The Washington herald., 1910-05-03
LAST NIGHT AT LOCAL PLAYHOUSES
THE BELAsCO.


Spring Musical Festival.
The first concert Of the Spring musical
festival at the Belasco Theater last
night proved 10 be most enjoyable
Washington has had more grand opera
this season than It has had in many
years, and the music lovers Of the city
have responded 10 an extent which
proves conclusively that there is suffi-
cient number here TO give good support
to opera in the event that II becomes
permanent feature Of the Capital
The building fund for a prospective
opera house Is to benefit By the present
musical festival, and the opening last
night was well enough attended TO augur
wen for the complete success Of the
brief season.
Several favorites appeared last even
ing. and the programme was sufficiently
varied to suit the most exacting taste.
The orchestra from the Metropolitan
Opera House was a feature. and the
quartet OF grand opera singers was COM
posed OF Nine. Alice Nielsen, who was
first heard locally in opera under the
direction Of Mr. Henry Russell. OF the
san (dAlN0 OHtA a NbAAlRaAAgf AluW u Nll0
Boston-Metropolitan organization; Mime.
Marianne Flahaut. Of the Metropolitan.
and NJ. de Segurola, -barytone, and
N, Edmond Clement. tenor from the
same company.
Nine. Nielsen sang two arias. one OF
Donizetti from Don PasQuale" and one
Of Pucclni out of Madam Butterfly"
with two exquisite encores-Tosti's Good
by and "a Dutch Garden''-which
proved a delicious trile reminiscent OF
Nine Nelson's former opera bouffe tri-
umphs But Nielsen has developed into
a splendid prima donna soprano, her
singing OF the PucCini aria being a dis
tinguished success. She also sang in the
"Rigoletto' quartet and the prison scene
trio FROM Faust" and in each number
her voice was heard 20 extremely good
advantage. 1t is a clear and sweet or
gan. and at times its volume IS entirely
adequate 10 the score. but not always.
1t is a voice that will develop in time
into really great soprano. and Nine.
Nielsen is still at an age when the fu-
ture is decidedly rosy.
NJ dc Segurola has a splendid barry
tone and sings with that authority and
presence which bespeaks the consummate
artist. His singing and acting Of Lepo-
relIo's song out OF Don Giovanni was
immensely taking. as was also the invo-
cation OF Meyerbeer from Robert 10 Di-
able"
NJ. Clements success was so pro-
nounced as to excite the conjecture as 70
whether or not he would be good draw
ing card in a concert tour. He was
obliged TO respond to repeated encores.
His expression and his tone are both
good and his work was thoroughly pleas
ing
Nine. Flahaut has a superb contralto
voice. and sang two arias. "Che Faro,
from Glucks "Orfeo." and the GOunod
"Sapho" aria. Nine Flahaut is a dis
tinguished artistic. as well as a woman Of
great personal charm. She was delight
ful in the "RigolettO" quartet. which
was perhaps the best liked number on the
programme, since II gave all the singers, IS |
well as the orchestra. an opportunity for
The best work-M. Clement for his pure,
sweet tenor Introduction. Nine Flahaut
or the difficult derisive tones. Nine. Neil
sen for her clear-cut high notes. and NJ.
&c Segurola for the splendid basso tones
)f his portion OF the score
The orchestra. particularly in the But
erfiy'' accompaniment. and the "Oberon"
the many delightful encores, |
md the skillful piano and harp accom- !
oaniments 20 the songs, were features
which helped 20 make the concert /
memorable one.
The programme in its entirety:
overture" Oheron Weber
Ara-of Leporcllo Don Gi0annil ............ Mozart
Andrea de ScElrola.
Ara-lDon Pasluale .Donizetti
Alice Nielsen
avatina- Romeo and Juliettel GOInod
Edmond Clement.
Faro )Oreo .Gluck
Marianne Flahaut.
r1 Of Faust .f9cflnOd 4
Miss Nielsen Mr.. Clement Mr. seEurcla
a. Castiaro
b. Alsdrileue
c. Arugonaisa
"SaphO'. .GOslnOd
Marianne Flahaut.
lra-''Lo Reve.' NIanOnI ...-.......... AiaSsenet
Edmond Clement.
Ara-"Un bel di vciremo' Madam Butterfly
Puccini
Alice Nielsen
ra-''Invocatiou Robert lc Diablcl ..- Meyerbeer
Andrea De Se;rirola
luartct from 'Tigoetto' Verdi
Miss Nielsen. Miss F1ah0ut Mr.. Clement. Alr.
SeVJroa.
iarch from "Damnaton q Faust" ........ .Berlioz