Evening star., 1922-02-28
WASHINGTON OPERA co.
IN "SAMSON AND DELILAH"

uei Aho aiFeCtlOH OF COOuAtu <AlUlOus
gave = .mastsrful Interpretation Of
Saint-Saens' impressive opera, Samson
and Delilah.' at Central High School
auditorium last evening.
The production was q triumph. both
musically and artistically, and, with the
exception OF a few very long waits be-
tween acts and unexpected spotlight
transition. there were no indications OF
fective. and the final one in the temple
was unusually we'll staged, so that the
illusion of crumbling columns and COM
plete desolation at the climax was per-
Nicola Zerola was commanding in the
role Of Samson. his strong. clear tenor
voice ringing forth In full realization
| OF the dramatic possibilities of the mu-
| sic. His duet with Delilah in the third
scene OF act was probably the most
for it possessed = true lyrical melody
which was lacking in the remainder Of
the score. The passages of Samson and
Delilah" voice drama, tragedy. and dis
tress in their description OF the fallen
their ominous laundering Of bass notes.
intermtngled with wistful airs and
strange eastern themes. they lack the
harmonic beauty which distinguishes
| many Of the better known operas.
1 H.
by Hebrew child. presented an as
pect of misery and despair, and his
BRIEF solo expressed every depth of
, 1eeling which his appearance indi-
| Gated. Peggy Garret, who played the
child. did bit of appealing acting
self-consciousness or stage fright.
Eleanora de Cisneros, as Delilah.
! displayed a rich contralto voice of
powerful volume. which was heard
n tal al -k
solo and two duets in act 2. Only a
, finished artist could attempt the rem
dition of their exacting passages, and
Nine. de Cisneros received an ova-
ton of applause and several bou-
ouets Of flowers at the end of the
preciative. in fact, that the two prin-
cipals finally brought out the con-
ductor,. Mr.. Volpe. and then Mr.. AL
bion, in a seemingly never-ending
succession Of curtain calls.
Charles Trowbridge Tittmann sang
his roles of Abimelech. satrap Of
GAIA and an old Hebrew with a
resonant. stirring bass voice. while
Hollis Edison Davenny was more
than adequate as the High Priest Of
Dagon.
The chorus was splendid through:
out. and gave evidence of skillful
direction, both in its ensemble vocal
numbers and in its stage presence.
for In contrast to the wooden ex-
pressions so often seen. all OF their
countenances reflected the situations
as they developed. SO that the vast
multitude of singers contributed to
the dramatic value Of the piece as
well as to its musical element.
for his leadership Of the orchestra,
for the accomplishments were OF the
highest order.
Paul Tschernikon also deserves
special mention for his ballet, which
added both beauty and grace to two
of the acts. In the last scene his
interpretive dance with Genevieve
Pyle, assisted by ballet girls scatter
ing rose leaves, created the desired
atmosphere Of Joyous reveiry and
deepened to a tragic note. the stage
darkened and the final crash brought
the evenings entertainment to an
A0' ELEANOR DE WITT EBY.
The auditorium has seldom been filled
with q more brilliant company than
that Of last night. Mr.. and Mrs. Thom-
as F. Logan entertained in their box
the minister Of Uruguay and Nine.
varela. Mrs. Frank 8. Hight the mar, lar;
waters. The assistant secretary OF war
and Mrs. Wainwright were guests of
Mrs Charles Eoughton Wood. who also
had with her Judge ana Mrs clarence
Norton Goodwin and Miss Mary Morgan.
Miss Mabel T. Boardman had ~ guests
in her box Mrs. William Howard Taft.
Mrs. Herbert Hoover, Mr.. Justice John
H. Clarke, Gen. and Mrs William Las.
sitter, Mra William, !; Boardman an, and
liam Eric Fowler had number of
1uests with them in their box. Mr.. and
ME-. George Oakley Totten entertained
the secretary Of the legation OF the
Netherlands and Nine. Hubrecht, Mrs
Mary Stewart and Mrs. Myron Parker.
The minister of Ecuador and Sonora
Berger Moran's box. her other guests
including Mrs. Charles NJ. Ffoulke, Mrs.
Macarthur. Mrs. Horace g. MacFar-
land and Mrs. Malcolm 8. McConihe.
Mr., and Mrs. Edouard Albion and
Mr.. and Mrs Mark Reid Yates had q
box together, and their guests includ-
ed District Commissioner and Mrs.
Cuno Rudolph and Miss Mary Meek
of Canada
party in Mr.. and Mrs. George Mesta's
box, her guests including Mrs. Wills
Van Devanter, Miss Marion Calder,
Mrs. Charles C. Lee, DR.. B. F. Weems,
Mr.. winslow Van Devanter. Capt
Bergen and Mr.. Ezra Gould. Mr.. and
Mrs. A. Garrison McClintock, Mr.. and
Mrs, Franklin Ellis and Mr.. and Mrs
Frederic L. Huidekoper were guests
| in Mr. and Mrs. Walter Wilcox's box.
Others in Audience.
Others in the audience included the
minister of Norway and Nine. Bryn,