Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-08-20
New National,

The Aborn Opera Company presented
Verdis I'll Trovatore" at the National
Iheater last night in an eminently salts
factory and pleasing manner. Last nights
was the one hundredth performance
OF the summer season by this clever
company, and this being the closing
week of the season. aside from the natural
attractiveness Of verdis wonderful opera,
brought out large audience which was
particularly generous with its applause.
1t was only after much thought and con-
tention that the management decided to
use III Trovatore" with which to bring
lts successful summer season to q trium-
phant close. The selection was in reality
made by the many loyal regulars" who
nave been constant in their attendance dur
Ing the season. The only expression Of re-
greet. however. was the fact that a number
OF the singers who have appeared regularly
throughout the season are not in the cast
Estele wentworth, who has made q SPLEEN
did Impression here during the summer
opera season. meets all expectations in the
delightful role of Leonora. Her fine So
prano voice certainly was never heard to
better advantage and she portrayed the
character of the much-loved Leonora with
grace and expression. In spite of this
great triumph she is compelled to share
the honors with Edith Bradford whose por-
trayal of Azucena, the gypsy, was excel
lent, and Harry Luckstone, as Count Di
Luna.
Miss Bradford has done much good work
during the local engagement Of the Aborn
company. but she eclipsed all her former
performances by her singing and acting
last night. enact1ng her role with a marked
feeling. She was probably at her best in
the last act when she sang the famous
prison duet with Manrico, the troubadour
Joseph Fredericks as Manrico was pleas
Ing. but not quite equal to the successful
rendering of the famous role. Fredericks
possesses a soft clear tenor voice, which
at times Is a trif1e ''throaty' and which
made his part in the great "Miserere" with
was during this duet and the one which
Immediately followed with Count Di Luna
that Miss Wentworth scored her greatest
success during the evening
Harry LuckstOne was very effective in the
role Of the count. and his vocal efforts
were one of the most pleasing features Of
the performance. His baritone voice is rich
and has a wonderful range. His acting
was skillful and convincing. Luckstone is
without doubt the best male singer that
has been with the Aborn company during
the summer season.
Arthur Wooley Of Castle Square Opera
Company fame, and well known to the To-
cal theatergoers. is engaged for the part Of
Fernando the genial and loyal follower Of
the conspiring count. Others who made up
the excellent cast were William Loughram,
as Ruiz. the friend and follower of Man
rico; Nella Shayne. as Inez, the attendant
to Leonora- and c. w. Phillips, a gypsy
Altogether the performance was exception
ally good and satisfying.
In celebration of the one hundredth per-
Torrance the management presented every
woman patron of the theater with an auto
graph photograph Of Miss Wentworth. Mr.
Long, the press representative Of the
theater, also presented handsome booklet
descriptive Of the summer season and con-
tanning photographs of every person who
appeared in the casts during the season.
This booklet Is souvenir and Is in honor
of the closing week.