The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-04
Rr.nIRYTLE MILES

Mrs. Lee Moody, who, with iMr. Moody, recently enjoyed the French opera aLd many of the other delights which New Orleans showers upon her visitors, has just returned to her home in Bessemer Vivacity and enthusiasm, ,which aresso es- sentiallv characteristic of this clever young matron, added atspice tofthe in- telligent account of her visit, which she gave a few days ago over cup of choc- olate downtown Ignorant that she was undergoing the supposed "ordear' of all interview, she chatted earnestly, sincere ly and sometimes-as is hers wont-wittlly Of her lovely visit Mrs. Moody is all ways socially in demand during her visits to her former home, and she confessed to a reception, bridge party, an afternoon tea. a dinner, a luncheon at the Country club and one at the Pickwick, besides being entertained every evening at sup per somewhere during a weeks stay. As both she and MT. Moody are exceptionally attractive dinner guests, one can be sure that there were more invitations than thev could accept. As to why their yisl- preceded Mardi Gras instead of being planned to coincide, she said;
 Although carnival proper Is not unti. the latter part of February, many of the smaller organizations are now giving tfeir balls. and the city is already crowded with visitors We went at this time be- cause we wished to attend the trench opera and see something Of our trlends' which is impossible later, as the opera season closes before carnival, and at that time every one is so occupied with house nuests whom they must take to the pa- rades and balls that one can see noth- ing of old friends
 New Orleans shared with this sec tion the bad weather of December and January, but the week we spent there was ideally lovely The vegetation is ranidlv recovering from the recent freeze lviolets and-r roses are beginning to bloom again." &
 She told with chief Interest however of the old French opera house. around which so many interesting memories cling of it's renovation and redeeoratlon. ihe entrance, she said, has been entirely rec modelled and presents quite modern appearance As to the troupe, she pro- nounces it the best that New Orleans has had in years, and as Mrs. Moody is a most discriminating critic of music and IS an annual visitor to the opera, her opin- ion Is of value. The two productions which she heard were Puccinfs Madame ,t,;Ntarf,," and Massenet's "Don Ouichotte" The latter, of course, as
 
 ing. Mrs Moody said of it:
 'This, you may know, had it's initial pro dnction in AmCflca Saturday night though it had been given 300 consecutive performances in Paris and is still run ming there. Yes" she replied to a qnes, ton as to the plot "the opera is founded on the well known story of Don Quixote and ends in the unhappy knights death It was sung before a brilliant and dts criminating audience, who, however seemed scarcely to know what to tninh of an opera in which most of the sing ing is done by Q basso, the prlnol3ei character, part excellently handled by Mons. Beckmans.~ From the time or ms entrance on his steed. Rosinante, accom- panied by his faithful Sancho played by Mons. Montane), astride donkey, the two held the center of the stage. The music throughout Is extremely beautl- ful and sure to live. The .preludes to tho third and fifth acts we're so lovelX and so marvelously rendered by the orchestra that they were rapturously encored.' Madame Butterfly which is always so cordially received, seems, according to Mrs. Moody, to have created the most favorable impression of anySot the operas'