The Washington times., 1921-03-15
RUFFOCAPTURES
WITH V|R|LE SONG
Famous Opera Baritone Puts
Rare Personality in Con-
cert at Polls, T

Titta Ruffo, the famous opera Dari-
tone, Is more an opera experience in
concert than he Is q recitalist- Big
resonant singer, virile dramatic,
alive. Titta Rufo captured his au-
dienoe at Polls yesterday mainly
by virtue OF his spontaneous natural.
ness that made him put opera ac-
tion into his singing of some of his
greatest opera arias.
An artist by virtue of his natural
gifts, too. is this singer; more than
by any cultivation. child of ma
ture." big boy in spirit. he IS
doubly interesting to see him do"
that inimitsble Barber Of Seville"
Figaro aria. He was the delicious
barber. and when he laughed-as the
music bids him do-his hearers
thought he laughed from sheer exr
uberance, and they laughed with
him His voice pours out in big
sound. sound that is vibrant. almost
a vibrato. but that is not mellow
with any sweetness.
He Is. however, an entire dramatts
personae- For which his "Proloso"
Of "Pasliacci" bore witness. We
have heard II more musically sung,
and he took such astonishing liber-
ties with time and rhythm, that it
would have needed a miracle of an
accompanist to follow him. But he
was q comedy actor in his Mozart
'serenade." comedy in big robust
tone. But his FIRST French aria
"Patrie" of Paladilhe was too nasal
but then Mr.. Ruffo was not In the
best of voice and that may have ac-
counted for some throatiness-
Charming encores he gave, with
keen good humor and q buoyant de-
sire to win his audience A Neapoli-
tan song. Tho Perjurer," by Tejada.
was delightful Then after his Mo-
xart he sang-not as proerammed-a
serious and impressive "Novembre"
Of Tremisot "ReHQuario" of Sarge,
In tho manner of the Prologo. was his
most seductive work. in splendid form
and spirit, while a subtle waltz song,
"Guitarrico" Of Soriano, brought out
his temperamental Italian heritage
He is wholesome. really lovable. a
joyous experience, though that
smooth, rich. finished voice wa. lack
ing. But what would you? Splendor
there is, and on the stage in charac-
ter Titta Runo must be a compelling
force. He was refreshingly novel
as much so as when he was lost AZ
one time for words and darted off
stage to return victorious with his
little book of words, taking the audi
ence into his confidence about 1t, in
pantomime.
As assisting artist. Rudolph Bocho,
violinfst, played 4 varied program in
Indifferent tone and not notable man.
ner. He was romantic in mood. but
insecure in pitch marring what might
have been good work. Two piano
transcriptions he gave as solos, the
Chopin "Nocturne Il fat" and as en-
core. MoSkowskis La Guitarre,"
both OF them grateful for violin
though not wholly satisfying. His
other encores were, 1rst, the Hymn
to the Sum-" from Nmsky-korsak off's
lie Coo dor" the Moszkowski
waltz Bluett." and finally the Bach
Air on the G String" which was ex-
cellently musical and rich. Benjamin
Moore at the piano was rather hard
and inelastic, his piano did not blend
But when Mr.. Ruffo gave his delight
full Figaro" he was entirely there"
which-was big tribute when he was
dealing with so erratic a singer.
The concert was in the Philharmonic
Course. presented by Mrs. wilson
Greene JESSIE MCBRIDE