The New York herald., 1921-01-25
CHICAGO OPERA, MISS GARDEN
DIRECTOR, OPENS WITH NORMA
Miss Raisa Sings Title Role in
First Performance at the
Manhattan.

The Chicago Opera Company. Miss
Mary Garden. general manager. began
season of six weeks last evening at the
Manhattan Opera House. The theatre
was filled and the audience contained
sufficient number of bravo shouters
to create an illusion of ecstatic JOY at
the invasion of New York by the singers
from the city further west. The opera
proffered for public delectation was
Bellini's Norma" which died a natural
death some years ago. but was resur-
rected at the Lexington Theatre on
February 3. 1920. for the glorification
of Miss Rosa Raisa of the Chicago
forces
1t was Miss Raisa who again had to
bear the burden of the opera last eve
ming. She had the name part, while her
chief associates were Nine. Besanzoni.
who enjoyed brief experience as
member of the Metropolitan company
and went west to grow up with more
Ingenious country Forest Lamont.
tenor whose every appearance IN this
town excites mild wonder at the strange
fancies of Chicago operagoers, and vir-
gilio Lazzari. respectable basso of
ordinary artistic dimensions.
Newspapers which regard It as an
important part OF their mission to assist
amusement managers in booming"
themselves and their wares have occu-
pied considerable space in promulgating
the vic1s, promises and prophecies of
the newly chosen director OF the Chicago
institution. Among other things she has
declared that she would not give the old
Italian operas II she could not find sing
ers to sing them properly. A most judi
cious determination, since II is much
easier to give many modern operas
which do not demand any singing at all.
1t has furthermore been made known
that the repertory of the first week Of
the New York season was made before
Miss Gardens administration began, and
that she deemed It expedient to let bad
enough alone. Otherwise we may be
justified in surmising that the season
would not have begun with Norma"
that Is, IL Miss Garden was in earnest
when she vowed she would not give
such works with singers who could not
sing them.
The performance should have settled
in Miss Gardens mind the fate of
Norma" If Of no other italian opera.
Miss Rosa Raisa was defended when
She first sang the title role on the
ground that she was In a new field.
Last night she revealed the fact that
she had made no progress whatever.
She displayed the same splendid voice
and the same ignorance Of the style OF
the work. Her phrasing OF "Casta
Diva" covered the stage with the dis
So~fr hy0 ~ vocal art She ma de
sad work of the fiorid passages In the
great first scene, but she was very
good to see. Z
The other members OF the cast were
equally at sea in Bellini's music. Mme-
Besanzoni rs Addl0ise sang In the way
she made familiar at the Metropolitan.
a bewildering way to those who remem-
Der how the music used to be sung in the
brave days OF old. Forest Lamont's
Porlione was sorrowful figure But
addition Of details is useless The rep
resentation was not one to arouse Miss
Gardens pride In justice to those who
believe that applause means something
let II be added that II was abundant
for all the singers for the chorus, the
scenery, the orchestra and Gino Marin
uzzi, who conducted.
Miss Garden occupied a box with Nine.
Frances Aida among her guests. Arturo
Toscanini also was present. Mrs. Oscar
Hammersten entertained several friends,
including Miss Margaret Wilson, daugh-
ter of the President. Nine. Tetrazzini.
Nine. Eleanora de Cisneros and Miss
Alice Zeppilli represented the Hammer
stein opera company of other days.
Among others present were Mr.. and
Mrs. Alexander S. Webb. Mrs. William F.
Sheehan. Mr.. Frederick Fl. Baldwin. Mr..