The Washington times., 1910-04-02
NANON WELL SUNG
BY OPERA TROUPE
Mile. ROLAND Scores Hit
in the Leading
Role.
By ROBERTA V. BRADSHAW.

AIassanet. who gave 10 operate litera-
ture such interesting works as The
Juggler Of Notre Dame" 'yverther.''
and fThais," was the composer also
of the Manor" which was sung last
evening at the Bclasco BY the French
Opera Company.
The composer was born in 1872. He
was a winner Of the prix de Rome at
twenty. and member of the faculty Of
the Paris Conservative at thirty-fye.
'Manon." written In 1884. was produced
in the maturity Of the composers DOW
ers.
The heroine. who is Of the That's"
cult, keeps that fOTCefully wicked and
fearfully penitent creature company
only so far "Manon" is an episode
story Of a tender, wiliful. weak, young
girl, who lives her pleasure-lOyiug life
and goes down 10 ner death without
submerging others, therefore the Man
on music while II has the characterls-
uc Massanet touch Of vivid contrast
Lac rs the intense grip OF the That's
save in one supreme moment there
are no emotional battles 10 be fought
and never at any time is there a con-
science to be stirred. wherefore, the
music in the main Is sketchily and 5irily
French.
Music Is Admired.
written music 70 deliver, but the
choruses, brought in as a mere back
ground for an arabesque Of love and
laughter, are perfunctory. The tale Of
anOrOus adventure spiced with a BIZ.
OF intrigue with gambling and dancing
TO mark It's course is indeed fttinely
told IN melOdious phrase, LIQUID and
flowing and pleasantly feminine. until
the time arrives when the fiower-liixs
Manon, in1ing Chevalier de GrieuX
with whom she had first ei0ped and
then abanc oned, about 10 take holy
orders, feels her love revive.
Here, with his customary uOnchalance,
Massenet rises supreme at the accepted
moment. and in tense and heroicaIly
moving tones ClimaXes the score 10 the
END tnat when Manon essays 10 pay her
arts and fasCinatlOns 10 bring be- lover
back 10 her arms she has a rOrcsfuI
ana highly dramatic vocabulary al her
command.
The opera. with all its possibilities.
was creditably Interpreted last night
With the east in competent hands. the
orchestra more awake 10 ITS purposes
lhan on any other occasion during the
week, and the ChOruses practically eI:ml-
mated the performance was delightful.
Mile. ROLAND Scores.
s. bewitchingly naive was the Manon
Of petite and charming Mile ROLAND
that Il seemed the most natural thing
ia the world for ChevaIier des Grieux
20 renOunCe a religious life az her be-
nest BriillanCy and purity Of tone
marked Nile. ROlland's singing. Buoy
ancy and charming girlish insouciaule
characterized her acting Furthermore.
she dressed her role atracuVely as, IN
fact, did all the other members Of the
cast
The Chevaier des Grieux Of VI. Nuibo
equaled his fine effort as Gerald IN
'Lakme.' while the Lescaut Of NJ. Cha
dal was dashinEly sung and beautifully
acted NJ. Cargue as the Count des
GrieuN gave A creditable piece of work,
the de Bretlgny or N. COUlJn was ac-
Ceptably given. while the GulliOtL Of NJ
Geofray was very pretty piece OF &C.
centric character work
Mile. MorejO. Mile. Jenny -llard. and
Mile. Vincent. IN minor roles, made an
effective picture ana sang and acted
with discrimination