The evening world., 1921-03-16
EteUen NGtiOnGLities to Produce
One Opera, "The Polish JeW,
IT GiUen at the Metropolitan
Three Americans in the
! Cast and TLDO Trans
lated the LibrettO-AH
I Others Europeans Ex-
cePt One, an Indian.
Marguerite Mooers Marshall.

/ B,fGrguerite MOoers Marshall.
llEnlright 1871. By The Pres Publishing 90.
tir.fes che Nov York Evening WOrldl
- RAND OPERA, as given in New
York, is the greatest of all
- melting pots.
ifhen a New York audience lis
psd the other night, to the Metro
lfan Opera Companys newest pro-
ldRcttpn, "The Polish jew" probably
IfNnEaf any. in that audience realized
t9 there had contributed to
tRoir evenings entertainment no less
hhAn eleven different nationalities
iPeattered over three continents. In
which OF the cities of Europe, seeth-
ing to-day with racial antipathies,
could such a composite of musical art
be presented?
North America, South America and
Europe are the continents repre-
Bented in what might be described as
the all-comers' premiere at the Met
ropolitan. And the nationalties in
Guide American. Bohemian, Czecho-
SloyalOian, German, Italian, Hun
assam, Armenian, Austrian, French,
iHqEian and Indian.
lffThe Polish Jew was composed by
Kaph Weis, born a Bohemian, an
3tAnist for many years in the City
ague. Recent changes in the
Hoftd's geography, however, make
him to-day a Czecho-SlovalIian. The
opera Is based on French original,
by Erckmann-Chatrian, on which Sir
Henry Irvings play. The Bells" was
also founded.
- The libretto of the opera originally
vas written in German by Victor
NJ leonard and Richard Batka. 1t has
been done into English by two Amer
lean residents of New York, Sigmund
Spaeth and Cecil COwdrey.
The famous Italian impresario,
'7Gulio Gatti-Casazza, who comes
= fT0m Genoa, city Of Columbus, pre-
sented the opera. In the cast were
Angelo Bada, Italian, and Louis
DAngelo. American-Italian.
Artur Bodanzky, conductor of the
opera is a Hungarian by birth. An
Austrian, Robert Leonhardt, said to
be one of the best operate actors in
this country, sang the role of Schmitt
49, Annette, the heroine, was sung by
petite brunette Raymonde Delaunois.
She was born in Belgium, a native of
Mons, but Is French by marriage, her
~ bu sband being Capt. Louis Thomas.
We served with the French armies
: Throughout the war, but is now in
this country.
Paolo Ananian. who was "a night
watchman" in the cast, is said to be
," the only singer of grand opera who
is an Armenian "All the others have
n 'beef killed" observes a friend of his
much harried country.
40 Phree Americans sang in The
Polish jew" One of them, Mario
Chamlee, took the role OF Christian.
% the Young hero. William Gustafson,
who played the part OF a Polish
= TSNV. was born in Boston, although
his surname indicates that he is Of
p Scandinavian ancestry and perhaps
a descendant Of the Vikings. Kath-
leen Howard, the popular American
+ 6Oiftralto-'who admits to several
. crops of Irish blood--had the role Of
Katharine.
400 The performance OF the opera
marked the debut of one of the most
Interesting figures in the operatic
world-Chief Caupohcan. He sang
the leading role Of ''Hans Mathis"
His father was a Gillian Indian. HIS
X mother was a Frenchwoman. His
iitreoord as a cosmopolitan includes a
synhNdhood in South America and
Southern France, a later period in
California, five years at sea, and a
r. hong apprenticeship as Chatauduan
x ieeturer and singer in vaudeville,
which took him all over America.
WAS there ever a more varied col
lection Of children OF the crucibIe,"
"a more striking example OF the
"league OF nations" which New York
.ssmayn bring together in the name of
asaFt2