The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-16

A ham is to have the opera, 4 \ Chimes of Normandy" on May l. has caused revival of interest in some of the Birmingham musicians of a good many years agone. A very attractive and well known society woman re- marked at luncheon last week that if reminscing is sign of the creeping on of old age" she would have to acknowl- edge that she was growing old, for she and her husband had laughed over the long ago last night when we read ill the papers that the Birmingham Opera asso- eiation is going to give that very beauti- ful opera, The Chimes of Normandy on May 4. It was 20 years ago this spring or fall, I forget which, she said, Eve gave the same opera here in Birmingham. What a great time we had rehearsng and putting 1t on and the not content with our success here, we filled two en- gagements en tour, one at Decatur and the other at Huntsville.
 we gave it for the benefit of the Jefferson Volunteers, an organization composed of a great many popular boys and several of them had fine voices. Miss Mamie Terrell now Mrs Atcher- son of New York, was the director. The late Edward E. Williams was director of the old Apollo club orchestra, which fur nished the accompaniment for our public presentations,s Mrs Harry Matthews was our splendid serpolette, and Miss Pattie Ruffner, now Mrs. Solon Jacobs was Germaine. James John. was one of the principals, Ferd Putnam, who in those days sang superbly and Shad one. of the principal characters. and Mir. J. A. Yates, who was also at that time one of our most popular baritones, was in the cast. MT. Ben Carter, now of Wash ington, and MT. B. M. Allen were both in the cast. MT. Oliver Miles, who pos- sessed beautiful tenor voice, was one of us. Also Mr Lorenzo Lucky and MT. bowman Handley l don't remember if it was this particular opera but it was about the same time that both MT. Sam Blake and MT Sam Cowan were always the funny men in our operas and to tlose of this period who only knew these men and women as business men and club and society women, do not know that they were singers of ability and that they have histrionie talent, too. MT Solon Jacobs was one of the violinists in the orchestra for the Chimes of Nor mandy" and was the business manager on our tour to north Alabama. Mir Dick
 
 orchestra Can you think of MT. B. NJ. Allen, the distinguished barrister, as a member of an opera, and it was about the same time that he played Shakes pearean roles successfully also.
 The first time I ever saw Miss Louise Bannister, afterward Mrs. Truman Ald- trich, it was on this same trip to Hunts vile. She occupied one of the boxes with a party of friends and was present at the wonderful ball given us after the performance.
 There are columns upon columns might tell about the opera at that time, but it was 20 years ago and I really must not tell much of this reniniscing or l. might become habit and be telling secrets, too
 So we turned our attention to this new production of the old opera
 Mrs. w. T. Ward who is the serpolette this time, is diminutive, charming little singer and a wonderful little ac- tress. Miss Helen Marsh, who will sing Germaine has voice which comes as easy as the birds sing in the spring time. and it is as fresh as the flowers /, Having heard them at their. rehearsal last Thursday night and it is amazing to find such perfection and finish in the entire ensemble. MT. Posner's big voice Is given full play, and he, of course has heretofore, in parts he has taken in the opera, passed the stage of amateur. MT Lawrence Smiths strong voice suits we'll the part of Grenicheux. and Mr. Wig gins, the mser. who has such difficult role, Goes it superbly. Mrs F. Dodge is a gifted member of the caste also Mrs. Mary Boshwitz. Mr. Dave Black weder does the Baily we'll, and the cho- ruses are very unusual They have in the chorus number of good solosts among, them Mrs. J. T. Leeper of Colum- biana. She is studying here, and has a ftt,oo live t-ni1 .1tl,. out-of-town people in the cast and there will be number of visitors from other parts of the state. when the opera is presented at the Jefferson at two per foimances. afternoon and evening of May
 The Birmingham Opera association is doing it's full part, with MT Lawrence directing, and Mrs. Philip Oster the splendid president of the organization, to interest the community in music and give them finished performance once year