Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-06-14
A NJ U S E N E Mt S
National.

| Those who were fortunate enough to
hear the Aborn Grand Opera Company
In its rendition of Lucia di Hammer
moor at the National Theater last
evening. and they included President Taft
ahe his entire immediate family. with
Capt. Archibald ". Butt, his military
aiu. were rewarded with the treat of the
season. Not in many years. perhaps. In
this city. with the exception of the
performance given by the Manhattan
Grand Opero Company with the incom-
pa ra BILE TetraZziHi IN the title role, some
| months ago. has Donizettis magnificent
opera been so we'll sung and acted
| throughout. But even beyorl this there
was = surprise il store for those WHO
| heard it in Miss Edith Helena, the new
colorature soprano of the company. VINO
| made her first appearance last evening
! as Lucy Ashton. With voice of Won
dcihi sweetness. heXlhility and range
| for which no passage of the score seem
ed too difficult of solendid Interpretation,
she sang her way into the hearts of :he
audience almost imme diately. Her reward
was really succession OF oVaHohS.
With the memory of the famous Tetraz-
zini fresh in the minds Of those who
heard Miss Helena, her triumph vas as
remarkable as it was deserved. Sharing
| the honors with me- Eugenio Battain.
| the tenor of the company, who has scored
heavily in almost every role tnat has
been allotted to him during the present
| engagement, seemed really to surpass his
previous efforts. despite trace of hoarse-
ness. in the splendid manner in which
vocally as we'll as in dramatic force, he
sustained the role of Lord Edgar of
RavenSwood while Carlo NicoSla. the
conductor was forced from his station
with the orchestra to the stage to. re-
cCive the enthusiastic applause when the
audience shOwered again and again upon
him .
The demonstration was remarkap DE
one. and vet not to be wondered at, all
things considered. The opera itself with
its beautiful melodies has a deep hold
upon the affections of music lovers. and
| has had for years. It's famous seXtet
| is one of those musical creations that
seems born never to die In popularity
But the beauty of the score is so inter-
woven with never-endng lacework, 50
| to speak. of technical difficulties for
singer and conductor that failure is ever
| in sight for those who undertake It's
Interpretation unadvisedly. But there
was never doubtful moment last even
ing in any respect. j. X. Murray, who
has sung with fine discretion and effect
so frequently during the present engage
| ment, arose above his previous efforts
last evening in the role of Sir Henry
Ashton. His voice never seemed better
and his dramatic portrayal of the role
was fully in keeping with the general
excellence of the performance. Miss
Alice Eversman as Alice. the conhdante
of Lucy Ashton, also came i'll for her
share of the honors of the evening. Tier
singing opportunities We're limited. but
she made the most of them. and was
with the principals in sharing the great
ovation that followed the rendition OF
the sextet. William Schuster, Is Bide-
the Bent, and Fred Chapman, as Nor
man, together with the chorus, are fair
ly entitled to communication for their
cont ribution to the success of the per-
formance Lucia d Lammermoor" will
be repeated this evening, tomorrow
evening and at tomorrows matinee.
Martha will be sung the remainder Oh
the week.
The success of the company's venture
in presenting brief season of grand
opera artistically as we'll as otherwise
has prompted the management to extend
the engagement. Manager Rapley has
announced that two more weeks of grand
opera will follow the present week, be-
ginning next Monday with a matinee,
when "Traviata" will be the offering. to
be followed with "Rigoletto' and The
Bohemian Girl"