The Washington herald., 1920-02-29
MANHATTAN SEES
TWO VARYING FORMS
OF "APHRODTTE'

There were two "Aphrodites" in
New York last Friday, when Mary
Garden appeared at the Lexington
Theater in Camille Erlanger's oper-
] attic "Aphrodite,' while Dorothy
Dalton acted in another version of
tury. The French romance by
Pierre Louys forms Il common
theme, btu the two works must
not be confounded. Apart from the
basic idea of the story, the dra-
matte romance and the opera are
said to have little connection, the
play being illustrated or accom-
panied by its incidental music. while
Erlanger's composition is strictly
in the form of grand opera. The
spectacular incidents OF the story are
however, also preserved in the
opera. which had a sensational bal
let arranged by Pavley and Ouk-
rainsky. The impersOnation Of
Aphrodite by Miss Garden is said
to be one ranking with her That's
and Cleopatra.
Massenet's "Manon." which has
not been heard at the Metropolitan
/ Opera House for four years. will be
revived by General Manager Giulio
iGatti-Casazz3 on March s, with Miss
Geraldine Farrar in the title role
and new Des Grieux in the per-
son OF Mr.. Charles Hackett
Others in the new cast include
Giuseppe de Luca as Lescault. An
drea de Segurola as lie Bretigny.
\
Octave Qua as Giulot. Paolo Ana
nian as rHotelier. Marie Tiffany and
Mary Mellish as Javotte and Ro-
settle, and Frances Ingram as Pou-
sette.
The opera has been rehearsed and
will hc conducted by Nj. Albert
Wolff; stage director. Richard Or
dynski: chorus master, Giulio Setti.
The "Cours la Refine" scene. which
is usually omitted. will be given by
the Metropolitan for tie first time,
but the scene of the Hotel de Tran
sylvanie" will be omitted. as is
usually done in the French theaters.
so that the performance may not be
too long.
The new scenery has been de-
signed and painted by Pieretio
Bianco.
William Wade Hinshaw undertook
remarkable combination when,
beginning Monday night. he yoked
Wolf Ferrari:s Secret Of Suzanne
with the ebulliCnt "Pinafore." The
feature of the evening was the
presence of that great artist, Mar
celia Craft, who made a sensational
success in this work about two
years ago when she sang IL IN
italian. Done in English by a
singer in superb control of her
voice. with a diction that carried to
every corner of the house. its power
to please was greatly enhanced
MISS Craft has tremendous equip
ment. When she appears in com
edy II Is difficult to associate i,er
with anything else. but she can
sound the last note of tragedy and
has range of vocal color no less
remarkable than the range OF her
histrionic play. Miss Craft, has
shown steady Improvement in her
method OF vocalism.~ Whatever she
Is doing now has restored youth
and freshness to a voice that once
did show what wear and tear IL had
endured. Those who heard Mar
celia Craft when she was leading
soprano in the opera houses of
Munich, Mayence and ether con.
tinental towns can understand tina.
since her arrival in America shs
has devoted herself to effectine a
change OF vocal method
Alessandro Bonci las offered his
services for the Oscar Hammerstein
Memorial Associations concert
March 90. at the Metropolitan N. Y.
John Mccormack and Mary Garden
have volunteered a concert with or
chestra for the American Legion ON
February . at the Hippodfome, N. Y.