Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-28

Washington is partial to its own, and
for that reason Washington takes keen
interest in the progress Of its symphony
orchestra, which Heinrich Hammer seems
to be slowly but surely pushing into the
front ranks as musical organization ca
pable Of interpreting the best Of classical
music. But 1t was not this that drew to
the Columbia Theater yesterday after
noon an audience that will stand as a
record for the capacity of the house. and
even then did not include a very large
number Of people who went away dis
appointed only because they could not
possibly get in the theater.
The stranger who wandered to the the
alter may have been at loss to under
stand the reason Of 1t all. but his doubt
was speedily dispelled when a fair young
woman CARRIED in a white gown appro-
pirate to youth. with her dark hair sim
ply braided. stepped forward to acknowl-
edge shyly. but with manifest delight,
the enthusiastic welcome accorded her.
1t was with these accessories that Miss
Elizabeth Reside, daughter Of Mr.. and
Mrs. Howard Reside, made her debut
as the soloist Of the Washington Sym
phony Orchestra and as new soprano
who has the right to expect much in the
way OF acknowledgment of her talent
which she has employed wisely and we'll
/ 1t was the first step, too. Of a young
girl who has striven hard to reach the
heights Of public approval as an artist
perhaps. she did not have the support Of
her faithful piano. but had to undergo
the ordeal OF singing with grand orches-
trail support, and she did remarkably
plause Of her friends and of those who
enjoyed with them the beauty of her
songs.
"Vissi d'Arte Vissi d'Armore, from
La Tosca," a dramatic number that has
been a stumbling block for many who
are older and more experienced in the
realms Of grand opera, was the opening
number. and, save for natural tremu-
lousness to be expected under the cir
cumstances. Miss Reside sang it Well
and beautifully. Hers is not the strong.
powerful soprano of the Wagnerian prima
donna, but birdlike voice, whose lyric
melody is filled with sweetness and SYM
pathy.
it seemed at times as II its best were
withheld only because the singer was de-
MED the dramatic opportunity that the
opera itself would have afforded. Her
next number. Isl mi Chiamano Mimi"
from La Boheme." was even more de-
lightfully sung. but her real triumph
came when. as an encore. with Miss Bur-
bage at the piano and unhampered with
the weight of responsibility that goes
with the orchestral accompaniment, she
sang the ''Addio'' from the third act of
LA Boheme'' with all the confidence she
would have sung it In her own home. sur
rounded by her friends. The avalanche
Of applause. that followed and continued
even after she had time and again bowed
her Acknowledgements and presented those
whom she felt had something to do with
her success to share 1t with her was
surely earned and as certainly deserved.
The debut OF the young singer was
manifestly made social event out of the
ordinary, and the immense audience in
cluded every circle Of prominence at the
nations capital
The numbers OF the orchestra. well
chosen and sp.endidly played, included
the overture to "Rienzi'' (Wagner),
Rouet dOmphale (Saint-Saens), and