Pueblo chieftain., 1921-05-28
BY Frederic J. Hsskin

hN - fiaeNAh
Washington. L. c. May Grand
opera performed by local COMPANIES in
all OF the principal American cities.
at prices which will make II possible
for the general public to attend. IS the
object Of the National opera Sssocia-
tion which has been organized recent
Is by Eduard Albion, director of the
local opera company,
In Europe, opera is a leading popu-
tar amusement. and Mr. Albion be-
lieves that II can be made 80 in
America as well
The people Of America, he says. arc
as musical as people of any other
country. The huge number OF music
ians introduced to the public by mueic
schools every year bears this out And
n We have no work for many Of them
to do, no audiences organized 10 listen
TO them, that is n lack to be supplied.
In three years, Mr. Albion has
shown that resident opera company
composed almost entirely Of local mu-
sicians can give grand Opera to the
taste Of fastidious audiences. This Is
an achievement for one city. and II has
been repeated in other places. but these
scattered projects are only a beginning
for the country.
I, is no eyagrcration 70 say that
grand opera is almost unknown In the
United States We have wonderful
urodu- -tions In New York and Chicago
at large prices, and W. have several
travelling companies. and a few resi-
dent companies. handicapped by lack
Of opers house, But the mass of the
people know opera only through the
phonoFraph which reproduces tho voice
but siveg no idea Of tho story or Of
tho acting.
In Italy. ess opera companies arc
supported by population one-thlrd
the size Of ours. The famois operas
can he heard there by every one.
Equally important. musical talent hnds
an outlet. Tho student. direct from his
conservatory, can 60 INTO a small opera
house and begin HE operate career.
There Is enough demand for his art
20 that he does not have to spend
tiresono years waitin- for some one
ahead Of him to die or 70 ret,r@ Sc he
would have to DO IN this country
Here. finished artists. some perfected
I'm ae many rs 81 roles. crowd into
New York. eager for a chance to ho
heard hy an imprcssario. And suppose
they do achieve a hearing One orcr
attic official says he hears every week
young singers with promising voices.
but he has no room for them in his
company There arc enough singers In
New York to create ton good grand
opcrA ORGANIZATIONS But altogether
tho oreratic institutions we hnv" use
not more than perhaps 1000 voices.
H'f NtfN'
Mr.. Albion points out that II these
singers. who want dramatic careers,
could he scattered among tho smaller
cities, and could work with local opera
companies. they would hc doing the
thing for which they were trained.
A resident company gives from four
to ten weeks Of opera in year. re-
hearsing mainly at night For such
company to mako q satisfactory rec
-
professional in standard, arrangcd by
a competent director, stage manager.
dramatic coach. and conductor
Members who show ability are given
a chance to take prominent parts and
to appear before tho same critical audi
snccs that greet tho stars Of the
stage. and tho experience and public
ity resulting from such appearances
arc OF indirect financial value oven in
cases whoro a company getting Il,
start cannot at first pay its singers
The practical possibilities OF a resi-
dent opera company have been shown
in number Of cities, Here in wash
snEtor. Aida. Carmen. Faust. paEli-
acct, Secret Of Suzanne, and othe,
operas have been produced in the past
three years To put on a single per
formance of one Of these operas would
he regarded by many people as an e1.
travaEant financial undertaking. and
one sure to end IN heavy indehtedness
Considering, however. that the resi-.
dent company has no imported stars
under expensive contract. and no ,r.v.
cling expenses the production Of an
oners is not 30 expensive AversEinE
losses on a few performance and
gains on others tho Washington com
panN has managed ,o break even!
Occasionally rNpengrH arc made
heavier hy bringing two or three pro.
fNrEioral opera sings for perforr,
ancc when Necessary. Mr.. Albion hold.