The Washington times., 1912-03-24
Alice EVersman
Scores Success by
? Her Work in "Aida'

There were few shortcomings yester-
day in the Chicago grand opera COM
panN's rendition of Verdi's ColorfuI
Egyptian opera of "Aida," notwithstand-
ing the fact that twenty minutes after
the stated time for the curtain to rise
on the first act the manager Of the
Company announced from the stage Of
$he BelascO Thcater that Madame Car
SR4en Melis, who had been "Ioaned'' for
Jhe performance, had failed to make
ber appearance, and that Miss Alice
EVersman would take her place lie
Respoka for her substitute the indul-
&ence of the audience, explaining that
&he would sing the role in English, and
Shis without any previous rehearsal
1ither with the company or with the
orchestra.
= That she filed the important role with
Credit to herself and to the delight of
tshe audience indicated that the manage
Hhent made no mistake when it placed
m her hands the difficult task of filling
1he vacancy caused by the non-arrival
Rf Carmen Melis. This was demonstrate
nd TO a degree by the ovation accorded
her 1.-THE end Of the first act, follow
ing her superbIy rendered solo, which
sGloses the scene.
ShareS curtain Call
~ Again it was evidenced at the COncIu-
Sion Of the second act, when after an
enthusiastic curtain call Elcanora De
SEisneros, who yesterday impersonated
NtmnGris, brought Miss Evcrsman down
10 the front of the stage to share the
Hurtain call with her and compelled the
Ninger to. share also with her the i'm
rnense sheaC Of American Bcautytroscs
that had been passed over the foOtltghts
to Miss De Cisneros.
aida has been called Nerdis master
piece. 1t was written at the time this
great artists career was "A its meridian,
after his youthful enthusiasm had given
place to a broader, fuller conception. 1t
is too well known to all lovers of grand
opera to require a description, for al
sare familiar with its Opulcnt melody
its bizarre pageantry, and its Oriental
atmosphere. The prelude in the scent
in the palace Of the King at Memphis
is a superb tone poem. The scene iT
.the Temple of Vulcan at Memphis is a
marVelously beautiful conception, anC
the crashing tlamboyant opening OF
the fourth act. again in the kings
palace, is as gorgeous a scene as car
=l9e found in 1he entire list Of grand
operas, Tn" ensemble numbers auC
ceremonial sCer"s as Givcn by the
Chicago company yesterday leave littl,
no he desired.
Yesterdays cast was as follows:
Alda...~........,...... t,NcTEnr7l
acknowledgements. ElcanOra de CisnerOs
R0dameS. ..--.,..,. ......,... AlnaCCO Bass
AmonaSro. ...............H"CtJr Dufrannt
ItamtlS:- ,....,..-...........H Henri Scot
The KING ..COnSlantin NiC0lal
I'lleSt'SS, .-''...,....,.A Agnes Berry
Messenger. .Sdnto Mandcll
D. Miss Eversman's Success.
.. Thcv represent the flower Of tho chi
eRgo company. and SO satisfactory wa
EMiss Eversmau in the impersOnatiou q
The title role, that few in the uudicnc
bseerped to remember or regret the ab
sence of Carmen Mclis. EIGanora D.
CisncrOs' rich Coutralto voice W.
superb in the part OF Amnclis, an,
Bassi looked and acted the part of Rad
ames to perfection. Henri Scott, as tn
High Priest, was vivid i'm his pOrtraya
of this character The incidental dance
were given by the large corps de ballet
with RQsiua CALI as pTCmcrC dunsruso
- EttOTC PerOsiO conducted, and thUug,
sthe audience was small, it was cor
dial one, and especially lavish with an
plause The Unusually sumDwOUs stag
settings, and the historLcall. ColToC
. costumes added not a little ~ the GrtIs
tic presentation.