Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1919-12-16
GRAND OPERA IN
NOTABLE STYLE
Carmen" Was Given With Star
Cast and Excellent Support;
"Rigoletto" This Evening.

4 splendid performances of 'Carmen"
was gwen at The Playhouse last evening
bv the Manhattan Grand Opera Com
pany. The adjective is used advisedly, for
in the matter of principals and people,
the company might step directly on any
operatic stage, with credit; while orches-
ira and scenery would only need the nec-
.ssarv expansion r. meet the require
ments of larger ST. &c and house.
Cedia Breau. in the title role, made n
very agreeable impression; her person
ality lends itself 10 the part. which she
Rad with individuality, albeit within the
traditional lines. Her voice is of adequate
range. and Is of rich smoothness IN the
mezzo register.
Alice Hcsleri WAS the Micaela. and sang
the part perhaps the most melodious of
the entire work, with taste and delioacy.
The Frasqulta and Mercedes of Helen
Icchtcr and Elinor Mario were unusually
effective and excellent throughout, and
,.spccIally noticeable IN the two quintet
numbers and the fortune telling episode OF
the scene in the smugglerS camp; one
of the conversations of the small audi
torlum being the bringing out of these inn
nortsnt details, not so readily distinguish
ed IN the larger scale productions.
The Don jose of Ricardo Martin was
the same fervent and foroeiul rendering
that he has made familiar on the fore
most stages of this country and Europe.
Tie was in excellent voice and was notice
ably vigorous in the ''husiness" of the
part. especially the quarrel scenes with
Carmen. He carried the role throughout
ike the artist hat he IS, and was par
tlcularly acceptable IN the scenes with
Michacla and The Flower You Gave TO
Me song to Carmen
Greek Evans, as EScamillo. and IN con-
nectlon with the really remarkable cho-
rus ensemble support, literally lifted the
previously inert audience 10 its feet, with
hls roreador song IN the second act,
" hich hc sang with much dramatic ei-
feet This number was repeated, IN re-
sponsc - an lnsIstent encore.
Mention should be made Of the Morales
Of Irwin Miller. the Dancslro and Rem
endado OF Alirrdo Bardi aud Luigi FInni,
all oi which We're very capahlv and ef-
fectIvcly rendered.
The chorus Is also especially to be com
mendcd. being made up of experienced
people with useful voices and the neces-
sary stage presence. Their work through
out was unusually good
The conductor last evening was Adolph
Schmid he handled both musicians and
singers with authority and carried the per-
formancc through IN commendablc shape.
II is 10 bc sand with regret that the
qualities 81 last night 5 performance were
not recognized hv the Wilmington public,
the house being less than half filled, where
il should have been ovcrtlowing. in justice
60 the merit of the offering. Whatever cx
cuScs NAV he made based on the other
activities 81 the holiday season. made
q,Iatc advance notices and the rest, the
fat remains that the paying public lost
"a opportunity Of real importance. Il
can onlv be hoped that il will be reached
h> the spread Of the news of last night
artistic success, and that the performances
tonight and tomorrow night and the after
noon performance tomorrow may be
crowded as they deserve.