The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-07
MADAME ALDA AND
 CHARLES HACKETT IN CONCERT HERE
Famous Metropolitan Stars Are An Event Of Musi-
 cal Season
when Madame Frances Aida noted

when Madame Frances Aida noted lyric prima donna soprano of the Metropolitan Opera and Charles Hackett, internationally known ten or, give the dedication program mu- sically at the Phillips auditorium next Friday evening october t2, pre- sented by the All Star Concerts, these two great artists will each bring their own accompanist, some thing that has never occurred in any concert ever given in Birmingham.
 Following the dedication of the Phillips auditorium, next Monday evening the Masonic auditorium will be dedicated unsteady by the All Star Concerts presenting Irene Castle, the best dressed woman in the world, and her company of 25, including Duke" Yellman's cele- brated orchestra, the first appear ance here of the famous dancer.
 A program of unusual beauty and distinction has been chosen by Madame Aida and MT. Hackett, who write to the management that they appreciate the great honor conferred upon them in being invited to dedi- cate the handsome new auditorium and have selected for this occasion the best from their repertoire.
 Among the distinguished features of the program will be the famous duet from Madame Butterfly" for soprano and tenor which Madame Aida and MT. Haekett will sing, one of the most dramatic and beautiful of all Puceini's glorious works.
 Madame Rlda's accompanist for the dedication concert will be Margaret Hughes and MT. Hacketts Solon AL berti both widely known for their superior pianistic accomplishments.
 On account of the notable oc- casion the first time any Metropoli- tan artists have ever sung at this splendid. new auditorium, the audi ence, which will greet the stars, will be unusually brilliant, as it will be the first time that hundreds of Bir- mingham. people have ever entered the handsome structure, and Will thus have the opportunity of seeing the splendid hall,
 Madame Alda's accompanist for the with a gorgeous wardrobe and will wear one of her handsomest Partisan creations at her concert here.
 MT. Hackett's appearance here (his first, by the way) will mark the introduction to a Birmingham audience of "America's Caruso,' so- called by the critics of Italy. South America, France and England. where this 100 per cent American mas scored the most brilliant triumphs.
 Handsome, of splendid physique, and with tremendous magnetism. Mir I1ackett captured his audience everywhere and of his first appear ance at the Metropolitan Opera, the date James Gibbons Huneker, one of America's best known, most inter esting. and certainly most versatile critics. writing in the New York Times of his role of Cavaradossi (Tosca) paid him the following tribute:
 Charles Hackett. the young American tenor, scored heavily in sTosca' at the ma tinee yesterday in ssthe Metropolitan Opera house. It was fhis first assumption of the role of Mario Cavaradossi in this city, al- though it is said to have been his best part in Italy and one in which he garnered honors. That possibly accounted for the fact of his easy .bearing in Act l. his impassioned aacting in that cruelest of scenes, the torture episode. and his dramatic singing and acting in the finale. Not @nly did MT. Hackett carry himself throughout like a veteran but he sang with fire and finesse. his splen- did voice ringing out in cllmaXes like a silver bell Musical and TO- mantle. pathetic and forceful, this new Mario proved that the predic- tions made after his debut were not va n. He made ' gallant picture and with Miss Farrar the illusion of youthful passion provoked from huge audience unfeigned enthusiasm. Change the name of Charles Racket to James K. Hackett. matinee idol. and Mario could easily have been Rupert of Hetzau."