The Washington herald., 1912-03-10


zerott and Berger this morning made
known the personnel of the Columbia
Players, the most popular stock organi-
zation that has ever appeared in this
city. who return to the Columbia Theater
next Monday evening to inaugurate the
season of 1912 with a magnificent revival
of David Belasco's masterpiece of stage
craft The Rose Of the Rancho" When
the curtain rings up on the first per-
formanee, many of the old favorftes VIII
be found in their accustomed places, but'
as is inevitable. some will be missing.
Frances Nelson heads the list of those
who return. She is unquestionably one
of the most capable and popular leading
women who has ever endeared herself
10 a local audience. With her viii be
found Carrie Thatcher, George w. Bar
bier, John NJ. Kline, Stanley James Ar
thur Ritchie, Edwin H. Curtis and
others.
Edwin II. Robins is the new leading
man, of whom much is expected. He
was for two seasons in a similar ca
pacity with the Temple Theater stock
Company in Chicago, from which he re-
signed to become leading man with
Frances Starr. with whom he remained
for three seasons.
j. Hammond Daley and Carson Daven-
port come from the Orpheum Players, at
phia; Jerome Renner. from stock COM
panies in New York. Providence. and
Boston: Aline McDermott, from the Nell
Players in st. Paul and Denver; Julia
Blanc, from stock engagements in Chi
cago, Denver. Boston, and Brooklyn, and
Doris Woodbridge, from the Belasco Al
Cazar Theater in San Francisco and Los
Angeles.
The sale for the opening week of the
engagement has been unprecedentedly
large, and the part Of wisdom would
seem to indicate reservations at the
earliest possible moment If one does not
wish TO be disappointed in their ability
TO secure them.
IF reports reaching here are to be de-
pended upon the latest addition to the
Columbia Players will prove one OF the
most popular of that excellent organiza-
ton It is Godfrey Matthews who will
make his first appearance in the East
as member Of this organization. For
some years past Mr.. Matthews has been
leading man with the AlCazar company
in San Francisco. the Bishop Players in
Oakland and Los angeles. and the
Baker Stock Company in Portland, Greg
Other members of the organization are
Gertrude Hitz, Waugh Hull, Willard
Robertson, and Henry Miller, jr.
What promises to be the most important
musical event of the season will be the
two performances of grand opera by the
Chicago Grand Opera Company at the
BelascO Theater on Saturday, March o.
The matinee, which will begin at 2
o'clock. will be Verdfs Egyptian opera.
Aida" and the night performance will
be Victor Herbert's American opera,
''Natoma." The former will be sung in
Italian, and the latter in English.
Mr.. Andreas DippeL general manager
of the Chicago company, states that both
operas will be mounted just as they have
been at the Auditorium in Chicago and
At the Metropolitan Opera House in New
York, and that no detail will be lacking
TO make both performances long remem-
bered by opera patrons in this city. The
casts announced assure splendid presen-
tations of both works
In Aida" which by many operagoers
is regarded as Verdi's greatest master
piece the role of the Ethiopian slave,
Aida, will De sung by Carmen Melis, the
beautiful young soprano of the Boston
Opera Company, who will be the Chi
Cago cOmpany's guest artist" on this
occasion. The role of Radames, the con-
quering Egyptian captain. will be sung
by Amadeo Bassi, the celebrated Italian
tenor Eleonora de Cisneros, the Amer
lean COntralto, will be heard as Amneris
the Egyptian princess. Hector Dufranne.
thunder" will sing the role of AmonasrO
the conquered Ethiopian king Gustavus
Huberdeau. the French basso. will be
Ramfis, the high priest and Constantin
Nicolay will be the Egyptian king. The
ballet will be headed by Rosina CALI,
the premiere danseuse of the company,
who, from the rapidity of her dances.
has been called the Italian PavIowa"
The performances will be directed by
Ettore PerOsio, the Italian conductor.
A great deal has been said and written
about Victor Herbert's American opera,
''Natoma," which has met with splendid
success in New York, where il was
given three times in three weeks: in Chi
cagO, and several other large cities in
which II has been sung.
An unsUaI feature of this performance
will be the presence of Mr.. Herbert him
self on the conductors stand. This will
be the first time that the composer has
ever conducted ''Natoma," all presenta-
tiOns heretofore having been conducted
by Cleofonte Campanini. The role of the
Indian girl. Natoma. who loves the Amer
lean lieutenant, will be sung by the cele-
brated prima donna, Mary Garden. This
role is said to be one of the finest in
Miss Gardens large repertoire. Jane Os-
born-Hannah, the American soprano, will
sing the part of Barbara, the Spanish
maid. who is loved by the lieutenant.
The part of the American will be sung by
George Hamlin, the young Chicago tenor,
who made his grand opera debut in this
part the first of the season.
Mario Sammarco, the Italian barytone.
will be the Spanish lover, Alvarado, who
meets death at the hands of Natoma.
Others in the cast will be Hector Du-
frame, the French barytone, as Father
Peralta, the priest; Henri Scott, the
American bassO. as Don Francisco, the
father of Barbara; Frank Preisch, the
American barytone, who, as Jose Castro,
the half-breed, dances the much-talked-
of dagger dance" with Miss Garden; Ar
mand, Crabbe, and Constantin Nicolay.
Mile. CALI, the dancer will appear as
Chiquita, for whom Mr.. Herbert. has
written a special dance.
One of the real musical treats of the
season is announced for Wednesday after |
noon, March 20, at 4:3O O'Clock, at the |
Columbia Theater, where. under the man.
agement of T. Arthur Smith, little Miss |
Marie Estelle Belt will be heard in plano |
recital.
Assisting her on this occasion will be |
her accomplished sister, Helen Walton |
Belt, by many regarded as one of the /
most expert viOlinists for her years that
has ever been heard in this country. The /
sisters are possessed of a captivating per-
sonality that wins for them the hearts
Of their audiences before the first note
is sounded. but however effective the
first impression may be the revelation
Or genius displayed by the youthful i
artists compels an admiration that ge-
nrn1Ny fpG