The Washington herald., 1908-01-19
Popularizing Grand Opera.

The need of opera in Washington, be
yond the three performances vouchsafed
by the Metropolitan Opera Company once
year, is an old and familiar story. Dur
ing the last week we have had in our
midst an operate organization which is
equal, and in some respects superior, TO
the New York company. Prices have
been charged which should have enabled
all classes 10 attend the performances.
thus bringing the highest form of lyric art
within the reach of the rich and poor
alike. In fact, the San Carlo Grand
Opera Company by presenting opera I'm
its most perfect form. by maintaining the
highest standard of musical completeness,
scenic display and general managerial
smoothness, constitutes the nucleus Of
what our citizens need as q permanent
establishment. not only in Washington
ITSELF but in the principal cities of the
United States. When 1t IS considered that
in this vast country there is but one
established opera house OF any recognized
Importance, it Is not surprising that men
OF public spirit and lovers Of art should
begin TO consider the necessity of estab-
fishing other centers wherein the works
Of the great masters may be heard at
regular intervals during at least six
months out OF the year
AR Henry Russell, the director Of the
San Carlo Grand Opera Company, is
man who Is well versed in the art of
music and song, and he possesses an ex-
ceptional knowledge Of the practical side
Of what IN France is called Ia vie do
theatre"
When Mr.. Russell opened his season Of
grand opera in Boston a few weeks ago
he caused nothing short Of a revolution
!n that city. So great was the success of
the company and so keen the interest ex-
cited by Mr.. RusselTs personality that
Mr.. Eben D. Jordan startled America by
announcing that he would donate 81 100000
for the purpose OF building an opera house
III the city of Boston, of which Mr. Rus
sell is 10 be the director. Mr.. Jordan
public-spirited action is worthy Of the
highest commendati0n. and # only re-
mains for some generous individual to
follow his example making a similar do
nation TO Washington to that which AIr.
Jordan has made TO Boston.
The admirable performances given by
the San Carlo company have demon
strated the fact that sood grand opera
can be brought to this country independ-
entity OF New York. Indeed. fl is a note
worthy fact that only a few Of Mr. Rus
sells artists have ever been heard in
Washington before. OF course, such
celebrities as Nine. Nordica and Nine.
Nielsen are old favorttes in this country.
On the other hand. Senior Constantine Is
a newcomer who surprised his hearers by
the beauty Of his tenor voice 1t is sur
prising that an artist Of such talents
should not yet have been heard in New
York, but Washington theater-goers may
themselves on having been
the first to applaud Constantine in such
roles as EMO and Don Jose and the CAV
duke in ''RigOletto." N. BIanchart proved
himself a barytone Of conspicuous ability
and the one act Of Faust" which enabled
US last night TO hear SeguroIa as AIephis-
toDheles gave convincing proof Of the tai
ent Of this artist
In point Of chorus, orchestra, and par
tcularly in the execution Of the concert
ed numbers. the smoothness OF the San
Carlo Grand Opera Company Is q delight
TO the ear. Seldom has the art of en-
semble been brought so nearly to a. state
OF perfection, and with perhaps the soil
tary exception OF the Opera Comloue Of
Paris. no such attention TO detail can be
said 10 exist as that which was evident
in the performances which were last
night brought to a brilliant termination
by a quadruple bill chosen from the most
popular operas.
Sincerely it Is 70 be hoped that the San
Carlo Grand Opera Company may be able
10 play another engagement IN Washing
ton before its return TO Europe. This
company stands as a pioneer in the at
tempt 20 furnish higb-class grand opera
at reasonable prices, and tho demonstra-
ton that It can be done is another aid
toward the establishment Of a national
conservatory that should be an educa-
tional and artistic factor in the life Of the
people and an inspiration as well.
Puccini's new opera, "The Maid OF the
Golden West the IIbretto Of which is by
David Belasco, according to the Italian
papers viii be first performed In Europe
in Florence. The Tuscan city has been