Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-05-31

wy AsHINGTON, D. c., May 25.-Grand
Nv opera performed by local companies
w in all of the principal American cities,
at prices which wiz make it possible for the
general public to attend, is the object Of the
National Opera association which has been
organized recently by Edouard Albion, di-
rector of the local opera company.
In Europe, opera is leading popular
amusement, and Mr.. Albion believes that it
can be made so in America as well.
The people of America, he says, are as
musical as people of any other country The
huge number of musicians introduced to the
public by music schools every year bears
this out. And if we have no work for many
of them to do, no audiences organized to lis
ten to them that is lack to be supplied.
In three years, Mr.. Albion has shown that
resident opera company composed almost
entirely of local musicians can give grand
opera to the taste of fastidious audiences.
This is an achievement for one city, and it
has been repeated in other places, but these
scattered projects are only beginning for
the country.
1t is no exaggeration to say that grand
opera is almost unknown in the United
States. We have wonderful productions IN
New York and Chicago at large prices and
we have several travelling companies, and a
few resident companies, handicapped by lac"
of opera houses. But the mass of the people
know opera only through the photograph,
which reproduces the voice but gives no
idea of the story or of the acting.
In Italy, 246 opera companies are support
ed by population one-third the size OF ours.
The famous operas can be heard there by
every one. Equally important, musical ia
emit finds an outlet. The student, direct from
his conservatory can go into small opera
house and begin his operate career. There
is enough demand for his art so that he does
not have to spend tiresome years waiting LOT
some one ahead\of him to die or to retire.
as he would have to do in this country.
Here, finished artists, some perfected in as
many as fifty roles, crowd into New YORK,
eager to be heard by an impressario. And
suppose they do achieve hearing? One
operate official says he hears every week
young singers with promising voices, but he
has no room for them in his company. There
are enough singers in New York to create ten
good grand opera organizations. But alto
gether the operate in titutions use not more
than perhaps, 1000 voices.
A Chance for Native Talent
Mr.. Albion points out that if these singers,
who want dramatic careers, could be scattered
among the smaller cities, and could work
with local opera companies, they would be
doing the thing for which they were trained.
A resident company gives from four to ten
weeks of opera in year, rehearslng NANNY
at night. For such company to make
satisfactory record, the performances put on
must be professional in standard, arranged by
a competent director, stage manager, drama
tic coach and conductor.
Members who show ability are given a
chance to take prominent parts and to ap-
pear before the same critical audiences that
greet the stars of the stage, and the expert
ence and publicity resulting from such appear
ances are of indirect financial value, even in
cases where a company getting its start can
not at first pay it's singers.
The practical possibilities Of resident
opera company have been shown in number
of cities. Here in Washington, Aida, Carmen,
Faust, Pagliacci, Secret of Suzanne and 9TH
er operas have been produced in the past
three years. To put on single performance
of one Of these operas would be regarded by
many people as an extravagant financial I'M
dertaking, and one sure to end in heavy in
debtedness. Considering, however. that the
resident company has no imported stars un-
der expensive contract and no travelling ex-
penses, the production Of an opera is not so
expensive. Averaging losses on few per-
formances and gains on others, the Washing
ton company has managed to break even.
Occasionally expenses are made heavier by
bringing in two or three professional opera
singers for a performance when necessary.
Mr.. Albion holds that local singers should
be given a chance to appear in important
roles whenever they are of a high enough
standard. But if the community cannot fur
nish a satisfactory singer for any part, then
it is better to import professional and keep
the work up to a safely proficient standard.
Mr.. Albion has also tried the method of al
ternating the best local singers with hired