Birdie the
Lamb"
Mr. Sheridan Upper gave an amusing in
| depreciation of the part of a sanctimonious
old gentleman. and Mr.. Charles 8. Abbey
was animated and human in the role of the
nephew who Is prone to overdraw his al
lowance The male contingent is excep-
tionally strong. OF the ladies, Miss Isadore
Rush manages to make the character of
a bustling tailor-made female detective low
able, and Miss Maud White was vivacious
and attractive as the maid, who by mas
querading as her mistress wins a titled
husband. While comparatively unpreten-
tious as dramatic or literary effort. there
are no rough edges in the piece or in its
performance. The plot works out to con-
illusions which are not commonplace and
| which are. for all the purposes of farce,
quite logical The audience was highly
amused, and the straightforward and COM
petent manner in which 1.-The Wrong Mr..
Wright" undertakes to give an equivalent
in amusement for the receipts at the box
office will doubtless be appreciated.
THE NATIONAL.-"Shorc Acres WAS
the play last night at the National, and
Mr. Ias Herne its author appeared. as