The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1912-01-16
The TheQterS
At THE GENNETT.

The Aborn English Grand Opera
Company, one of the best known oper-
attic organizations in this country
which plays long engagements in Bos-
ton, New York. Chicago and other of
the metropolises of America, and
which recently was in indianapolis for
a week, where it played and sang to
crowded houses, appeared last evening
at the Gennett in Martha" one of the
standard and familiar operas, with
whose music almost everyone is more
or less familiar.
While the AbOrn Company did not
put on some of its more notable SOLO
lists here. since opera companies of it's
status must vary their castles, the prin-
cipals had voices of agreeable cali
bre, and, in the case of Miss Jane A.
ercrombie. who took the leading role,
of distinction.
The story of the opera is too we'll
known to recapitulate, suffice to say it
has for its setting rural England in
the time Of Queen Anne" as the pro-
gram succinctly describes it, with the
0PA Spoc 0Au AAASC Gil SNSAC.
Miss Abercrombie, as MARTHA" the
center about which the dramatic &C.
ton revolves, and, by her charming
personality and beautiful voice, focuss.
ing the interest of the audience. lent
realism to the presentation Of Flotow's
heroine. with her disdainful air, and
hauteur and caprices of the fine lady.
Miss Abercrombie is the possessor
Of a coloratura soprano of much flex-
Utility which she handles with dexter
tty and musical eclat, her cadenzas
being enforced and smooth and her
climaxes admirably sustained. Her
lack OF artificiality. indeed. was notice
able and one of her charms, one which
appealed to the lay public which is apt
to base its uniformed criticisms on
such unessentials which are. after all,
important in effects achieved.
The soprano soloist, in fact, capti-
waited her audience. especially with
her presentation of THE Last Rose of
Summer"
Mr.. Leonid Samoloff. who sang in
the role Of her lover. "Lionel'-the
part being mistakenly on the program
as sung by Domenico Russo-was con-
vincing dramatically, his voice having
timbre and vigor of color but
being trifle strained in certain tones,
possibly by overuse AS the lyric tenor
Of operate tradition. however, he
made an appeal and in his solo num-
bers as we'll as those with the soprano
sang with SO much effect that he was
recalled.
OF the other two principals. Mr..
William Shuster. as "Plunkett." and
MISC Elaine de Sellem, as Nancy"
the companion of Martha" the latter
was the better histrion, Miss de Sci
lem. indeed. being clever actress and
investing he: characterization with
much vivacity. her mezzo-soprano be-
ing rich in tone.
Mr.. Shuster took the part of the
blun farmer consistently being the
poseessor of baritone of sustained
quality.
The chorus was not overwhelming
but made an effective tonal back
ground for the voices Of the principals
and their ensemble singing was euua-
BILE enough.
Altogether the appearance of this op-
cratic organization in Richmond was
notable in its way and gave its audi
ence much pleasure.
1t must be said. however, that Rich.
mond 10 q curious place
II you say it 10 not musical and art
center people jump up and down and
foam ut the mouth and shrek knock
er" and some individual howls for the
Nme-nght and says-"see what have
done for the town"
Why is 1t then that the Aborn Grand
Opera Company, of whose standing