The Washington times., 1916-11-24

tity In it's support OF the esthetics,
can furnish much justification and
can also refute the accusation against
II to a certain degree. The case IN
hand In the limited support given the
three evenings of the Russian Ballet,
recently.
Washington is not a large city, but
neither is IL a provincial one. me
temporary residents of the National
Capital are probably in excess OF the
number OF permanent ones. and botn
classes are made up OF cultured ana
Travelled people.
Years ago, the Metropolitan Opera
Company met with disastrous expeIi
ences here for q very Definite reason
They would return year after year IoI
their brief season, presenting the
same operas-always Faust TOT tno
matinee-and gradually the patronass
declined until II no longer represented
a paying proposition.
Same Repertory.
Just so has Il happened In this In
stance, together with a price that
proves excessive to the majority. The
Metropolitan Musical Bureau sends
down the same repertory for the Bal
let Russo that had been given here
less than year before. IL also
changes the scheduled program. Al
vance notices had thoroughly INFORM
ed the people OF Washington that TINS
organization had much to OFFER thet
would interest for its novelty as wen
as for its excellence. But the manage
ment seems not to care. and so IL finos
a patronage that Ia In entire sCSoS
with it's lack OF forethouEht ana DUET
hess ,hi. a. No, 20 disparage the real
splendor OF many OF the performahces
given by this large and brittany az
gregation OF artists. 1t 10 merely 70
attempt to include them IN tne az
fort on the part Of the press, from IN.
symphony conductors. The directors
OF the symphony orchestrm na,
learned what we want, and ~ a..
fying to notice the changes such IN
formation has wrought In the pro
grams presented for this season
Patronage IncreasinE.
Patronage Of the musical attrac-
tons in Washington IL increasing
each year. II IL surprising how wen
and how often we provide capacity
houses throughout tho season. There
was n zest shown In the attitude TO-
ward tho Boston Grand Opera Company
last season that should gain II an
increased following this year, Fec rec.
pie were ssyins. This seems hA'
The Boston Company. with. casts
that challenged comparison with any
we have enjoyed. gave us PERFORM
ances Of the frst rank In both balIet
of what il demanded and RECEIVED
in the larger centers. The new Monte
mezsi tragic opera Tho Love OF Three
Kings was above reproneh BEN
iowa Ballet Russo made the perform:
ancs completes in a series OF BRILLIANT
Saiists. including tho "Eiysian Fields
ballet excerpt from the aiuck opera ds;
nerts Of % orfso and Euridiee sung by
Marie Gay. with her glorious con-
trnito voice. and Blanca Saroya, So
prano. That much confederation we
need II We are TO assure the visi''hs
attractions an adequate supper!
Oscar Hammerstein. that artistic
opera impresario, In giving answer TO
the question OF why, so few opera
companies succeed. said: Tho primer,
paI reason IL because the public VIII
not patronize grand opera VI " no,
the Metropolitan Opera House.or
better. The public has ~ standard
now and you must meet IL.
Learned NJ Going.
As TO how he had learned so much
about opera he testines conclusively
in Musical America when he says:
by soing to II. Ever since ! was
a boy ! spent all my spare money In
opera tickets. used to go every
night and sit up In the gallery At
the Old Academy OF Music New
I missed a single performance for
fifteen years OF grand opera in this
city and got TO know the old-time
operas so we'll I could write every
bar OF music In the score"
era he says.
Acting is Just as important as
singing FOR the grand opera singer. l