The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1920-01-27
Mary Garden
Opens Chicago
Opera Season
By SyICester Rdu'ind.

KTARY GARDEN is a genius who
M is caviare to the general.
That, perhaps. Is the reason
why the opening by the Chicago Opera
Association OF five weeks season at
the Lexington Theatre last night was
lame as TO eIternals. There were no
crowds on the sidewalks to watch the
admission Of seat holders; vehicle
traffic was not obstructed save by
weather conditions; the long. spa
cious, wasted lobby was only moder-
ately filled, AMI the police on duty had
an easy time.
Inside, when the curtain rose. there
was a house full but not crowded.
The opera was ItalO Montemezzi's
"LAmore Del Tire Re-" with Miss
Garden as Flora, the protagonist \
friendly greeting was bestowed upon
Geno Marlnuzzi, the new conductor,
as he entered, and, from time to time,
as the plot was unfolded, there was
applause for Miss Garden and for her
associates in the cast, but at no time
was there a spontaneous ouLburst Of
enthusiasm such as was won't to thrill
in the days when Oscar Hammerstein
was King over his Manhattan Opera
House Company, Of which the Chicago
opera Association IS the legitimate
SUCCESSOR. True, after the second act.
Lhere was u demonstration that
brought Miss Garden, the conductor
and Mr.. MontemeZZi, who had gTaced
the occasion by his presence before
the curtain several times, more than
once the honor falling upon Miss Car
den alone; but the applause came
rom the connoisseurs and was dec
orous.
Miss Gardens Flora is not one OF
her best creations. She portrayed her
as a courtesan, which Flora was not.
True, the lady was married and had "A
lover, but the marriage was forced
upon her and the love was idvlIiC.
Even the father of her husband. him
self in love with her, recognized and
respected that. But Miss, Gardens
Flora abandoned herself to Avito with
physical demonstrations such as Miss
Gardens That's, the by word of Alex
andr1a, could not equal. In this mat
ter she was aided and abetted, nay
exceled, by Avito, unprecedented by
Edward Johnson. The long drawn out
KISS between them, which put the Olga
Nethersole kiss Of tradition into the
shade, was a trivial thing in com
parison with other things that took
place. Then Fiora's spraying and
writing upon the parapet while Avito
was making his impassioned declara 20
ton TO her was overdone Not so.
however was her futile struggle to
save herself from strangllation by
her father-in-law. That was "A rea
Sonable as well as a splendid fight.
Miss Gardens singing retained its
qualities and its faults. 1t achieved
results that. mere purity of tonal
emission never could reach. Her 1.-THE.
slnuous figure fell into poses of ex-
quisite grace and her medieval cos
tunes were beautiful even though the
one she wore in the second act made
the man behind me eXclaim audibly;
MY! Here comes MagEie Cline"
Edward Johnson who was Avito
is an American tenor who has made
reputation in Italy-and in Chicago
lie has an agreeable stage presence
and can act. The part is not CRATE
tul one to sing and in the first act
his voice was disappointing, perhaps
because too much had been expected
Of him. In the other two acts he
gained steadily in favor. He is likely
10 become a favOrte, Georges Bak
Clio LaZzari was a sonorous ArChi
baldo, Others in the cast were Lodo-
Nlco Oliviero, Emma Noe and Anna
Corent competent as was the chorus
Gno MarinUZZi, the new conductor
has personality and c. ,acity. II is
easy TO understand why our dear dead
friend CleoGOnte Campanini chose him
as principal assistant. But Mr. Mari
nuzzi last night, like Mr.. Campanin
- himself underestimated the acoustic
ualites of the auditorium and, al
mes, permitted the orchestra tc
wamp the singers. He will reform
hat. IT'S a pity that the architect o.
the building was less successful in the
matter Of ventilation. Nearly all tho
women and most Of the men in the
house last night kept on their wraps
and overcoats TO ward of the evil eff.
1ects Of drauFhts.
''Ruddtgore," a gem or Gilbert ant
SuMivan's creation that was revive,
n 49,.