El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-06-26
BENEFIT FOR
OPERA COMPANY
Patriotic and Generous
Service by Navarrete
Merits Recognition.

Monday night the principals Of the
AIDA Navarrete Mexican-Italian Opera
company sang for the closing ban
quet OF the Red Cross committee;
while the best effects OF operate
music are always had under proper
stage conditions with costumes, ac-
cessories, and acting. the members Of
the company, singing in a crowded
hall not suited to musical entertain
ments, gave such great pleasure to
those present that they not merely
clapped and applauded in the usual
way. but cheered and saluted the
lovely prima donna and her associates
again and again. The company Of
fered its services freely for the Red
Cross cause.
The same evening. the company
was giving Italian opera at the Texas
Grand and the total receipts from
seat sales in the house fell S24 short
of paying the actual expenses of
opening the house. The members Of
than nothing for their evenings per
Torrance and had to make up the
balance out of pocket.
Another night, after the theater
management had received its percent
age Of the gross box office receipts
there remained 81 net with which to
nay the principal artists and the SUD
porting company numbering some so
people.
The company has been playing
here two weeks. and of all the eve
ming and matinee performances not
one has paid expenses except last
Sunday nights when the members of
the company themselves went out and
sold tickets to acquaintances and
relatives.
FL Paso Is Missing Something.
FL Paso continually complains OF
lack of entertainment. especially in
the summer. Yet here is an italian
opera company playing at moderate
prices and giving excellent perform
ances. without being able TO pay for
food and shelter out Of the net pro-
ceeds. The trouble is not with the
company; il is probably due TO the
lack Of information on the part of the
public. FL Pasoans DO not realize
what they are missing.
It would be easy to 80 to the opera
in a supercritical mood and find I
plenty TO criticise. The orchestra is |
improvised. and not well trained or
even though il is skilfully |
directed by competent leaders. The ]
chorus is not a beauty chorus" but I
il is earnest and faithful in its work /
and obtains some excellent effects in /
spite Of handicaps. But Of the prin- J
cipals nothing but praise can be said. /
Any real music lover. who goes with /
some notion of the story Of the opera, /
quickly becomes fascinated by the |
singing and acting OF the principals. 1
and forgets all else.
The Great Prima Donna.
While all the principals are good, 1
and some Of them exceptionally good. /
the chief interest naturally centers
in AIDA Navarrete herself The prima |
donna will sing the leading role the /
next three night. in Traviata. Son
nambula. and RiEolettO. To miss anv
musical experience Of a lifetime: ii is
voluntarily to deprive oneself of a
pleasure that would be remembered /
through life. Why miss it?
This remarkable young woman came
10 FL Paso unheralded and all but IN
known. At first hearing. almost at
first sight. she fascinated and 1
harmed. then she took command of
The situation and dominated the stage
and the scant but enthusiastic audi
snce. Soon the feeling toward her
became warmer and more sympa-
-hetic. and something like fondness
arose in the heart for an artist so
perfectly merged in her art that even
ne distressing array OF empty seats
lid not disturb her splendid courage
or an instant and she sang with all
Ter heart and soul as sincerely as If
he had been singing before the court
II a queen.
Her character is nobly unselfish. In
pite of the failure Of FL Paso to give
Ter and her associate artists the rec
ignition they richly merit. Nine. Ma
arrete has been most generous with
Ter gift Of song She offered a bene-
lit for the Red Cross and turned over
he entire proceeds TO the commit
ee- She and her company sang for
600 soldiers at Fort Bliss and de-
lined compensation. And last night
he and her company sang for the
red Cross banquet as a gracious gift !