The Washington times., 1920-04-17
NINA TARASOvA|S
|. GIVEN BIG OVATION
Russian Singer in Costume
Gives Recital OF Melodies of
Her Homeland.

, Yesterday Nina Tara soes -zcame[to o
only through the printed word. To-
day VIC find the printed word lifelcss
in expressing this tiny spark of hu!
man genius. This little Russian gave
a Costume song recital at the Ma
tional Theatcr yesterday afternoon. in
an extension concert to the T. Ar.
thur Smith TenStar Series. She re-
ceivcd an ovation that included
cheers. received also more flowers
| than have Gonc over the. foot'ights
any time this season, and hal -onc
large bunch OF roses hurled to her
from an upper box.
As vibrant as the vivid color
scheme Of her native Esrb, with its
scarlet hcaddrcEs. its gold and pur-
pie and blue. Nina Tsrssova sang
songs Of her homeland. gave them a
| cha that summoned to
hcr aid the dramatic genius OF a
great actress; made ono laugh with
| them, dance with them. weep with
them.
Her songs reveal soul. motion, and
every mood that comes from the heart
Of an expressive people. While w.th
IL, in her tiny form, her mobile cN-
Guisitc face. can be seen the whole
scene from which she came.
There was. in her songs, ono thai;
| told story like that OF the Fri.
King" Child. may the dear God have
pity upon you" The fear OF the
child. the tenderness of the mother
death, horror stalking abroad. A
IC1icioIIS litiIr Enn,HIt
mood therein was "Kumushka.' The
voice has exquisite tonc. but she
| uses IL more for dciucation of the
whole dramatic pcrsonac OF her song
world--now a brusquc and joyous
man. the rich contralto was gruff,
was human. Or in tcndercSt mother
love, she sang, or in appealing tones
Of sentiment.
Her giving of the "Nolga Boat
Song oh, the weary hours, the IA
tiguc at the cud of the day. What is
a song? 4 composite here, OF a smile
| that animatcs tho spirit behind IL.
What impulsivc abandon in the sheer
| Joy of THE Happy Days of Long Ago"
everybody, every type We knew out
of that long ago, and yet shc but sang
them into US, with pantomimC, with
rugged or with tender tone. "Ea-
linka." how her laughing refrain be-
longcd TO a scene OF laughter and
feeling.
a tiny bit oC vital humanity. Nina
TBrasova is = dramatic experience, q
touch of beautiful youth and rar"
genius. 1t matters not what thing
shc dogs, sho Is something different.
Three cncores she gave at tho close,
darting through tho turquoise cur
tains with vivid border of Ccntaurs
and primal hucs. Rut there was also
a French BerCcncttc, "Maman dites
mol" given with carcss and with
charming Coyncss. Her English MY
Baddic" was an exquisite romance:
her "Comin' Thru the Rye" just her
own coductry. And the "littlc song
10 entertain A. child" tho "big bear"
song IL was animated with the shake
OF her auburn-brown bobbcd hair
that crowned q childish little figure
aglow with tho Divine Spark. o.
Nicola Thomas, violinist, proved an
assisting artist Of musical attain.
mcnts, excellent technique and feel.
ing. She played alluringly the old
Vienna waltz, "Liebcsfreud" Of Krcis-
Ter. intorpolated in her group OF solos.
and to Tschsikowsky, Tartini. Ar.
ueskN, ahc added ~ encore Poem" ="
Of Fihlich. At tho piano I.azar
Wciucr Nng an Integral part of Mmc
TnrasoNa's prosra playing With
that sympathy and onencss that "
rare ~ w~ll az gratifying.