Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-10-23
OPERA DAY AT
WOWANS CLUB
ENTERTAINING
BY KoRA HEMRY-MEACHAM

BY hohA IsbAHtth -4N ~
When you add music to a beau
tiful thought, you have enhanced
its beauty, hence grand opera is
not an artificial performance, as
has been claimed by some, but a
truly artistic and satisfying thing,
as its long years o: representation
to the public proves, said Mrs. Il
A. Bradford, speaking before a
large audience that filled the ai-
ditorium at the Woman's club,
Friday afternoon, on opera in
America.
She outlined very Interestingly
the evolution of American opera.
The first opera in this country was
called beggar or ballad opera and
was more like the English than the
original Italian opera. New Or
leans had the first opera house
and is still a strong center of mu-
sic The Wagnerian opera, "Parsi-
fall" presented by Heinrich Con-
reid, managing impressario, was a
great success in New York.
Grand opera in English has been
tried by several companies here
but the foreign tongues are still
the favorite, with most audiences.
Americans have not as yet COM
posed any noteworthy grand opera,
although Cadman has eXcelled all
I others in this field thus far. Many
of the most successful foreign OPP
cras were a long time in gaining
their proper appreciation and
there is yet time for great must
cal success in American grand op-
era to come into its own, said the
speaker.
Charles Mexican, accompanied
by Miss Norma Williams, sang
with passion and incompatible
voice, the boldly realistice love
song from the italian opera. "Thc
Jewels of the Madonna" His en-
core, 1.-THE Turkeys Song" from
Rob Roy, was equally well re-
ceived and displayed the deer
basso range of Mr.. McKean's fine
voice.
! Miss Barbara Wait told In a de
| lightfully informal way, the ole
and ever-absorbing story of the
great lovers, Anthony and Cleo
patra. The whole world still love!
a lover and Miss Waits analysis Of
| Massenet's great opera. "Cleopat'
| ra," with the particularly vivid and
| poignant illustrations given in Mis-
Waits full, dramatic voice, brought
grand opera right to her audience
No one of her listeners but fell
that music was something more
than thing to be absorbed, but o
thing to make one feel and think
Mrs. Bradford followed this
number on the program by an H.
lustrated talk with the phono-
graph) on Puccini's opera, Mad,
anne Butterfly" the opera that al.
ways brings a crowd in America
and which makes one cry, because
of its pathos in story. AS finale
to the tragically sad opera, Mrs
Bradford and Mrs. Ray C. Baily
with Miss Helen Gurule at the
piano, sang the "Flower Duet" in
exquisitely beautiful voices, the
lyric quality of each, blending in
perfect harmony. The opera day
music closed with Through the
World" from 1.-THE Bohemian
Girl" admirably sung by Mrs. e
B. Moore, Mrs. Grace Winfrey
and Louis Hesse1den, Miss Gurule
! accompanying.
A short business session proceed
ed the program during which Mr.
Chase, made a brief appeal to the
club In regard to the controversy
between the musicians union and
the Sandstone jazz band. The
president, Mrs. ]. C. Gould, direct
ed the secretary to read from the
minutes of a previous board meeting
the following decision OF the club
to-wit: "It is not in the provinces
| OF the club to dictate to those tc
| whom the club is rented whom
| they should employ to furnish mu.
sic or for any other service"
Mrs. w. G. Thaxton was elected
| at the board to fill out the unex.
PRED term, on the philanthropy
board. of Mrs. D. r. Boyd, re.
signed. The following committed
were named to represent the WON.
ans club in arranging for floa,
In the Armistice day parade: Mrs
c. Cameron Meacham, Mrs
-Inez Westlake and Mrs. w. v
Gano.