The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1914-02-09
WASHINGTON.

WASHINGTON.
brilliant close to brief. but
markedly excellent. season OF grand
opera was the performance OF Verdi s
Otello.' Saturday evening. in the
Washington theater. by the. National
Grand Opera company OF Canada.
fhe house was filled and there was
he greatest enthusiasm for the prin-
cipal singers and for the performance
as whole
Leo Slezak embodied the physical
aud other attributes OF the Moor OF
the imagination, IN his great height
nobility OF bearing, acting power and
splendid voice Local music-loyers
should feel that tho persons respon
sible for bringing The National com
pany to Detroit, are deserving or
much thanks for the fact alone that
opportunity was presented TO hear
SleEak in two such remarkable char
ae1erlEatIons, as Oseilo and Samson.
Nine. Luisa VILLAIN, young ana
most attractive woman with "A beau'
tiiuily developed voice, offered a No-
caiiy- satisfying and beauteons Des-
demona. Jos Segura -Tallien whose ar
Jistic WORK in the role OF the lnquisr
lion spy, in Friday evenings prodtc'
lion OF La Giconda" stamped him as
an artist OF unusual power was the
very incarnation or tile sinister. CRAFTY
lmbition-r ridden lago OF Shakespeare
ext. The three artists upon whose
shoulders, IN their respective roles,
the burden OF the opera rests, proved
hemseleys entirely equal 20 the heavy
demands
Pietro De Blast, as lodovico' Al
redo Graziani, as Casio Mario kos.
sini, as Roderigo: Natalie CerN. a.
Montana. and Dali Mole, as the her
aid, were excellent IN the minor roles
Nine. Stella de Mette. as Emilia, was
equally good in the small demands
made OF her Conductor 1acchio was
particularly successful in his work
with the orchestra.
The opera was staged carefully. and
we'll. and the entire performance
eminently worth while.
The afternoon performance was
particularly attractive 10 opera lovers
in the fact that ii presented two one
act operas not before heard In De
troit- Massenets La NaYarraise,
and Wolf.Ferrari's III Segreto de SUI
2anna." The formeN again brought
forward in It's principal role. the
company's best artistic, Nine. Ger
ville-Reache. The opera 10 very SINH
lar in its elemental passion 10 Cav.
'lleria Rusticana." Nine Reacho gave
wonderful performance of Anita,
.e peasant girl. who kills the brigand
40 earn the bag OF gold from the gen
eral or the spanish army that she
may bring a marriage portion 10 the
father or her soldier lover, Araquii,
and win his parents consent TO the
marriage Araquil believing that
Anita has sold herself TO the enemy,
denounces and repudiates her as he
dies from wounds received in a skir-
mish with the brigands forces, and
Anita, bereft OF reason, dies Oh the
body OF her lover Nine Reache pow
erfully acted the role and her rich
ana lovely voice was a Us best IN
the music.
The opera was picturesQuely mount
ed and Conductor Jacchta aud his men
played the coloriul and gorgeously
passionate and melodic score with
spirit.
Mischaska Leon, tie young RUSSIAN
tenor, made a splendid impression as
Araquil. singing and acting in man
ner 70 round ont Nine Reaches ell
forts and winning distinct favor from
ne audience His temperance To-
cally Will be welcome. Georges Ro'
selli as the Spanish general, deep
ened the good impression he made IN
Samson CT Dalila.'
Nine. Dera de PHILIPPE and Rafaele
de FeFfan were delightful In the Wolf /
Ferrari little domestic comedy OF the
Jealous husband who suspects his
pretty wife of having a, lover because
when he enters her apartments he
so frequently detects the odor OF to- (
baceo. Suzanna's secret which she (
so slyly conceals from her husband. Is
n weakness for smoking cigarettes !
The opera il frothy and amusing
,rltie, and was capitally sung and act /
ID by VI. dc Ferran and Nine. de .
PHILIPPE Natalie Cervi, as the dumb 4
man servant, proved himself clever !
pantomimist
Oscar Spirescu conducted, making |
his first appearance at the head OF (
the orchestra during the engagement. |
This company OF artists Will always /
be welcome in Detroit, and cannot I
come 10 soon again nor too often.
ELLA MAE HAWTHORNE.