Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-11
ADJUSTMENTS.
Belasco.

zinnt faced an audience worthy of her
best skill and met With reception
whose enthusiasm could not have been
greater. splendid orchestra under the
highly efficient direction of Sturani and
chorus of abundant vocal efficiency at
forded volume and support TO perform
ance which the marvellous prima donna
dominated so exclusively that the effect
of the presentation was that of won
derfu solo magnificent1y accompanied.
rather than a symmetrical production OF
opera. Tetrazzinis voice, capab BILE though
1t is of the finest hexibility and the most
delicate ACCURACY in reproducing intricate
forms, oS,mmailds on occasion a robust
resonance which brings Ii over and above
the immense display of which the com
bined forces Of singers and orchestra arc
capable. II is like thread of FURNISHED
gold outlining lis own picture iii Il tap
cstry Of rich but sublued color-.
TetrSzZini Is not prophecies Of tho
new. She turns to DoniZetti- Well be
loved of the vocalist because OF his skill
in testing the capacities for tone and exc
cution to-tbc full measure of an artists
power and at the same time because of
his a6roitiy arranged climaxes which per
nit minor deficiencies to be dtoued for by
d brilliant demonstration at the crucial
moment. lie is far removed from the
modern school which makes melody only
a contributory incident of prolonged rcci-
tative and uses themes as a means of
efpCiudtll!S d vi dtIidtlc lOCd TdlHST lidll
for the purpose of developing and en-
phasizing their own intrinsic beauty. This
old composer. who. had he been more
fortunate in his libretti, would nc known
for a greater number of works than those
from his pen that find their way to fire.
quent modern production. delighted TO
take a bit Of melody Of striking appeal
and enbelish it until it fairly sparkied
with exquisite ornamcntatiOn. He wrote
for public that demanded a, regard for
the natural n1nCtr * we'll ,0r
the cultivated ear and approached an aria
with 2. sense Of responsibility. His fluent
me- odies, with their wealth Of gTacite in
trtcacics. find every generation or SO, an
interpreter competent to master them
down to their finest details. and then
there is a furore.
There were no deficiencies to be atoned
for in the great sopranos performance
last night. There was lack of ANNA
ton In her earlier scenes which permit
ted the suspicion that she was looking to
that conservation of natural resources
which the. wary singer Is sometimes
stage presence is not, on first impression,
reassuring. albeit. she is comely of TEA
lures. AS. In the progress OF his work,
the astute old composer MADE renewed
and greater demands. on the powers of
the singer, she rose step by step. with
confident ease. to each occasion, unit
| the auditorium was finally electrified and
burst forth INTO such enthusiasm as this
city seldom witnesses
1t was a Tetrazzini triumph wholly.
Even in the sextet she was the luRli
| nous Alpha in constellation OF singers
of less magnitude. Only the rich. nor
NAL baritone of NJ. Polese was able to
lend its due proportion. to the harmony.
Mr.. John Mccormack is to be adj
mired for his resourcefulness in the man
agement Of his tones, and for the alb
solute fidelity with which, in duet. he
adjusts his singing to the finest variable
~ tIan tosSS lis y.nr
| in this connection is scarcely less an OBJ
l.gato than the performance of the flute
in the charming episode late in the opera,
, in which the voice challenges human
dexterity to surpass its accuracy and
sweetness of execution. u
The libretto Of Lucia" is an extrava-
gance of sentiment that has often tempt
ed the satirist. Scotch tale interpreted
thing which might be called oatmeal
i'Italien. But IL serves the purpose OF
the composer effectually. and its melodi
Gus opulence will pass current for many
of the .story, a touch of genial comedy
was contributed by the impresario. Mr..
Hammerstein, who was led upon the stage
by Tetrazzini. to share her wealth OF
honors.
Mr. Hammerstein took the audience into
his confidence to the extent of assuring
it that business for the week promised
to be good. and thats IL Washington
should be encouraged by the perform
ances he was presenting to build an opera
house of its own he would be glad. to
extend his services.
The occasion was a continual ovation.
and the attendance was such as TO give
it not only social distinction. but an
ident Taft entered the box which was
decorated with flags the orchestra played
Hail to the Chief" and later the as
semblaset was brought to it's feet by The
stalwart old drinking song which we have
reformed to patriotic usefulness was per-
formed, by the way, us few may hope
to- hear it given.
Mr.. and Mrs. Carries P. Taft and Miss
Louise Taft of Cincinnati, Mrs. Charles
Anderson. also of Cine 'nnati: Miss Parsons
of Columbus. Ohio, and Capt. Archibald
Butt The additional Jokes and entire
house, auditorium and balconies. repre-
sented every phase of WashingtonS
fashionable life, together with many mu-
sic lovers who rarely attend a theater
except for such an event as the present
ope season.
! Mrs. Letter, having as her guests the
French ambassador and Madame Jusse-
rand. the military attache Of the French
Mrs Henderson of England. her house
guest. occupied the box adjoining that of
the President
The Austro-Hungarian ambassador and
Baroness Hengslmuilsr. with Senator and
Mrs. Root, were entertained by Mr.. and
Mrs. Edison Bradley. The Secretary of
the Navy and Mrs. Meyer and Miss Alice
Never had as their box guests Mrs. Mich
olas I.ongworth. Senator and Mrs Elkins
entertained Mr.. and Mrs. Ten Eyck Wen
dell. Miss Amy Gillett had with her
Mrs. Dickinson wife of the Secretary OF
war. Mr., and Mrs. McLean's guests
were Senator and Mrs. Newlands, Miss
Janet Fish and Mr.. de Thai of the Rus
sian embassy. Mr. and Mrs. John Hays
Hammond had with them Mr.. and Mrs.
w. ]. Boardn1an. Miss Boardman, Miss
Hammond and Mr.. Edwin Morgan. With
Mrs. Richard Townsend and Miss
Mathilde Townsend were Miss Katherine
Elkins, Capt. SoWerby of the British en-
bassy. Mr.. William Hit and MIR. Oden
Horstmann. In Mrs. McMillan's box
were Mr.. and Mrs. Larz Anderson and
Mr.. and Mrs Preston Gibson. Mr.. and
Mrs. Samuel Hills box guests were DR..
and, Mrs Bowen. Mr.. and Mrs. Thomas
C;afr had with them the Netherlands min
lister and Nine. Loudon and Mr.. and Mrs.
Frank Ellis.
Tonight That's will be sung in French,
with Mary Garden in the title role.
New National.
klaw & Erlanger's spectacular produc-
ton. Ben-Hur.'' dramatic arrangement
of scenes from Gen. Lew .Wallaces ia
nous novel. drew large audience at the
| National Theater last night In spite OF
| the fact that II has been produced here
many times before there was no lack OF