The Washington times., 1923-02-08
PLAN FOR MORE
GRAND OPERA
HERE
Short Seasons Success Moves
to Further ventures-The
"SnoW Maiden" Charms.
By WILLIAM MOORE.

By WILLIAM MOORE.
| With the completion of the Wash
ington Auditorium in sight, and with
4 the support-moral and financial-of
| practically every music lover in the
Nations Capital, Washington next
year is expected to have season of
| grand opera that will eclipse even
the brilliant productions of the Chi
cago Grand Opera Company, the last
Of which was presented last night.
Several OF the guarantors who
lagreed to underwrite the three per-
formances of the Chicago company
for $42 900 said today the distinct sue
cess Of the venture merits it's repeti.
ton next year on a larger scale.
| Metropolitan May Come.
1.-THE guarantors are indeed pleased
with our all too brief season Of grand
OPERA" said one guarantor, whose
name is identified with the promotion
Of music and the arts in this city.
| I've are particularly gratifed with
the remarkable patronage. Every
| night. the theater was sold out and
standing room was the order. Next
year the Washington Auditorium
will be completed, and we hope to
bring. back real grand opera to this
city. not for three days. but for
week" III
| So enthusiastic was the response
of the public that It is possible the
| Metropolitan Opera Company from
New York may give three perform
ances in April.
| The closing production Of the short
opera season was N. Rimsky- Korsa-
koff's delightful fairy tale, "Snie-
| gurotchka" Snow Maide1lC. The
operas of Rimsky- are lit
| tie. known in this country, but
wherever they have been presented
the auditors have evinced unbounded
enthusiasm.
A Fairy Tale.
"Sniegurotchka" is one of the
most interesting operas in the Chi
cago company's repertoire. It is
a spring fairy tale. the text being
adapted from Ostrovsly.
Rimsly Korsakoff has woven
about the simple story Of the love
affairs OF King Frost's daughter
music that is both unique and
charming.
The principal roles were taken
Sniegurotchka, Miss Edith Ma
son; Shepherd Lei, Alice D'Herma-
noy; Koupava, Irene Pavloska;
Spring Fay. Cyrena van Gordon;
Car Berendey, Angelo Minghetti;
Mizguir, Georges Baklafloff; King
Frost, Edouard Cotreuil; BobyI, De.
sire Defrere; Bobylika, Maria Claes-
sens; Bermiata, William Beck: Car
niyal, Mia Ltka: Page. Hazel
Eden; Spirit of the Woods, Lodo-
vico Oliviero. and heralds, Jose Mo-
plea and. Milo Luka.
The story Of the opera opens on
the Red mountain, near the Cars
palace. The Snow Maiden, realiz- |
ing that her father, King Frost,
will not be with her much longer,
expresses q desire to become a
mortal. She is placed in the GUS
tody of Bobyl, genial, although
incorporate, old rascal, and his
wife, Bobylika.
1 Love Becomes Involved.
Sniegurotchka becomes enam-
cured of the tickle Shepherd Lei.
Also she falls under the spell of
MiZguir, the dashing young Tar
| tar merchant, who has deserted Kou-
pava for the little Snow Maiden.
Complications ensue. Koupava APP
peals to the Gar for a decision,
but that potentate finds the prob
urges both Lei and the Tartar to
melt the icy heart Of the Snow
Maiden. Lei, however, enjoys the
company of the deserted village
belle. The Snow Maiden cannot
understand why she is not like
other girls" She appeals to her
mother for the secret of love.
When this is bestowed upon her
her eyes are opened and she be-
holds the young merchant in the
i light of a mortal.
When Mizguir takes her in his
| arms, however, she melts and leaves
behind nothing but her white veil. |
| DiscOnsolate, MiZguir leaps into the
| mountain lake.
Miss Mason, as the Snow Maiden, |
has a clear, bell-like quality in her
voice, but she displays little dra-
matte fervor.
Duet Remarkable.
| For sheer personality, plus a rich, |
warm voice, Miss Irene Pavloska
was the outstanding figure in the
production. Her duet with Miss
| D'Hermanoy in the third act was
remarkable.
Georges Baklanoff, portraying the
rich young merchant, sang his role
with rare skill.
The music is extremely difficult
to interpret But with Richard |
Hageman welding the baton, the
production came off without a hitch. |
The chorus work was excellent, the |
attack and shading being as near
| perfect as one could desire.
The settings, arranged by Emile |
Merle Forest, were vivid; the color |
scheme was startling, and the ballet, |
| especially in the carnival of the |
birds, was bizarre. The latter called |
to memory Rostand's "Chanticleer." |
VALE FACILITY NAV npNp