The Washington times., 1921-04-21
hington Tines Page of Music for Music Lovers Of the Capital


Opera Company to Polls Theater next
week, promises to be gala event for
those who have an ear for music. The
San Carlo is now concluding its ninth
annual trans-continental tour--quite
a ripe old age for an opera company
in this country, particularly for
company that is not sustained by the
beneyolcnce Of plutocrats. Fortune
Gallo has discovered the secret of
making grand opera self supporting
on these shores.
THE SINGERS
With the dainty coloratura soprano.
oueena Mario. as the youngster Of the
company Mr.. Gallo has assembled
large group Of artists. Little Miss
Mario will sing mimi" in Puccinfs
opera of student life in Paris la
Boheme.'
Another La Boheme" has been
written by Lconcavallo, but is seldom
sung The score OF Pnccinps setting
has such charm of quartets, quintets
and solos, such human appeal OF
laughter and of tears In the human
story of the Quarter Latin in Paris,
that IT would be difficult to replace
II in the hearts of music-lovers
Madeleine Kettle, lyric soprano,
will sing the sprightly "Musetta" In
"Boheme," and also "Michaeia" in
Carmen" She. too. is an American
singer.
Sofia Charlebois, a native daughter
ot California, who has made q name
for herself as a pr;ma donna on two
continents, Is another popular artist
with the company. Beginning her
operatic career as an understudy, she
H.. LA ItaIt Iap
guage and operas. So she went to
Rome. where she won her place as
lyric soprano at the Costanzi. and re-
turned to the United States to become
one of the stars of the San Carlo
Grand Opera Company. Miss Charlie
bcis inherits her musical talents, her
father having been a well-known
musician In San Francisco, where
Sofa was born. Her grandfather was
Israel Kashow. the owner Of Belvi-
Gerc Island.
THE OPERAS.
Three Puccini operas. two of Verdi
the immortal twin operas" of Mas
cagni and Leoncavallo and the i'm
perishable Carmen Of the French
Bizet. give the balance of favor TO
itdiy, INC hoIhC VI ShS opOho-
tow's opera Martha" nrst appeared
in Vienna, but it is Italian in type.
1t means that the passions. the
emotions that are SO inseparable a
part of operate expression. are found
most dramatically in the Latins, un-
less we include the Russians, whose
operas are not brought to us, alas!
America can claim a share in Nine.
L. Al
rom the delightful story by our own
we think of the librettist. Yet by his
work oftentimes an opera lives or
dies.
La Boheme" is taken from MUIR
gers Ia Vie Boheme," written of
student life in Paris in 1880. Its
are Giacosa and Illica-
"Cavalleria" is adapted from a story
by an Italian, Menasci. The libretto
of 'Pagliacci" was written by the
composer Leoncavallo.
.verdi's "Rigoletto'' Is adapted from
Victor Hugo's drama lie Roi
s'Amuse." His famous "Trovatore" is
a troubadour story taken from a Span
ish drama of the fifteenth century.
Carmen" was founded on Prosper
Merimee's story. and was put into a
ipFSteo ny uSiiudC anu tHv
latter being himself a composer Of
Jewish descent. While the sprightly
opera of Martha is an elaboration
of a ballet pantom;me, its libretto
having been written by st. George
and Friedrich.
So the portrayal of an opera means
dramatic understanding and talent,
aside from just voice, though 1t can
not live without good singing.
1t means work, too, for Anna Fitziu
has learned two new roles since she
has been with the Gallo forces. Miss
Fitziu has a record of having created
seven new roles in grand opera In
America. A great task, for the first
performance Of a role is apt to be-
come its standard Interpretation.
A week of Grand Opera in Washing
ton will give us a much coveted touch
of the many fascinating elements that
go to make up grand opera, from the
important orchestra the large person.
mel of artists, to the production itself.
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