The Washington herald., 1909-05-16
Grand Opera in Washington.

The performances last week at the Be
Iasco Theater CT Puccini's Madam But.
teriy' were well patronized. showing that
there IS a certain class OF theater-goers
here who gladly welcome every oppor-
tunity 70 hear grand opera which presents
itself The engagement, however. was 2
1orcible reminder OF an unpleasant fact,
TO Wit. that Washington Is the only
Eastern city OF Importance that has been
neglected by the big grand opera COM
panies this season. With the exception
Of the Madam Butterfly week. just
past. and the week Of the Abrahmson
company last fall, we have heard no
grand operas IN Washington.
Oscar Hammerstein has sent his song
birds 10 Baltimore and 10 Philadelphia,
and the Metropolitan company has given
performances in Boston and other cities
outside Of New York. II none Of these
places has there been any complaint, so
far as is known, that the support Of the
public was not liberal.
What is the trouble with Washington
sn this regard? No one can force man
ayers and impreSarios into exhibiting
where they co not choose 20 go. but II
the incentive exists for Baltimore
performances, what Is there lacking
IN Washington that keeps the better or
ganizations away for whole season and
longer2 Washington has turned out some
magnificent audiences for the grand
opera performances OF the Metropolitan
company, both under the GTau and the
COnried regimes We have even had 10
submit 10 prices N excess OF those chaIg-
ed IN other localities. but the satisfaction
OF hearing the best singers IN the world
has been sufficient compensation for the
outlay, az least N the opinion OF those 20
whom high-class music Is more than
luxury.
Henry W Savage. whose grand operas
in English brought him in a great deal
OF money and fame. and who first In
troduced "PsrsifaI'' in English, found
Washington anxious and willing TO pack
the theaters where his operas were sung,
and he did not always have the highest
grade talent al that. It is. OF course. not
reasonable 70 expect the best singers 10
appear when the prices are no higher
than those charged for the ordinary the
atricaI attractions. nor IS IL any more
reasonable 10 expect 10 pay the same low
prices 10 hear the grand voices who are
mustered under the Hammerstein and the
Metropolitan banners.
There IS no comparison between operas
only adequately sung, with the accom-
paniment OF a meager orchestra, and
those given with all the resources at the
command Of the great companies at the
Metropolitan and Manhattan opera
Houses. but music rendered with irtelli-
gence and discretion on frankly mod
crate scale s better than 10 music al all.
Operas sung in the tongue IN which they
were composed are far more satisfactory.
even to american ears. than translations
into English. often clumsiIy made. and
without the poetic expression which con
stitutes one OF its chief charms Many
hold that opera in English IS proper be-
fore EngIish-speaking audiences. but
there IS really no advantage 10 those who
desire the best Interpretation OF the
music In fact. the translated ubrettos
often form a jarring element. which dis
2 tracts the attention from a pure enjoy
ment OF the score
Between opera in English and poorly
sung operas. by inadequate companies.
Washington has no chance TO get ac-
0Uainted with the real beauties that the
grand opera world contains. We must 90
elsewhere 10 be educated in this par-
ticular, which IS 2 pity