The Washington times., 1923-04-04
|CHAL|AP|N WINS
WONDERED IL
PLAUD|T5
Famous Russian Basso FuIfilIs
4 All Expectations Of D. c.
Audience.

Seldom has any artist appearing
IN Washington won such enthusi.
astic appreciation as that accorded,
and most deservedly so, to the great
tChaliapin Yesterday afternoon. It
was the first visit to this city of the
famous Russian basso generally
lconceded by critics to be the worlds
greatest basso-and the large audi
fence that packed Polls showed by
1.-THE wonderful reception accorded him
THAT all advance expectations were
hmore than fulfilled.
It is difficult to appraise his pert
Iformance without making casual
Efeader who had not attended the re-
|cital feel that too fulsome praise
twas being accorded. But to treat
EChaliapin even fairly, most of the
Icommendatory superlatives ought to
be brought out Of the word book.
Crowd Cheers Artist.
It is mighty seldom that Wash.
Iington audience stands in the aisles
and cheers q visiting artist for five
minutes at g. stretch. 1t is rare In
Ideed when shouts Of ''Bravor' go up
Ifrom every part of the house. Wash.
Elngton audiences are not demonstra-
tive; in fact, the great difficulty at
lsome concerts is to keep them till
the finish. There was no trouble
yesterday; that crowd would have
stayed in Polls as long as Chaliapin
Was able to sing.
The man is a striking personality,
With admirable stage presence and
d warmth and geniality OF manner
that win friendship at once. Physi-
cally, he is giant. Naturally, the
concert stage gives decidedly limited
opportunity for demonstrating act
ing ability; yet no one. who heard
Ehaliapin yesterday would question
for an instant that he is q great
actor as well as great singer. For
EChaliapin has an art OF his own; he
80 able, even in his rendition Of con-
cert numbers, to convey remarkable
scharacterizations. Ruth Draper and
a few vaudeville artists have q some
what similar ability, but after all
Chaliapin. il Unique.
Has Superb Control.
His voice has exceptional range,
tremendous power, and a fine dra-
matte quality. But it has more than
that. 1t has a pleasing naturalness.
like that Of everyday speech, and
Chaliapin has 1t always under superb |
control. He is master OF striking |
pianissimo effects. and at no time |
was there any suggestion of the |
harshness so common to bass voices. |
It is not to be wondered at that Rus |
STA kept him so jeafuusly to herself |
for many years and was Ioath to let |
him go even on his present visit to
America.
/ ChaIiapin announced his song
numbers from the platform. and
the texts. in English, were given
in little booklets distributed to
the audience. OF course, interest
conferred primarily in the sNOlea
Boat Sons, which, when first
sung in New York, insfanfaneouslv
established Chaliapin with The met
ropoittan critics. The RHYTHM Of
this piece is superb, and its alter.
ma ton OF creecendo and dininIi.
endo most striking. Applause was
80 lnslstent that he had to, repeat
Gave Varied selections.
he gave long program, includ- |
ING the Pretty Lady, aria from |
Lon Juan, most enthusiastically
received; The Song OF the, Flea !"
nshtIuuy comic: She laughed. %
g miniature tragedy: The Midnic,,t
esevlew, and THE Two Crena.
1Iers. alternately martial and M.
snetic; and q great MANY encoraS |
ms selections were discrirninafeI,,l
Varleo- The program also incJuded
ecIlons by Max Rabinowitch. 6fs
.-Snpanist, and Nicholas Ie.
N1enne. cellist. =,