Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-06-14

Hood was able to make the acquaintance
of Nine. Calve, at Nice, where one of
the greatest of Carmens lives in luxuri-
GUS ease as she pleases and sings with
all her old-time fire when she chooses
as the presiding genius of the local opera
house. The veteran prilna donna showed
| many kindnesses to the young American.
! Miss Hood returned to the United States
last December, without a European APP
pearance, which she did not attempt but
with the assurances of teachers that her
exquisite voice and method and her
marked talent as an actress would IN
time bring her a name Her first pro-
fessional engagement was with the Aborn
Opera Company, and declining to appear
among her friends in Washington until
she had tried herself out elsewhere. she
successfully sang the heroine in Faust
for week in Pittsburgh. She has
studied also Mimi, Nine. Butterfly and
other leading roles, but has not yet hao
opportunity to appear in them.
1.-The charm of Miss Hood is first one OF
personality. Her first adviser of the
Metropolitan Opera Company had said
| that she had the singing face an asset
| Of the greatest value when accompanied
| with artistic skill. Her voice is rich ano
| colorful, with the tremulous suggestion
| of pathos, so touching in tragic role
| yet of dramatic strength which IS
| quite equal to the impassioned demands
| of the trio in the prison scene. In he1
| acting is finish and reserve, and in heI
singing method fiexibility which suS-
gests excellent control of the arts OF
tone production. With all the tempta-
| tons of friendship and applause before
her in her home city, she neither over
| acts nor over-sings. 1t is not too high
| praise to say that in her performance OF
Marguerite this week the critic would be
exceptionally keen and able who would
say that it is virtually her first. Wash
| ington is not especially a musical city.
| but competent critics who have heard
| Miss Hood this week agree that here is q
singer who is worthy more than perfume
! tory attention.
| CHILDREN AND GRAND OPERA
| To paraphrase Shakespeare, Which is
| the properest age to begin" cultivating a
| taste for good music? Should children
be sent to concerts and opera at ten
| der age, or should they wait until the
| desire to go is spontaneous?
| The two young women who will sing
| the title parts in "Hansel and Gretel,' =
| Humperdinck's fairy tale opera, this
| week answer the question.
Il find" said Miss Gladys Chandler,
| who is still in her teens and plays the
boys part. THAT children enjoy grand
opera such as 'Hansel and Gretel'' in
rather peculiar ways. For instance, chill
| dren between the ages of five and seven
applaud and laugh heartily at all the
antics 1 can possibly put into the acting
| of Hansel rather than the singing, while
| children ranging in age from eight 10
| twelve or fourteen and beyond enjoy
| the singing.
| Il believe in parents taking children
| to hear grand opera. Ours is the only
| country in the world where the child, as
| a rule is ignorant of the wonderful
| stories of the operas. If child can sing
| a little nursery rhyme, why may it not
! just as easily learn to sing a simpitied
| version of the beautiful aras from many
| of the classic works of the masters
| Miss Mary Carson. who will play Gretel,
said:
Il find that all 'kiddies' who are
brought to hear grand opera by their
parents love to hear the story first. They
seem to be more certain about what they
want in the way of enjoyment than the
grown-ups.' They do not seem to be
singing is that of an angel or not. l am
speaking, of course, only of the child
| under ten years of age.
II have always envied European chill
dren their delight in going to hear grand
opera. 1t is part of the family training
| the little children abroad singing arias
from operas with the same ease with
which you hear American children
whistling or singing ragt!me.
II am sure it would be ideal II Amer
| lean parents, now that popular grand
an institution within the reach of all.
would take their children to hear and
| see the production of the masters, there
| b. making il part of their education"
| POLLS NEW LEADING MAN.-Rich-
ard Wayne. one Of the best known
leading men in the country. has been