The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1914-02-06
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WASHINGTON.

That Detroit music lovers were
eager for q taste of grand opera was
fully proven Thursday evening, whei
the Washington theater was illeC
from boxes 20 top gallery with fash
ionable audience, for the performance
OF Saint.Saens' samson ct Dalila,' by
the National Grand Opera company
OF Canada. Canada has lot OF be
longings 10 which it can point with
pride. and not the least should be It's
grand opera company. The company
has its home IN Montreal, where, IA
His Majesty's theater. II gives a regu-
lar season OF grand opera throughout
the winter months. Just now for a
few weeks between the regular win
ter season and supplementary spring
season, ii has ventured into the mia.
die west OF the United States ana
will go, also. into the Canadian north
west TO let folk know that The Lady
OF the Shows" has something beside
below-zero temperatures, the Rocky
mountains and the Hudson bay.
In Thursday evenings performance,
Mime. Jeanne Geryille-Reache, the
French contraito who was I'm Detroit
earlier I'm the season IN concert. was
the Dalila and Leo Slezak, the giant
tenor, also heard locally in recital
about two years ago, was the Samson.
These artists made their first great
success, in America. in these roles in
New York, and their right 10 suprem'
acy in the parts has never been as
sailed. Nine. Reache is an ideal Da-
lila in physique and voice, and Sic
gak's magnificent physique and splen-
did voice present the ideal Samson.
Nine. Reache has said that she does
not consider the Dalila of the opera
the mercenary harlot OF the Biblical
story, but a woman who sacrifices her
self for the good OF her people and
who destroys Samson, first, because
he is the enemy OF her people. and,
second, because, although he once
flowed her, he forsook her and she is
bent upon revenge.
The libretto of the opera deviates
sin many ways from the scriptural
story, and indeed all that remains OF
1t are the three principal characters
Dalila, Samson and the high priest.
Mime. Reache makes Dalila an alluring.
voluptuous, seductive temptress. she
dresses the part with gorgeous raj
iment and flaming color. She sings
with a richness OF voice and acts with
"a dramatic intensity that makes the
woman seem very real human be
ing. Nine. Reache is a singer and an
actress who succeeds in leaving con-
ventional operate traditions behind,
and, instead OF the usual, stin, yocaliy
correct. perhaps, but wooden, imper-
sonation OF the average grand opera
heroine, she invests the character she
is enacting with the vital spark and
visualizes a convincing portrait.
almost the entire score OF the sec
ond act OF the opera falls 70 Dalila,
and Mme Reache sang gloriously IN
this scene. before Dallas house in the
valley of SoreCk, Georges Roseln, III
the part OF the high priest, had his
best opportunity and he shared nohors
with Nine Reache and Slezak IL
would be difficult 10 imagine a more
satisfying trio of artists for TINS opera
than Reache. Slezak and Roselh.
Slezak. a giant in stature arl girth,
not only presented the ideal physicai
conception of Samson, but he made
him a most commanding figure in the
earlier scenes and a deeply pathetic
one at the end Samson. whom one
IS apt TO think of as weakling VINO
betrayed his people because or
gross passion for Dalila, is made by
Slezak. a man turned from his mission
as savior OF his people by great
love for a beautiful woman, who
lures him by every feminine vile, al
ways making him believe that she
bears him an equal love and that she,
too, IS willing 10 sacrifice all else 70
possess him The scene OF enttce-
ment in Dallas garden was acted
with discretion without lessening It's
dramatic power and the singing OF
both artists was delight.
The staging OF the opera was ade-
quate and carefully correct If not par
.ticularly remarkable. The chorus Is
the typical grand opera chorus--eX-
traordinarily stout, comfortable-look- !
ing men and women of uncertain |
years, but knowing how 10 sing the |
score and imbued with the traditions |
OF the grand opera stage. II totally |
without life or acting ability. The |
stage groupings were stiff even for |
grand opera. The ballet women, while |
younger In years than the chorus |
women, had little OF good looks in |
their favor. Ethel Gilmore, the Cana
dian premiere danseuse, however, is
a pretty young woman and danced |
cleverly.
The orchestra, under Conductor /
Agide Jacchia, was equal 10 all de-
mands and Jacchia was brought be- 1
fore the curtain at the end OF the sec
Ond act TO share acknowledgment of 1
the enthusiastic applause given !
Reache. Slezak and Roselli
The audience WAS lavish In its APP /
'proval OF the work OF the leading \
artists, and the opening OF the brief 1
season OF the company was assuredly 1
O success. The opera was given in !
French.
Friday evening, Ponchielli's ia !
Gioconda," will be given ia Italian |
with Mines. Marie Rappold, Rose Olitz-
lsa, and Marie Claessens and NM. !
Giovanni Farmo. Giovanni MARITIME. |
Jose Segura-Tallieu. Natalie Cervi, Pi. |
.etro Angel and Enrico Rossi. with |
Jacchia conducting.
Saturday afternoon the double bill
OF la Navarraise." in French, and
THE Secret OF Suzanne" in Italian.
will be given, and Saturday evening
l"Otello," In Italian.
ELLA MAE HAWTHORNE.
Al. Fields and Jack Lewis In their
1udicrous conceit, THE Misery OF the