The Washington times., 1908-12-08
AIDA RENDITION
MEETS APPROVAL
AbramSon Company Prom
iseS Fruitful Week Of
Italian Opera
PRODUCTION RANKS
HIGH MUSICALLY
Capable Soloists Backed Up Ably
by Efficient Singers in Second
airy Roles.

Surprisingly good opera was presented
last night at the Belasco Theater at the
regular prices Of that playhouse. The
impresario Is Ivan AbramsOn, a Rus
Sian, his repertoire for the week Is made
I'D exclusively of Italian operatic COM
positions, his leading performers if
gagged by yesterdays rendition OF
Aida are entirely adequate. and the
patronage promises to be not only
numerous but socially noteworthy.
Aida is Verdfs musical declaration
of independence. "Ernani' and "Rigo-
letto." however rich in melody and Wig
Orous IN method. yet reveal this COM
posers early subordination to the prev
alent style Of the school of Donizetti
and BeIlinL Solo. aria. duet. trio, quar-
tet, chOrus-on so those operas with
hardly a variation from the elementary
dance rhythms of the NeapoEtans.
But this work was a commission. a
task accepted from the Khedive, and
the Egyptian subject, with the riotous
color and religion Of symbolism, lured
Kim away from conventionaIity into an
idealization of the old aria, excursions
into the resources Of Instrumentation.
and true dramatic expression Aida"
alton to later Italians and its iuilu-
ence can be traced through the works
Of Mascagni, LeOneavellO and PUCciuL
"Otello" Is perhaps the highest
achievement Of this composer drauati-
cally, but no went Tar enough in Aida"
10 require Of the AbTaclEon stars hlatri-
CniC abilities Of The highest order. Ii is
not too much TO say that in this respect
satisfactory. Nine Thcrry ana III. Bari
quite fulfill the dramatic requirements
as to Aida and Radarres. Through the
long aTiss and duets they maintain the
Illusion OF emotion with continued sue
cess But they do not quite attain TO-
the brilliant perfOrmance-brillian with
whatever such impersonation II may ne
compared-of NJ. Pacini as Amonasro.
Washington has been required to pay
more than twice the prices of this en-
gGscment for a performance Of an opera
OF this same class without any single
imTersOnation Of so high a standard as
this by an Italian unheralded and 10 US
practically unknown.
Afusically. the performance warranted
the support Of the whole body OF our
music lovers. Aida and Radames were
did voice and training justice until
the first act was well under way. Then
the former disclosed herself as a Gra-
matte soprano OF power and senslbHity.
whose voice is clear and true and whose
training has been broader than the
Opera ComIque OF Paris, from which in
stitution she comes to America Like
NJ. Bari, however, and Ike nlue-tenths
OF the stars Of the Metropolitan and
Manhattan companies, she has had
trained out Of her voice all its person
ality. NJ. Bari sings with grace and Tea-
sOnable ease, has an adequate range,
and strikes his high notes with bell-Ilke
CleaTness.
The secondary roIes-Amneris, con
tralto: AmOnsarO, baritone; Ramphis.
bass. and the king. baSs-fOuud rather
more than less favor. Mile. Strauss,
an American girl. quite auured her
compatrIots out Of a realization that
into comparatively little volume
In its lower register and re
vealed no new beauties as 1t ascend
ed above Its middle tones. She has
marked personal beauty, however, wore
her robes as daughter TO EEypt's king
with modest grace. and altogether filled
the picture. NJ. Pacinis Amonsaro
was almost as noteworthy VOcally as
dramatically. His was indeed an un.
usually rounded. operate embodiment.
Mr.. Gravini was the priest, and a rare
ality as well as tone, cOlOred as pleas
urably as his robes, and responsive 70
truly artistic feeling.
The orchestra played beautifully--sc
beautifully that the trumpeters in tbs
triumphal march Of Scene ,, Act ?, vii
require more rehcaTSiug to keep within
the musical picture. 1t Is too much q
expect that when the score requires
uOmbOnes and baritone horns they car
be made TO look Egyptian. But IL would
help maintain the rather striking pic
ture which Mr.. AbramSon has created
for this scene If such instruments were
not brought into plain view
Dramatically and musically, then. the
performance Of Aida" was most com
mendable. It is hard to speak Of Il
scenicalIy without creating an effect oi
discredit wholly unfair. The opera was
indeed. well mounted. The Capital has
submitted 10 COStuming Of the same
grade and stage-Settings Of a lower
grade, at higher prices and without pro-
test But IL yet true that the super
numerarleS We're not carefully atured
some OF the wigs and boards were wOrT
loosely, and other details o. the inVesu
ture were sighted For ali or Whlch
as far as the audience could determine
the blame lay with stage managers
rather than with impresariO.
But these are not items OF importance
70 the seat buyer who loves music. The
crowded gallery and balconies Of last
night gave them no attention. The
chief figures Of the opera musiCally
and dramatically. focused their atten'
IiOn- And they were rewarded by q
performance as much a bargain at the
prices they asked as a loaf of bread al
Inree cents Iheir gauge of the OFFER
ing seemed to be about this Cand IL
Is as good as any)- That performances
Of corresponding operas in this CITY
supported v miEhtier names and heaVi.
er taxes have been not so goOd-and
better. ALLEN D. ALBERT, jr.
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