The Washington herald., 1910-05-31
LAST NIGHT AT THE
LOCAL PLAYHOUSES
THE NEW NATIONAL.
.H TrovatOre."

All TrovatOre.'
The Aborn Grand opera Company sang
II Trovatore" at the New National
Theater yesterday afternoon and evening
before two delighted audiences. The
popularity Of grand opera at present is
fully exemplifed by the interest that Is
being taken in this engagement II
should he fully understood by summer
theater patrons, however. that the Aborn
Grand Opera Company is a separate and
distinct organization from the Aborn
Opera Company. which just finished
four weeks season at the National
Theater
No organization trained only for musi-
cal comedy and opera Of light charac-
ter could sing III Trovatore" as 1t was
sung yesterday. Real grand opera stars
have been engaged, and the chorus is one
that Is entirely up to the work that is
laid out for H. The result was most
astonishing. although # should not have
been in view Of the showers Of praise
which other cities have given these per-
formances Of opera in English, but az
any rate 1t showed the Aborn company in
a new light. and the success is a pleas
ure to record. since the name "AbOrn"
is held in high esteem in Washington.
The applause which the singers re-
ceived last night amounted TO a real
ovation. There were no two ways about
that. Eugenio Battain who was the
Manrico. was forced TO repeat his solo
at the close Of act four. that solo which
ends In the three wonderful belI-like
notes, away up ever so high on the
scale. Mr. Battain sang his role in Itsl-
ian-so did Bevan. who was the Fer
randO-but the effect was perfectly pre-
served. He did far better with his ma
tive tongue than he could have hoped TO
do with the translation. Mr. Battain's
voice IS extremely well-rained and beau
tifully controlled. and altogether. his
singing was a triumph. Paul Bleyden
who appeared as Manrico at the matinee
was also spoken Of very highly. He
VIII sing the role this evening 1t is
necessary, OF course, 10 have a double
cast for these operas. and the company
has one understudy beside for each part
Paula Braendle was the Leonora Of
last evening. and. while her voice did
lNl hilDtAl 10 br AfAAblt carry All A4lt
evening. It accomplished wonders IN the
'Miserere." which she and Mr.. Battain
were obliged 10 repeat in response 10 an
overwhelming demand. Mildred Rogers
and FRITZ van Busing are alternating as
Azucena. the gypsy. Miss Rogers has a
contralto Of excellent quality, and she
was most dramatic in her Interpretation
OF the part Miss van Busing made her
first appearance locally IN so heavy a
part ar the matinee yesterday. and her
admirers have nothing but praise for her
work.
Much interest attached 10 the debut ~
Miss AIi,e Eversham. who is well known
in Washington. and who appeared In the
small role OF Inez. Miss Eversham made
a most attractive picture. She Is tall
and fair and Of graceful carriage. Her
voice shows the effect OF good cultiva-
ton and Il is 10 De hoped that she VIII
be heard in a more important role before
the present season is brought % a close.
Calso Nicosia. late Of Hammerstein's
Manhattan Opera House, conducted. Nj
cosias work with the baton is too we'll
known 10 warrant more than a passing
mention here. He is 10 20 20 the Metro
politan next winter. where he viii con-
time his triumphS- His control Of the
orchestra was excellent throughout. and
was a prime factor IN the completeness
OF the production.
II is safe 10 say that grand opera was
never before given I'm Washington on
such an elaborate scale for a nominal
cost for seats as that the Aboru people
are now Offering. II did not take last
nights audience long 20 discover that
the performance was Of exceptional
merit,