Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-03-03
MASON AND MURAT0Re STAR
IN "ROMEO AND JULIET"
Thoroughly ArtIstie Performances by
the Chicago Opera Company

MsrSutio. ...........,.;; Desire ,Defrere
Ffisr LawSs1es. EdoSsfd cotreaii
sesorIe Gse,r%de' Mssis ssu,sio Gisss3sn, ss'S.,
Observation-Disclosures Polacco.
The Chicago Opera Association gave
last evening what was probably the
most evenly balanced and thoroughly
artistic performance of the week thus
far. speaking in the sense OF operatic
Of Romeo and Juliet" The perfect
balance lay partly in the fact that there
is no one outstanding character in the
opera, for which. of course. the COM
poser is responsible. and also partly
from the fact that the work was per-
fectly cast, and every one displayed the
ability to sing and act his role ad-
mirably.
1t was the first appearance Of Mura.
tore in Philadelphia this season and
operation which he has recently under
gone. To say that this experience did
not leave some traces on his work last
evening would be incorrect, but there
was nothing in the trying role which
was not admirably done, although there
were times when the weakened muscles
would not fully respond to the great
demands which the singer made upon
them. This was not apparent in the
shorter solo numbers, but was occn
sionally observable in the long s,is-
tanned periods in when the tenor holds
the center of the stage.
Mr. Muratore is grace itself in his
acting-the ideal operatic lover--and
the beauty and clearness Of his diction
were never better than last evening.
1t was simply when the demands Of a
trying part exceeded the limits OF
temporarily weakened physique that he
showed what he has undergone recently.
AS stage picture he left nothing to be
desired. and the whole presentation Of
the role was very beautiful. He re-
ceivcd the many recalls to which the
excellence Of his characterization Of the
part entitled him.
Miss Mason scored a tremendous sue
cess from her first appearance to the
close OF the. opera. Juliet is a very
opening numbers, when the soprano
must come on the stage "cold" that
is. without any opportunity to get the
voice accustomed to the conditions of
the house. and sing the enormously diff
hcult waltz practically without any
preparation. 1t is much greater trib-
ute to Miss Masons powers than was
perceptible to the audience that she
accomplished this feat without the
slightest difficulty. But. nevertheless.
the audience. whether it realized the
demands which the composer had i'm
posed upon the soprano or not. rose to
the beauty of Miss Mason's voice and
her wonderful vocalization and gave her !
the enthusiastic reception which her fine
delineation Of the character. as well as
the actual vocal requirements deserved.
There is goodly number of so called
minor parts in the opera, and that
they were 80 we'll taken is a tribute to
the resources Of the Chicago Opera AS
sociation. The superb voice OF Hector
Dufranne. which has lost nothing in
sorority. volume or quality since the |
Hammerstein days in Philadelphia.
in art. was shown to fine advantage in
tho role of Capulet. and Mr.. Defrere
was splendid as Mcrcutio, both in voice
and in action. The role of Stcphano,
interjected into the opera by the libret-
tist, for the part does not appear in
the Shakespeare story. was taken by
Margery Maxwell. Miss Maxwell con-
frmed the impression of absolute tonal
accuracy which she gave in the tiny
but tone testing role of Elm Hirt in
"1annhaeuser" on Monday evening. in
ADDITION 10 which she displayed ara
matte ability and a charming stage
presence. which the Wagnerian opera
did not permit. Mr.. Cotreuil appeared
to better advantage as .Friar Lawrence !
than he has yet shown here, both vocally
and drama atically. The roles of the other |
members of the cast were we'll taken.
But it is n fact that there was an
atmosphere Of nervousness throughout
the whole opera. perhaps due to the
fact that the director was a close OBJ.
server of the work from balcony box. !
But Miss Garden need have no fears
for the popular appeal Of the members
OF the cast Of last evening.