The Washington times., 1910-06-03
Discriminating Audience
Hears Production of
Verdi'S Aida"
PRINCIPALS. PROVE
MOST COMPETENT
Chorus and Orchestra Able Co.
operators In Performance BY
Aborn English Company.

A representative audience filed the
New National Theater last night and
applaUded to the echo the excellent
work of the Aborn English Opera Com
pany in Aida, Verdrs intensely dra-
matte and cOlOrful Oriental opera
4 keen discrimination marked the
judgment Of the auditors who were held
from the first note to the last by the
compelling and convincing work on the
stage. A feature Of the evening was
the spontaneous and subilant ''sh-sh-sh''
which peremptorily put a stop to the
indiscrimiEate and annoying hand clap
ping with which a few over enthusiastic
hearers essayed 10 express their ap-
proval even though they did break the
continuity OF the performance
And by that same token, this was but
one OF many signs which evidence the
fact that grand opera adequately pre-
scented at prices within the reach of
the average purse has a place to fill
IN the life of the community. Indeed
not in many a day has an audience
so thoroughly displayed its Intelligence
as that at the New National last even
ing. Drawn TO the theater through
sheer love Of music they brooked no
needless Interruptions Of their enjoy
ment
Rarely does one hear such salts
factory performance The principals
without exception filled their roles most
acceptably. the chorus. which is spleu-
didly intelligent and mobile, contributed
mlshtlly 10 the presentation. while the
orchestra under the skilled hand Of
MI Nicosia accentuated the beauties
OF fascinating orchestral score.
Composed on a national Egyptian
theme AT the request Of the Khedive
or Egypt, Aida received its first pre-
Sentation at the Cairo Opera House
during the festivities incident TO the
opening Of the Suez canal i'm ISL.
Story of the Opera.
The scene is laid at Memphis and
Thebes in the reign of the Pharoahs.
Aida, the daughter of Amonasro. King
Of Ethiopia. had fallen a prisoner into
the hands Of the Egyptians. She was
taken to Memphis, and given as a slave
10 Amneris. the daughter of the Egvp-
tian ruler. AmneriS, captivated bv her
grace and beauty. took her under favor
as friend and companion. While in
bondage. Radames. a yOunC captain of
the King guard, falls in love with
her, and his passion is warmly re-
turned by Aida. Amneris herself is
deeply in love with the youthful war
rior. She suspects. however, that she
has a rival in her bOndmaid. and swears
vengeance If this prove true. The open
Ing incidents set forth these facts. and
further, the choice Of Radames as lead
er Of an expedition against the Ethiop-
fans, who have invaded the land and
invested Thebes
In the second act Amneris wresrs
from Aida the secret Of her love for
Radames. The latter returns to Mem
phiS victorious, laden with SDois and
bringing many prisoners. Among the
later is Amonasro, Aida's father. dis
Cu4sed as an officer. Radames asks OF
the King that all the prisoners be Sc.
free. This is granted. and all are re-
leased with the exception of AmOna SrO.
As a reward for his services the KinS
then gives RadameS the hand Of his
daughter, Amneris.
IN the third act the marriage is 70 be
celebrated. Radames is however deeply
in love with Aida, and the maiden urged
on by AmonaSrO, seeks TO persuade him
10 flee to Ethiopia and turn his sword
against his native land. Radames Nth
out cOnsenting TO treachery, listens, and
resolves to fee with Aida. They are
about to take 10 fight when Ramfis. the
high priest. and Amneris, who have
overheard the lovers. appear. Aida and
AmOnasrO escape Radames SURF snderS
bimssl- 70 meet his fate.
In the fourth act RadaInes + tyieC on
a charge of treason and is condemned by
the sacred council to be buried alive
AIuneris visits him and promises TO Sc
cure his pardon from the King If he Will
consent to renOunce Aida forever. Ra-
danes refuses. The final picture shows
the interior Of the Temple of Vulcan. and
below il the vault in which Radamee is
condemned 70 die. entombed alive by the
priests. As the stone is sealed over his
head Radames discovers Aida AT his
side. She has contrived TO enter the
tomb, and proves her constancy by
sharing with her loved his awful fate.
Paula BraendIe as "Aida."
As Aida. Paula Braendle satisfactorily
interpreted a role which has been car
red by some Of the greatest singers OF
the operate STAGE Keenly intelligent
alert to the histrionic requirements OF
the part and possessed of a rich full