The Washington herald., 1921-12-04
GROUP OF BUDS
TO TAKE PART
lin OPERA BALL
Event at Willard Decem-
ber Is Already Stirring
Society Interest.


will be innumerable balls this sea-
son. but the one all Washington 10
interested in just now is The WASH
ineton Opera Ball which will be
given at the New willard Hotel, on
Thursday evening. December is. 1t
will be brilliant socially. and Q most
unique and artistic feature Is be-
ing planned in which a group Of
the prsttiest debutantes OF the sea-
son will be used.
Every one is so delighted that the
debutantes are being brought to
the fore. that they are to see more
of them, because they have been
somewhat neglected in all the
furore of the disarmament confer
ence
Among those who met Thursday
morning at Mrs. George Barnett's
home were Miss Anna Montgomery.
Miss Mary Montgomery, Miss
Frances Hampson, Miss Bryn. Miss
Margaret Decide, Mrs. Julian s.
Carter. of Baltimore. Miss Mary
Sanger and Miss Enid Sims.
I have promised not to tell just
what the feature Is yet, but 1t will
be beautiful and will not Interfere
with the dancing. l know every
body will be pleased at that, for
the music is to be by a large and
excellent orchestra. But apart
from all this. there is the real and
genuine enthusiasm Of the whole
city to help the producing fund of
the Washington Opera Company.
Washington Is certainly proud of
this company, and everybody Is
asking when another opera like
Aida, one of the most brilliant So
cial features ever in Washington,
will be given.
Not Company Delay.
The delay is not the fault of the
company. for Edouard Albion, the
director. has the finest company yet
assembled in rehearsal. which is
saying a whole lot, and Samson and
Delilah and Risoletto will be given
just as soon as a booking can be
secured.
Washington is really, getting con-
cerned about the situation of our
own company not being able to
produce for lack OF a place. II
some Of the schemes and dreams
one hears will only materialize in
a theater in which the splendid pro-
ductions given by the Washington
Opera Company can be heard every
body will be delighted.
Enthusiasm has continued to in
crease since the astoundingly good
production OF Aida last December.
The same brilliant social group
which filled the horse shoe on that
opening night are united for the
success of this ball on December Is.
1t will be many a day before Wash
ington will forget the brilliant as
semblage that heard Aida on the
opening night of last winter; moth
ing like II has ever been seen here
before or since and the Metropol-
itan in New York has not equalled
It. and seldom has the Metropolitan
put on a better production either,
let me tell you. Everyone said so
at the time and II was true. And
this year everything points to an
even better production. Twenty
per cent Of the net proceeds is to
be given as a Christmas donation
to ST. Johns Orphanage. Home for
Incurables. and Child Welfare So
ciety.
Idea Rapidly Spreading.
Il is certainly interesting to see
how this IDEA of the development
of local opera companies is spread
Ing throughout the country. Every
city is hoping to achieve it's own
company, just as Washington has
done.
1 heard Kennette Clarke. one of
the national community song
leaders. say at the Knickerbocker
Theater the other day, "Edouard
sAlbion Is one OF the great art
builders Of America, and we believe
that the work begun here in the
National Capital will be carried
throughout the country"
If this is achieved the ideals an
nounced by Mr.. Albion four years
or more ago when he started this
work here will become a reality.
Young American singers will begin
TO have chance here just as the
italian singers have in Italy. That
IS why italian companies produce
practically all the opera for Amer
ica and South America as well ~as
for their own country. There are
24s opera houses " Italy where
young singers can get experience.
Our washington OpcEd company
has certainly proven the point that
Americans can make music for
Americans II they are given a
chance.
I've never heard a finer chorus
than the Washington Opera chorus
IN Aida last year. And Mary Cavan.
a beautiful American girl. was one
Of the best Aidas I ever saw.
Please let's have more music by
Americans for Americans. It's a
great movement.