Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-12
MUSIC

uS HOtdUIe efeHt VI tLc WeSh "do LILO
series Of presentations by the Metropolitan
Grand Opera Company at the New Ma
tional Theater to an unprecedented pa
tronage 1t was not only a social but a
popular event Of exceptional Importance.
The hunger in this city for musical enter
tainment of a higher character than that
vouchsafed by tho promoters Of musical
comedy has been Enthusiastically expressed.
The eagerness to hear individual singers
in concert left small doubt Of an en-
thusiastic welcome to performance which
would offer the attractions Of orchestral
accompaniment as well as scent, and dra-
matte attractions combined with those Of
musical Interpretation. The opening per-
formance Of Faust" was by no means the
achievement that THE Barber Of Seville"
ON the following evening proved. 1t was
delight to see the erstwhile heroes and
heroines of somber tragedy forget their
woes and frolic- through the mirthful mel
odies of Rossini like butterflies in the sun
shine There is decided development of
musical interest in Washington along jul
dicious and wholesome lines. and 1t is
quite possible that the national capital
will eventually come to hold something Of
the same rank in musical matters that it
does in other branches Of culture. The
most discerning appreciation of music. ac-
cepting mediocri:g on some occasions with
charitable tolerance in lieu of better
things, and not failing to give genuine
merit it's just recognition.
There were in the performances of the
Metropolitan Opera Company several of
those little episodes which appeal irresisti-
bly, to the sense of the ludicrous, and which
can scarcely be averted when an enterprise
OF much magnitude is undertaken for
single performance. In Carmen" the
supernumeraries who presented themselves
as picadors and matadors in the last act
were so groteSquely un-Spanish and had
such an unmistakable Pennsylvania avenue
trudge in their marching That for moment
the picture collapsed. The incongruity was
feeting impression, however, for the
splendid performance Of Calve and her asso-
ciates in the cast speedily restored the at
mosphere of sincerity. Faust suffered its
usual fate in the last act 1t seems impos-
sible to present spectacular climax in this
opera with fitting dignity And when sing
ers are provided competent to do Justice TO
the vocal requirements the scenic accou-
trements are of such subordinate import
ance that to criticise them is sheer cayilling
Yet the caviller must have his fling and the
could not fail to note that in the transfor-
nation scene in which the angels welcome
Marguerite, la Little Eva the failure to
properly adjust the canvas cloud left the
rough pine rafters of heaven gIaringly and
unconvincingly exposed.
x x
Mr.. William Collier was presented bv Mr.
Charles F'rohman in play by Mr. Richard
Harding Davis at the Columbia Theatar
winch Is under the management of Mr. To-
seph Luckett. Gone are the DAYS when tho
thoughtlessly familiar populace was wont
10 speak of Willie Collier" Charlie Froh
man and, in the ranks of utter philis
tinlsm of 'Dickie Davis" 1t is almost in
cfeoipie now to think that such irreyerencas
were attempted by any man without the
Sods pelng ready with all their thunderbo1ts
10 uash MN TO pieces. Mr.. Luckett desnite
MS distinctions as impresario, is still IA
hlhariy referred to by number of peonIe
as Joe, put perchance the coming season
OF productions under his direction will
change this. too. Mr. Collier proved the vi
Vacious and agreeable comedian that no
always is His play, THE Dictator, doos
not call for any extraordinary RANCE ot
eHiotioh- lis hero is the type of frank and
tenoy "4tted man that Mr.. Collier delights
10 portray, and portrays so we'll
x X
Mr. James K Hackett once ,,oro -.
peaied before crowds of admirers as ,
sentimental hero with dash of satiricaI
huihof. His business at the LAFAYETTE The
ater was extraordinarily large and the an
plause prolonged and loud