Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-15
A N U S E NJ E MIS-.
Grand Opera.

Tie double bill at the Belasco last even
ing was a fitting finale to the Manhattan
Grand Opera Company Washington sea-
soll-the most notable tie city has en-
Joyed. From the standpoint of the ap-
preclativc audience it seemed Il case of
having saved the best until the last. Had
II been possible TO purpoSely arrange it
SO. the tfunderous outburst of applause
could not have been more effective, inn
pressiye farewell than it was.
The ovation rendered John Mccormack
at the close of his aria. in the second act
of The Daughter Of the Regiment was
one that h. will long remember. And it
would have been considered supcrlatively
great had not the one given Nine. TetraZ-
Zini at the drop of the curtain made 1t
seem but comparatively great. In both
tent with applause. but stood UP and
cried Bravo Bravo And Tetrazz
with graciousness that proved its sin
certify, insisted upon sharing her honors
with her compa mons.
The two operas DonizettTs THE
Daughter of the Regiment and Leonca-
vallo's 'Pagliacci'-hayc long since been
accepted by the public. Books and scores
are so we'll known that further comm mt
along those lines seems supcrfluous. SUI
fee it to say that the former is of tho old
Italian school. Astounding in tender lnelo-
dies of haunting sweetness, with light
some touches here and there; the latter is
of the later less lyric and more orchestral
school. strong, passionate and co!orfui
And the singers lost no opportunity to
bring out this contrast down to the finest
degree.
In fact. the artistry Of the performance
was noticeable on every hand. the stage
,tlngS We're superb and the gowns aud
costumes-to usa the trivial as illustrative
OF an impressiv fac:-fresh and clean.
MIR Hammersiein must be credited with
having employed no makeshifts.
Nine. TetraZZini Maria, the VIVIAN
dere, demonstrated her hstrionic talents
with artistry that fairly took the au-
dience by storm. Piquant ard droll, she
gave delightfully."- vixenis' interpreta-
ton to the role. Her arias we're eAqu:s-
itely rendered and the ratal IN duet with
Sulpizio was inimitable.
BY special request of t President.
Mime. Tetrazzini sang the p onaise from
"A1ignon"-and sang 1t as only Tetraz-
ovation. led by President Taft himself.
In response to the really "frenzed'' APP
plause she repeated 1t. 1t was fully ten
minutes before the audience allowed her
John McCormacks rendition Of he role
OF Tonic was sincerely app eciated, while
Gilbert. as usual. was tremendously eff
fective In tho part of Sergt. Sulpice.
Nine Duchene, as the Marquise of Birk-
enfield. and N'colay. as the major donlo,
were entirely satisfactory. Sturani's work
as director was so heartily appreciated
that he was twice called before the cur
tain to make Acknowledgment
The particular favorite of "Pagliacci'
was Nicola Zerola as Canio who thor
oughly demonstrated the qualities of his
remarkable voice. The handicap OF Te-
! trazZinis brilliant finale was to BE- plainly
felt, despite any mental reservation not
to be so influenced. And the fact that
Zerola and his compan ons eventually
succeeded in breaking through this and
rouSing the audience to second ascent of
the heights of enthusiasm Is of Itself an
impressive testimonial to their work.
Sammarcc, as Tonic. gave brilliant rem
dition Of the famous prologue and did
much to hasten the diminution OF this
Syivio and Nine. Walter-Villa. as Media.
in good voice gave vivid portrayal of
the role. Venturini, as Beppo. was well
received. The work Of the chorus in both
operas was most praiseworthy.
Among the auditors were the President
and Mrs Taft with Attorney General
and Mrs Wickersham. Mrs. Anderson
rotary of the Navy and Mrs. George Won
L. Meyer and the Misses Meyer. Mrs.
John r. Mclean, Mr.. Frederick Huide-
koper, Senator and Mrs. stephen B. Ell
kins and Miss Elkins. the minister from
Salvador and Nine. Mejia, Miss Mejia
and Miss Paulita Mejia. the minister from
Honduras. DR.. Luis LaDo: Mrs. Richard
Townsend and Miss Mathilde Townsend
Lieut.. and Mrs. S. NJ. B. Young and Miss
young. Miss Davis. Mr.. and Mrs. Charles
Henry Butler. Gen. and Mrs Johnson
Mrs. L. 4. Letter, Mrs. Rudolph kauff-
mann Mrs. Victor Kaufman, Mr.. and
Mrs. John Hays Hammond, Mr.. and Mrs
Samuel Ill. Mr.. and Mrs. Frederick \.
Keep. Mrs. Frank y. Noyes. the Russian