The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-05-04
Aborn Opera Company
Maintains the Standard
Of Past Seasons.

A few people may have gone to the
National Theater last evening who had
] by some chance. missed hearing
Robin Hood" before. Most of the au-I
dience were there for the double pur-
pose of hearing this comic opera again
and of renewing their acquaintance
with the Aborn Opera Company. BY
its reception robin Hood has lost
none of It's popularity and little in it's
presentation.
In deciding to present only light
operas in Washington this season the
Aborns have not lowered the standard
OF their company. In the past two
years this organization has been
gagged fairly we'll Though a few OF
/ the old favorites are missing, the pres
ence of several principals of last year
company, and also of many members
OF the old Aborn chorus. are sufficient
warrant for the adequacy of this sea-
sons force.
! For its size and its singing ability
the new chorus deserves passing men
ton. II shows every evidence Of hav-
/ ing been selected with an eye to other
considerations than its ''aht.'' and it
rests it's plea on its vocal ability alone
The verdict was favorable.
Affords Genuine Test.
/. In robin Hood" De Koven has fur
nished opportunity for genuine test
to practically every member Of the
cast, and If there were many weak
spots In this organization the Aborns
would have done well to open with
less pretentious offering. But they
have little to fear.
| While the principals, as a whole
hardly measure UP to the standard OF
improvement set in the chorus num-
bers, they are IN practically every case
adequate, and In several roles of more
than average ability.
Miss Helen Bertram, as Helen, has the
leading soprano part, and sang accept
| ably Last night she seemed nervous,
however, and was distinctly not at her
/ best. But perhaps the warmest wei
come accorded to feminine members of
the east was that reserved for Miss
FRITZ Won Busing- She was greeted at
! first because we knew her and again
because we seldom heard her in better
voice than in 20 Promise Me- Miss
Sahery d'Orsell sang Anabel, and. with
in the range of her limited opportunity.
scored decislvely.
Tallman Welcomed.
some of the songs We liked most and
know best how they should be sung fell
TO George Tallman as Robin Hood. eve,
because we were ali there. weren't we.
and some of us will be there again next
week?) TalIman shattered none OF our
ideals and in the second act was
brought back again and again. While
his voice Is more pleasing I'm the middle
register the part IS well within MS range
and he silss with keen appreciation or
his role.
In this connection IL is gratifying 20
state that. as far as could be seen last
evening, the Aborn company includes no
| members who lack dramatic ability to
such a degree that they lose all sem
I blaBce Of their impersoDation even in a
comic opera role This is one fault pc
culiariy prevalent among singing organ
( izationE recruited Tor vocal ability and
Frequently cl angling its offering.
| Forrest Huff needs no introduction
and IL goes without saying that he was
cast as Little John. He was given an
ovation before he sang Brown October
| Ale and vas recalled as often as he
would come Howard Chambers render
/ ed the "ATfrOrer's Song effectively
/ One man whom ali Washington knows
from his appearances with the Aborn
! company, and many through his con-
nection with THE BostOnians. Is
/ George =. Frothiug1am. and his APP
pearance was the signal for applause
that could only be construed az a kindly
and hearty personal tribute 10 a dean
I Of the comic opera stage
De Koven at His Best.
-The Colder Butterfly" and eThe
Beauty Spot with their impressive
choruses, their splendid scenic invest-
ture, and their concessions to "aht,"
have but whettsd public taste for the
earlier and the best of De Koven's
operas. The public, the musical public,
seems always to have a welcome for
the hating lit Of this composer s
scores The same musical mannerism,
with about the same effect as Dun
dreary's hop, pervades his work, but
nowhere does II seem more spontane-
GUS than In robin Hood" To sing
this opera scceptably is no mean
achievement, and this the AboTn com
pany has again accomplished That the
orchestra was Inadequate for tho fun
beauty of DE koven's music was not
tire fault Of the company
After all the chief concern ia fhis
weeks performance is in tho CALDER Of
the company. II IS gratifying 10 know
that there Is every promise OF accept
able presentations OF The Serenade,''
iss1 rg~,1-~