The Washington times., 1914-05-29
TALES OF HOFFMAN,
SCORESAT NATIONAL
ssuis D'AngeIo, Delayed by
Train, Arrives in Time to
Sing Big Solo.

A maddening wait on a slow train, an
ven madder dash in a taxicab to the
heater and a scramble into costume
md makeup, forms the scenario OF a
little story added to the production OF
The Tales of Hoffman, at the Ma
iona, Theater last night by that YER
atile artist, Louis D'Angelo, which was
lot given a place on the program nor
lid the audience get even an lnKlns
Il it. While ii is not generally regard
ID as one of the requirements for grand
,pera, speed is a qualification that
O'Angelo could show If such was neces-
AIRY. He broke all records last nisht
Ietween the Union Station and the very
biggest place in the hearts Of the lars-
lst audience that has yet attended a
performance of the Aborn company
rince the spring season here began.
The young baritone covered himself
'ecitations of his loves when it was
lung in Baltimore last week and il was
Iesired tnat he should have the bari
one parts in the opening here.
He started from Baltimore in time to
get into the theatar, but unfortunately
she train was stuck on the way and
the hour for the curtain to rise found
the singer some miles from the city.
Jean Theslof. fatigued from his work
Is the toreador in the production OF
Carmen" went on in the baritone
parts and the sequence OF the Tales
was rearranged IN order that the big
solos of the baritone might be delayed
as much as possible in the hope that
D'Angelo would arrive.
He came in time TO so On in the
third act and sing the big part OF =.
Miracle" His voice showed little eff
ar n
the Wild dash to the theater, his s-'S-
ing being OF SQuaiity that woa n
mediate and enthusiastic responSr
the audience
Aside from the unusual perfornauSe
81 D'Angelo. of which the audience did
not know the particular feature OF last
nights production was the excellence OF
Bertha Shalek's work as two OF the
;hree loves Of young Hoffman," Nine
shalek was suffering from q cold, but
I vas not discernible either in the
quality OF her singing or acting.
Louise lie Barron as 'Nicklausse"
scored heavily in the famous barcarolle
suet with Nine. .Shalek, her rich con-
lge. Lena Mason as Olympia" the
Mechanical doll. left nothing TO be de-
yired, either in looks or voice. Leonid
Samolof, the '.HonnaIin," gave q much
better account Of himself than In Car
men," his work in the latter part Of
LIE pc4uS SsFcSld4AN
Jean Theslof acquitted himself well in
The baritone numbers he sang, consider
ng the handicaps he was laboring
1nder. Florence Coghlan, William
Schuster and Philip Branson each con-
tributed their share to make the pro-
suction typical Of the Aborn work-a
well sung. well acted and finely staged
opera >-.
In addition to the announcements that
have been made regarding the succeed
ng productions OF this opera, Eileen
Castles will share the part Of "Antonia''
with Nine Shalek and Lena Mason.
Miss Castles will appear Saturday even
ing. Tonight Sciarretti will be the
Hoffman," Jayne Herbert the S'Nick-
eusse." Eileen Castles the doll, Lena
Mason the "Antonia," Florence Cough
an the Venician love, and D'Angelo
will have all the baritone parts.
GARDNER MACK.