The Washington herald., 1915-12-21
1.-THE Love of Three Kings"
Offers Brilliant Score
Montemezzi's Opera Of Rich
Cadences Followed Last
Night at the Belasco Thea
ter by Pavlowa's Brilliant
Interpretation of Mrs.
Christian Hemmick's
L'Ecole en- Crinoline."
By JULIA CHANDLER MANI.

"L'Amore del ire Re" Montemezzfs
three-act opera. advertised as the novel
ty" of the Boston Grand Opera engage
ment in this city, which was to have been
presented last Thursday evening. had its
Washington premiere at the Belasco
Theater last evening. measuring in ar
tistry quite up to the reputation that had
preceded 1t from New York, Boston and
Chicago.
The book Is Victorian in theme telling
the tragic story of the forbidden love of
Flora. whose heart escapes the bonds
of her marriage to Archibaldo that she
may enjoy her brief span of happiness
in the arms of Avito. her lover. Manfredo
the blind father of Archibaldo discovers
her perfidy. but is unable TO distinguish
her lover. In his love for his son the
father stranSIes the beautiful young wife.
and when she is asleep in death upon
her bier covers her lips with poison.
believing that her lover will steal sur
reptitiously TO the mausolcum to give
kisses she can no longer return. In this
Manfredo's supposition is correct. Avito
seeks his dead love. and after AN I'M
passioned solo. drinks the poison from
lover is in the throes of death. which the
husband also meets in like manner. leav-
ing the aged father comfortlcss. Thus We
have small diversion from the usual
opera development of the grand passion;
its accompanying jealousies and tragic
elimination.
But the score is modern in theme.
achieving cadences of rare beauty
and running the whole gamut of hu-
man emotions in its remarkably
graphic and brilliant depletion of con-
dieting passions.
The brilliant finale of the first act
is followed by the impa ssioned duet
sung by the lovers during the first
half of the second act. furnishing vivid
contrast in the transition to the stir
ring emotionalism. which in its turn
gives way to the tremendous climatic
crescendo following Manfredo's dis
covery of F'ioraS clandestine meeting
with her lover. while the last act is
distinguished by the impassioned tenor
solo over the bier of the ilI-fated
young wife.
Singing the role of Flora last evening
Luisa VILLAIN found in the MuntemeZZi
opera splendid opportunity 10 prove the
full beauty and power Of her highly dra-
matte soprano. admirably meeting the re
quirementS OF the cXactinC part both
vocally and dramatically. while Giovanni
Xenatello was in excellent voice, and
achieved a personal triumph of his biz
solo number in the mausolcum where
love led him to his death.
George Baklanoff gave a splendid vocal
performance as the blind father: Jose
Mardones was capital as Archibaldo. and
other members of the opera organization
were, adequate in the minor roles. The |
orchestration of the Symphonic Poem"
las the composer is pleased to call
Il Amore del tire Rel. was distinct
feature of last evenings performance
with Roberto Moranzoni conducting. and
the scenery furnished by Joseph Urban
still further demonstrates that artists
master genius in achieving beautiful
color and lighting effects.
The terpsichorean feature of Max
unique combination of lyric Z
and choreographic art last evening
was L Ecole en- Crinoline." arranged I
by Mrs. Christian Hemmick to music
from the compositions of Chaminade. |
presenting Anna Pavlowa and her Bal /
let Russo in crinolino with a most ef- |
fective black and white setting
Having long since exhausted nv |