Evening star., 1923-01-07
VA|NLY SEEK CALVE
TO SING IN CARMEN
Director Albion and Mrs. Al
bion Won Consent, But Pre-
yious Engagement Interfered

Washington has just barely missed
hearing the great Emma Calve sing
her swan song" in Carmen. She
wanted TO do it. and her manager
seemed perfectly wiling, but. untor-
tunately, one OF those business con-
tracts that come into the life of great
artists vas found to be a bar.
General Director Edouard Albion Of
the Washington Opera Company, who
has announced two performances of
"Rigoletto" at the President Theater.
January % and 26, with cast which
aims TO put the production in the
class of those Of the great opera COM
panies of the world, had also engaged
the President Theater for two per-
formances of Carmen" on February
and .. when information came of
the effort to bring the Chicago Grand
Opera Company 10 Polls Theater on
those dates.
Albion Changes Date.
Through the courtesy of Arthur
Leslie Smith, manager of the Presi-
dent, Mr.. Albion at once changed his
bookings for Carmen" to February
26 and 81. Feeling that the coming
of the Chicago company would neces-
sitate something extraordinary on the
part of the Washington Opera Com
pany to insure success for the Car
men production, he sent Mrs. Albion
to New York, where, through the
courtesy of Loudon Charlton, Nine.
Calves manager, an interview was
obtained. Mrs. Albion fortified her
personal appeal to Nine. Calve for one
performance of Carmen" in the
National Capital with a letter which
set forth. in part, as follows:
1--WE have come to you, Nine. Calve,
in the name of our country to ask
that you give us the great gift OF
ono performance Of your immortal
Carmen in our Capital city with the
Washington Opera Company. 1t Is
our purpose to bring to Washington
the greatest artists of the world
you would represent France. That
you, the greatest of all Carmens,
should be the first to come to us from
your France is most fitting. Nine.
Jusserands name heads our list Of
patronesses. A quartet of our young
washington singers was given an
ovation when they sang on the pro-
gram in which your great Clemen-
ceau appeared last week.
Pleads for Appearance.
your philosophy prepares you to
understand our conservation TO the
service of art for our nation. we
we are artists and patriots struggling
TO lift our nation to higher realms of
understanding through music.
I'm the name of our common ideals
of service and of art. we beg that
order that, for just one time, your
Carmen shall be heard in the capital
of our country. n
"WiII you not give of your art to
ms? out Of the great power God has
given you, will you not aid our cause?
For America, for art, am a beggar
before you"
Mme. CaIve Accepts.
To this stirring appeal Mime. Calve
replied that there was nothing she
would love so much as to sing her
..Swan Song of Carmen" in the capi-
tai of America. She expressed her
self as deeply touched, but asked
time to consider IL. And on Decem-
her 10 Mrs. Albion was thrilled with
the receipt of Nine Calves reply:
"Chere madame-votre lettre est ir-
resistibIe -J'accepte. Entenez-vous
ayec mon Manager Loudon Charlton,
Carnegie building. Ne pourriez vous
renvoyer la date aux premiere jours
de Mars? j, 2, 8 ou 4 Mars? Je lie
youdrais tant, afn de pouvofr me
reposer de mes fatugues de la Cali
fornia ou je vais- donner des con-
certs? Crovez, madame. en- mes SEN
times les plus distingues."
Director Albion Immediately be-
gan negotiations, through Louis
Charlton. as suggested by Nine