The Washington times., 1903-01-21
GRAND OPERA HEARD
BY BRILLIANT AUDIENCE
G0unOd' S philemon ct Bau-
els Presented at Lafayette.

fore enc OF the most brilliant audiences
the Capital has ever assembled. Every
seat in the JheatCr was sold. The pro
ceedz. which we're as near net profit
as practical circumstances permit. go
10 the benefit of the Cooper i've Sew
ing Society. and the social success Of
The entertainment was in large measure
due to the active support OF ladies
of fashion who are concerned IN the
maintenance or that institution.
The performance was heraIded as an
Interpretation of the opera under the
personal direction of Maurice Grau. It
proved to be a presentation of four
soloists of the Metropolitan Grand
Opera Company. q chorus Of local choir
singers under the direction Of local
chotrmaster. and an orchestra sufficient
~ heavy for the light music of this
work coInDetentIy directed by VI, Flon.
also of the Metropolitan Company.
Musically. the evening was thus less
distinguished th6n it was Notable social
ly, but the performance was neveTthe-
less pleasing and agreeable. and no
doubt satisfied 20 the full the require
ments of such an auditory.
Philemon ct Baucis," in its present
form. presents the four characters of the
myrh-PniIemon. Baucis. Jupiter and
VuIcan-in two acts. and relates in dia-
logue, song and action the free h0spi-
tally Of the peasants. Jupiter's graft
tGde. his reward Of renewed youth and
great worldly prosperity, his love for
Baucis and her mild Irritation, and I'm
ally. their willingness to resume their
aged and weakened bodies for the sake
Of their old happiness. which Jove re-
stores without depriving them Of their
youth. The early events are enacted in
the hut Of Philemon. the others in
palace. created for them by the gods.
The variations from the text of Ovid
viii be manifest to those who know the
latteT's works; others viii not be great
" interested TO have them indicated.
The opera was first sung in Paris In
1850. For this performance the inves-
titure was generally acceptable, but was
sadly married by the use Of a curtain
which bore an advertisement.
Nine. Seyga-d as Baucis. NJ SaIgnac
as Philemon, II. Journet as Jupiter. and
Heathe Gregory as Vulcan comprised
the cast The chorus. which has but
two numbers and does not appear on
the stage, sang its seant score effect
lively under the direction Of L. z. Can
non
Under the limitations imposed ty the
opera the principals sang with mod
crate effect.
The work is TT representative of
GOunod at his test--it is light. unin-
teresting in form, uadistinguished by
musical Inspiration and except for its
interest as a comedy without dramatic
merit; bat it is also melodic. richly
harmonic as Gounods writings are in
variably harmonic. and never disagree
able. Manifestly such composition
requires unusual histrionic and vocal
ability to give II much interest. and
these qualities were not present last
night
Instead, Nine Seygard sang accepta-
bly,, NJ. Salignac agreeabIy. Mr.. Gregory
with force and spirit. and n. Journet
alone with the command and ease ex-
pected from singers of this high rank.
Nine Seygard's song in the second act.
which Gounod designed as the chief op-
poTtunity for the soprano. displayed her
training and developed the good quality
OF her voice which was muGIed and uu-
certain during the first scenes. As has
already been indicated, however. she was
cordially applauded by her hearers. N.
SaIignac acted with some skill NJ
Gregory. whose appearance here was his
local debut in opera, was much applaud
ed for spirited. forcefuI. entirely com
petent delivery Of his one noteworthy
oGering-the solo in which Vulcan ex-
ults over his heavy hammers and roar
ing furnace fires underground. The
Jupiter of the evening more than looked
his part-he sang forcefuIIy, enunciated
clearly and acted with fine intelligence /
But the real show was offered by those
in front OF the footIights- The entire
orchestra and the mezzantne tier Of
boxes were Respondent with brilliant
tOile-tes. The spectacle recalled the
greeting extended Nine. CaIve on her
first Washington appearance as Carmen.
In one Of the mezzanine boxes were Mrs [
GAt}f}7F-F =lt t+ti'4 Eotliat}4 anu WI LUIGI
Near them sat Senator and Mrs Wet
more. the Postmaster General and Mrs !
Payne, Major General and Mrs. Corbin
and the Misses Patten, Mrs. Audeuried, (
General and Mrs. Draper, Mr. and Mrs /
BGardman. and Col and Mrs. Henry
May Elsewhere were Senator Dryden, .
Senator Kean. 1Ir. and Mrs. John R !
Mclean. the Assistant Secretary of War
and Mrs. Sanger. Mrs. d. p Morgan. /
Harry Tbaw. Mr. and Mrs Herbert
Wadsworth. Mr.. and Mrs. Thomas F +
Walsh. Mr. and Mrs. James Wadsworth. 7
Mrs Warder. Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Spen-
Ger. and many members Of the Diplo- /
matte Corps. Jewels gItttered every /
where and the gowns most in evidence /
were strikingIy rich. The assembly had /
rather the air and was apparently more /
moved by the spirit of fashionable /
function than of a gathering of music T.
lovers. In consequence the inteEmission /
OF more than half an hour was entirely +
acceptable. and was improved by gen
araI visiting among the occupants of the !.
boxes. A. d. A.
pOPTUGUEC ST RHTNTCTFP or WAp