The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-05-11
Madam Butterfly Best Of
! fering Seen Here at
Popular Prices.
ORCHESTRA MEETS
/ DEMAND OF SCORE
English Company Is Marked by
Uniform Vocal and Dramatic
Ability.

Washington IS disposed to be generous
10 musical organizations that put forth
their best efforts even If they fan short
OF the accepted metropolitan standard.
J'or this reason praise Of Madam But
terfly." presented by the English Opera
Company and orchestra at the BeIasco
Theater last evening, may not always be
accepted at its face value.
After a calm and sane review OF the
Efforts to give Washing ton grand opera
in past years II is the judgment Of ca
pable critics who saw this Puccini
opera that it is the best presentation
of grand opera ever seen in Washington
at regular theater prices.
The orchestra comprises thirty pieces
Baron Gustdve w. RoniOrt IS one of -hs
most capable conductors ever seen in
Washington. Principals OF the cast uni
1or1niy possess the dramatic, as well as
the vocal ability required for this opera
AS the United States naval lieutenant.
performer who has sung this part in
America. Miss Adelaide Norwood was
cast as the Geisha girl last evening, and
sang acceptably.
Gives Full Interpretation.
In every detail this company and the
orchestra is capable of giving this opera
its fun Interpretation. Madam Butter
hy'' is considered by many the great
est achievement of Puccini. and more
than fairly representative of the modern
Italian school
II marks a depaI ture from the classic
school OF composing no less daring
than the drama of George Bernard
Shaw or the painting Of Gabriel Rosetti
Because Of the infusion OF an intense
dramatic realism. the histrionic re-
qgirements Of a Puccini opera are heav-
ier than those OF the older school, and
Madam Butterfly" IN its dramatic ele-
ment. at least. Is the acme OF this COM
p0ser's work.
This Is written. not because this opera
IS unknown to Washington. but because
a realization Of the nature of their IN
dertaling Is necessary to a full appre-
citation Of the achievements of this COM
pany. Particularly heavy in it's demands
on the voice alone IS the part OF Cho-
Cho-San- The range is 50 broad and the
time so exacting as to make the test OF
her voice remarkable for its sheer physi-
cal demands. But Miss Norwood more
than met this demand She sang with
feeling and acted with dramatic insight
Taylor Scores Heavily.
II
best man in the part OF Lieutenant Pin
kerton ever seen IN America outside of
the two metropolitan grand opera COM
panies. is high praise. It is fully war
ranted- He has not, of course, the
marvellous voice Of Caruso, but he Is
Tar and away q better actor. and has
a clear tenor voice. of wide range and
fine expressiveness- His enunciation is
particularly clear.
The rich cOloring Of PuccinPs orches-
1ration, his original thematic and
rnelodic phrases, find an appreciative
Interpretation by thirty musicians
This opera Is well mounted No de-
tail toward making the production OF
grand opera caliber is overlooked Miss
Norwood and Henry Taylor deserve es-
pecial mention. but their ability is re-
fiected 70 a lesser degree by practically
every member Of the cast. Miss Ellen
James lends to Suziki a clear-cJTt i'm
personation as well as a voice rich in
volume and pleasing IN its quality.
Ottley CranstOn was cast as Sharpless.
a part that depends largely upon reci-
tatives, and these he did we'll
Alternating with Miss Norwood this
week win be Miss Myrtle Thorubor-
ough and Miss Louie Collier.