The Washington herald., 1920-03-21

ance last Monday evening and heard
a splendid performance of Leonca-
vallo's IT Pagliacci' in Italian.
Mary Cavan. a guest artist. was a
beautiful 'Nedda." and in her sing
ing and acting Is an artist Of the
first rank. Otakar Marak, as Ca
nio." repeated his triumph of few
weeks ago as Don Jose" in Car
men," given by this same company.
He was the other guest artist. At
the end of the first act. after the
famous "sob-song," the audience in
their enthusiasm cheered and yelled
bravo" Hollis Edison Davenny,
now of Washington. was heard in
the part of Tonic" singing the
familiar "Prologue"~with his usual
good tone and style. Though an
amateur, his work was at all times
finished. The two smaller parts.
"Peppe," sung by Herbert Aldrich.
and 'Silvio," by oliver Mellum. were
admirably done. and these two local
singers were excellent support for
the professional artists. The chorus
was good in it's singing and stage
business" and the cost u m 1 n g
throughout was most attractive, the
stage settings likewise. Arnold
volpe conducted and the orchestra,
OF local musicians did creditably.
Preceding the performance OF 7
Paglfacci." the dainty one-act opera
OF wolf-Ferrari, THE Secret of Su-
zanne." was given in English by
-Sheila dOrmond." who is our Eliz-
abeth Howry. who sang the part Of
Countess Suzanne, and Oliver Mel
lum as Count Gils. Clement Taylor
did an excellent pantomime as Sante,
q servant. Mr.. Mellum was delight
ful not only in his singing, but in
his Jealous rage, and his almost
flawiess enunciation added much to
the enjoyment
Edward H. Droop made q short
speech between the operas asking
the people Of Washington to sup
port this company, which has given
excellent performances Of light
opera in the past, and now of the
more dificult grand opera. He said
a committee was being formed to
act as business committee, the
Craftsmanship of which. has been
tentatively accepted by Charles j.
Bell The other members will be
Justice Frederick Siddons, John
xoy Bdson, Peter A. Drury and Z.
n Droop.
Il II the plan of the director gen.
0d Edouard Albion, to present
Ia Boheme" in May and in June a
week of operas which they have
Given The company was organized
~ Nr. Albion under the auspices of
the War Camp Community Service,
witch is no moro.
The business committee will hold
a meeting this week to complete
plans for raising from $1,000 to
$1oyo0o by popular subscription to
support the company through the
season Of 1890.
Surely 1t is up to Washington to
rally to the support Of this project.
Anyone with the interest Of Wash
mgton at heart-and Washington
rs the nations Capital should in
terest every citizen OF the United
States-who would stop to think
that the city has no opera would
surely blush with shame and horror.
Think Of i'll Take the little new re-
public Of Czscho-Slovakia for ex-
ample; in their little capital of
Prague there is a beautiful opera
house, beautiful both inside and out,
built by subscriptions of the peas
ants of that country. Yet we, a
great big wealthy nation, priding
ourselves on our progressiveness
and yet so backward in the artist 1t |
is incomprehensible, and yet a fact. |
Wednesday evening after the |
opera there was an informal re-
ception held at the home of Judge !
and Mrs. Charles Howry and Miss |
Elizabeth Howry when a large and |
very interesting gathering enjoyed !
q delicious supper and. listened !
with great interest to a talk given !
BY Nine. Marak CMary Cavan). |
She spoke of the necessity of this |
getting into the front |
ranks in all things connected with
the arts as it is in most other mat
ters. She talked very favorably of
The Washington Opera Company. !
telling of the struggles of artists I,
to get before the public. Mr.. AL
bion followed with a short but !
clever address.
Among the guests were Gen.
Pershtng. Mrs. George Barnett, !
Judge Siddons, Miss Helen Clark.
Franklin Barber Clark. the noted !
miniature painter; Mrs. Clark, a |
sculptress; Mrs. John i
Jay White, NJ. Barendse, of the |
Legation staff, and his !,
wife, and Jan Masaryk, charge daft
'aires of the Czecho-Slovak Le-
CATION. During the course OF q
Mr.. Masaryk remark