Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-02-28
CHICAGO OPERA OPENS
WITH FINE "TANNHAEUSER'
RaIsa and Schwartz stars Of Bril-.
liant Performance Of Wagner Opera
u Iiul .NI ItrStTy ~
Conductor--Argelo Ferrari.

The Chicago Opera Assssociation
opened what promises to be the most
brilliant week Of operate repertoire
that Philadelphia has seen for many
years. before large and thoroughly ap-
prcciativc audience at the Metropolitan
Opera House last evening. II the ex-
ccllent singing and acting and the en-
thusasm which was put into the open
ing performance of "Tannhaeuser" may
be taken as Il criterion. Philadelphia is
in for q week of extraordinary opera.
The opera was sung in German. as
Wagnerian opera will probably be ex-
clusiyely hereafter. and while all the
principal roles were we'll taken. those
assumed by Rosa Raisa. Cyrcna Van
Gordon and Joseph Schwartz. stood out
pre- -eminently, by reason of their vocal
excellence and the dramatic force with
which they were taken. Miss Raisa was
in splendid voice. rs she always has
been in her Philadelphia appearances,
and appeared to especial vocal advantage
IN ''Du theurc Halle in the second act,
the appeal to the knights to spare Tam
hacuscr "Iaruck Won ihm' Mt the close
Of the same act. and in the pathetic
prayer in the last act.
The great vocal part assigned to
Wolfram gave Mr.. Schwartz Il fine
chance to show his marvellous powers.
His voice is of the utmost beauty with
enormous power when required. and he
Possesses II control which rivals even
that OF Chalinpin in the sorority and
smoothncss of his pianissimos. lie ap-
pcarcd 10 equal advantage In all of his
chief numbers. the song to the Eve
Mug Star in the last act probably be-
ing the best known. rs we'll as the
most mclodious. But he did equally
wei. with the lesser known, but more
difficult "Als du in kuhncm SangC' in
the first act. 80 Ilimmel lnsst dich irSzt
wusst irh hicr sic i'm Gcbet ~ findcn"
at the opening of the third. Mr..
Schwartz's dramatic ability. while
scarcely up TO the high level of his vocal
powers, was ample for the part.
Miss Van Gordon made q charming
Venus in appearance and dramatic nc-
ton, and hcr voice is admirably adapted
to the role. being rich in quality and
fully powerful enough for the strain Of
the opening act. which demands con-
traltO Of almost soprano range. MIR.
Schubert as Tannhauser was something
OF n disappointment vOcally. as his
voice seems to lack the volume do
mandcd Of this cxncting role. espe.
cially in the wild moments Of the second
act. lie was. fully equal TO the his
trionic requirements Of the part. which
are not small, and he sang well in tune.
II takes II tenor of unusual vocal gifts
to sing the title role in this opera. and
Mr. Schubert lacks nothing but volume
OF voice. The performances Of his prin-
r,pnl arias was thoroughly artistic in
style and they were well received.
The minor roles wcro admirably tnkpn.
and among them mention must be mu,le
of the singing Of Anrgcry Maxwell ms
tho Young shepherd, as she sang the
lo,g and rather compliratcd unuccom-
panied aria in the second net IN perfect
'unc, ~ was revealed when the orrhcs.
ira came in at its close.
The chorus was supcrh IN tho PHI.
grim's Chorus and in the great scene
in the Warthurt Hall. giving "Frculig
hcgruSscn wir die cdlc Halle" with
beautiful quality and much snar and
enthusiasm. The ballet also showed
itself 70 bn one Of the best in the
operate world in the Wild Ncnusberp
scene in the opening act. The stage
settings and tho scenery were very
good and will stand comparison favor
ably with any company.