Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-04-01
The AbOrn Company Presents
Faust" With Distinction
and Musical Excellence.
MISS EDITH HELENA AS
MARGUERITE MOVES HOUSE
Mr.. Samaloff as Faust Less
Notable Than the Valentine
or Mephistopheles.

OPERA also, IneIG Is hOIle tldt tofN9
so much of the singer. The vocal
power and quality of both are but the
Instrument. There must be presence,
beauty, perhaps, character and ex-
perience of passion. Faust" which
was sung last night at the Newark
Theatre by the Aborn Grand English
opera. organization. was a severe test
of the excellence of the company.
on the other hand. Gounod's music
IS SO beautiful, so thoroughly per
feet tone vehicle of the Faust
legend. that sincere artists cannot
choose a more appropriate introduce
ton for their season. Its sensnous
arias. its wonderfully-wr theme
and perfect form have made 1t, per-
haps, the most popular of all operas.
once begun, its charm casts spell
upon those who hear it.
1t may be said at once that the
Aborn company is one OF artistic ex-
cellence and training. Its members,
stars and chorus alike, sang and
acted with responsive enthusiasm.
The orchestra also, small as 1t was,
did we'll its part. The reward for TINS
combined effort to please was
rather cold reception on the part OF
the audience. There was applause
hut Il was not from the heart, and 1t
apneared as il a "claque" had hand
in it. Yet there have been FAR more
ambitious operate groups whose
presentation of Gounod's masterpiece
has been less satisfactory
The Marguerite of the cast, Miss
Edith Helena. has pure soprano OF
a fine range Her appearance IS
pleasing. nay, more, it is strangely at
tractiye. Her acting in the part, too.
is naive and effective. Her httle
mannerisms and gestures are such as
2the gentle Marguerite herself Woula
affect naturally. They were graceful
hut vet devoid of art. AS she sat at
/ fbe spinning wheel she seemed singu-
larly like Nine. Emma Juch Wheh
that artist sang the same role with
Colonel Mapleson's opera company
in Chicago and the West. In the
nrison scene her triumph was notable.
she was veritable tragic muse as
she sang what from the moor
ascendeth like a ghost!' upon the
temperance in her cell of Mephs-
topheles. Again. her discovery OF the
: lsewels supplied by the iiend was par
ticuiarly striking as histrionic
achievement, and was worthy OIL
some of the most famous prime
dome. But in other certain quallnca-
tions for example, passionate aban-
ann To her new born love, she falls
far short of the standard established
IN other artistes whom one eonlo
name. But Marguerite Is dlfhcult
role. and until singer has learned 10
..,et herself co. as a great Enslish
musical critic expresses 1t, with
personal experience of the "grande
.,ass,on II is too much to expect that
she will satisfy the conception OF the
creation OF a master painter OF pas
sion.
Misc lane Herbert sang the role OF
seibel. Her rich, ringing notes were
"a Measure to the ear; her presence
was more a pleasure to the senses.
Miss Herbert is of a voluptuous type
with mien especially adapted TO
,he stage. In other operas where
sbe win he longer in evidence more
ann he said of her voice. Marta, Miss
Hattie Belle Ladd, sang acceptapiy.
OF the male artists the one deserV-
I ing Of the highest praise to our nina
was Lewys James, as valentine
Wis voice is naturally of the richest
most thrilling quality, and his phras-
ing is extremely graceful. In ms
death scene after his duel with the
arch fiend he has need Of the study
of better models than he has mad Tor
the histrionic part of his role' put
/ ta,se him all in all 1t Is long time
since we have seen or heard SO eA-
: cellent h Valentine. The same may
he said of the Mephistopheles, Mr..
George Shields. With q form OF the
REQUIRED proportions, and appareatly
naturally dignifed, yet INDUCED
II TOD many bits Of business, all
~ them unsuited to the malevoleat
but august character of Mephlstoph-
eles. OF his bass voice there can De
but one opinion--it is magniiiceh''
hut of his acting 1t might not be CON
sidered impertinent to remind Mr.
Shields that in Goethe's evil solslt
,,fhere is no semblance of the diaple
hoiteux." We speak last of the
Faust. Leonard Samooff, not as
I derogatory 10 him, but as giving am
INC place of honor accorded in &C.
cleslastical pageants to those hiph-
al Ia clerical rank. Mr. Samolnf is
unfortunate In that he is not pre-
nossessing. There are others OF Ear
/, higher fame as tenors who could not
fiji the role of Adonis, but II is per-
haps better that one of the eharac.
ter of the reborn, rejuyenated
Faust should have pretensions TO
manly presence. When the exegencies
IF his role require that his back should
he turned TO the audience one for
.yets his face in the beauty of ris
notes. but at other lines Il is a
handicap for the artist Mr.. Samo-
lofts voice is singuIarly pleasing
golden in particular passages; in
others IL is slightly uncertain, so
that 1t is difficult TO say just what
rank should be assigned to him as an
artist. II is ut least certain that re
would not be considered rost ma
lyorthy in an alignment OF tenors.
OF the orchestra and chorus IT may
| be said again that they deserve en-
comiums for their work The first
rendered the accompaniment of the
score in a sympathetic manner
worthy of the great composer and
with a grace worthy Of musicians.
I 1t Is to be hoped and expected that
when the opera goers or Newark
awake to the fact that an excellent
organization is giving for them some
- a. ...aat celahra ed nnera tic mas