Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-08
A N U S E N E N T S
Belasco.


Music for music lovers is the avowed
purpose of the enterprise under the man.
agement of Ivan Abramson. whose re-
suits are now in process of demonstra-
ton at the Belasco Theater. However
valuable the plaudits of cult or fashion
MAJ be. music for the vast public is the
dream as dear to the composer and the
| impressario as salary Is to the individual
singer. Only operas of long-provcd pcpu-
larity are being presented during the
Abramson engagement; operas which
have been known and loved for many
years, and which as better known are
loved the more. To hear these works
we'll sung is treat fo- which the pub
lie is usually willing to pay literally,
and their competent perfor nance at "A
scale of prices which. when the pay roll
OF any company qualified to sing grand
opera Is considered, must be rated as
conservative. should e icit exceptional in
tereSt.
Aida is work dear TO the heart of
the impressario The public rarely
responds with the interest which the cx-
tensive preparation involved would seem
to justify but the opportunities it affords
for scenic splendor orchestral detail
brilliant ensemble and vocal splendor by
the principal singers proves an irresistible
fascination to tho producer. Ii Aida has
spending penalties in the difficulties in
securing for a single performance the
harmonious cooperation of the varied ele-
ments which contribute to make it at once
a work Of musical grandeur. dramatic
power and spectacular gorgeousness
1t was cast of fine quality that
responded to an enthusiastic curtain call
at the close OF the second act: one which
had proved itself fully equipped for the
task of interpreting the melodies which SO
Hr~1,f pI
despite the wealth OF other claims. the
chief attraction of the opera. 1t was upon
the work of these principals that the
opera, despite the fact that it is WORK
OF great ensemble effects. that last night s
performance was mainly dependent for
the applause SO abundantly bestowed The
Italian love for broad sympathetic quality
of tone was manifest.
Although Nine. Therry sang the title
role in French. she gave performance
of dramatic interest. AS well as vocal
power. y figure of prime Importance was
Bari, the tenor, who is the poSSeSsor OF
a voice which has wonderful robust vi
tally. combined with sweetness :. Hex
Utility. Mile. G. Strauss, as Anneris, Is
a soprano of unusual accomp SaInents,
singer OF studious and satisfying at
talnments and possessed also of gOOdly
degree of temperament. There We're mo-
ments when she seemed in danger of
being overwhelmed by the volume. which
mand. but she invariably rose equal to
the occasion. AS excellent piece OF work
was done by Pacini as Amonaseo. and
Gravini was fully equal to the demands
Of the role of the high priest.
The prolonged duet between AmDeris
and Radames in the third act was splen-
didly done, and was of itself sufficient
to compensate by vocal excellence for
any deficiency of finish in some of the
features which relate to novelty and dis
play rather than to intrinsic quality.
The feminine portion of the cnorus WAS
in abrupt contrast to the beNics of show
girls who have been accustomed to mo-
nopoize the stage for some time, and
did not entirely compensate by artistic
proficiency for their formidable lack of
cOmeliness. The ballet was no more than
a pretext for the rendition by the orches-
ira under the direction of Signor Merola
of the music which pertains to these
scenes and which constitutes essential
feature of the opera. The brass band
whose members were permitted the an
achronfsms OF spectacies and printed mu-
sic did not meet their responsibilities with
the secure proficiency which was to be
looked for in the performance of music
which ought to be So familiar.
1t was to the cast of singers that the
audience looked for its enjoyment of the
presentation. and In this regard there was
no room for disappointment. The work
last night gave fine promise for the lyric
operas which follow during the week. be-
ginning tonight with Lucia Tonight's
performance will introduce new singers,
with Julia Allen as Lucia and Henri Bar
ron as Edgar.