Evening star., 1923-02-07

From the Chicago CIVIC opera COM
pany, the city will not get it for at
least a year. But a decade, or rather
fourteen years. would never do, for
it has been that long since a worthy
competitor of that educational insti-
tuition has given the city anything
approaching the "Tosca" which last
night completed two-thirds of the
opera season here.
Twenty years ago Sunday, the opera
"fosca'' was introduced to an Amer
lean audience. Hundreds of perform
ances have since been given of Sar-
dou's drama, but Washington is not
anxious to see if there are any bet
ter "ToscaS" yet unknown to it.
Mary Garden, soprano; Giulio Criml,
tenor and Georges Baklanoff bari
tone, reached unusual dramatic
heights in telling the lllica and Gla-
cosa's story of Sardous intense play
through the medium of Giacomo Puc-
cini They had ii difficult task, Tor
"ToSca" does not offer to the singers
unlimited opportunities to give audi
enceS the best in their voices. In fact,
1t has tendency TO obstruct the con
scientious desires of the singer to
impress first time" audiences. This
was evident last night. Puccini's
"Tosca" was his fifth work and is
Eanuw1cnBu between boubiile dnu
Madame Butterfy'-two operas
which capture some opinions when
"Tosca" is brought up for comparison.
Mary Garden Triumphs.
Broadly and briefly the story of
the opera is of the undying love OF a
singer for an artist and battle OF
the two against the insidiouS mach
inations of a third. who wants the
singer and usually gets what he
wants" This sinister gentleman IS
Scarpia, a character ably portrayed
by Georges Baklanoff last night.
Scarpia is the whole play. He dolnl-
mates the situation from the time the
curtain rises on the first act until
the elimination of the tragic scene IN
the last act.
But the story is not the main sub
ject to be discussed. The spotlight
must he turned on Mary Garden.
Crimi and Baklanoff. for without them
the story may not have had such d
profound effect.
Mary Garden scored She delighted.
Handicapped as she was by provok-
ing cold. she nevertheless won de-
cidea victory. braina1iCaily ahu
muSically. she pleased. The great
diva. who UP until few months ago
was giving the benefit of her expert
ence to the less intelligent. mustered
her every quality and charm ana
planted il III Washington forever AS
ToSciL the. opera singer. Miss Garden
presented the moods said to be pos
sessed by opera singers. as though
they were her own. She was natural.
hence she was AN actress. Her
dramatic ceiling" was reached in
act two. in the apartments of Scarpla,
the chief of police. where she pleaded.
battled and finally won, for the mo-
ment, the freedom of her lover, Mario
CavaradosSi. an artist tGlulla Crlmi1.
BakIanOff's Great Artistry.
The aria was "Vissi dArte
a.
was rewarded by laundering ap-
plause.
Baklanoff. as Scarpia. had the sec
ond act in which to impress his audi
ence with his voice. PRIOR to Inat
time his singing was more or less
confined to the lower treble. ana II
was not altogether certain just now
good his baritone voice was ne
famous "Cantabile Scarpla tScarpla
Air). in which he pleads for the love
of Tosca. in the face of the fact that
he has Just tortured her lover almost
unto death, explained the success ne
achieved in Chicago and Boston:
AS the treacherouS Scarpla, Bakla-
roff incurred the dislike of every one,
which in turn brought the stamp OF
success" firmly upon him. Rowertul
in physique and of a pleasing person
ality. he could turn in moment. IN
voice and manner. from Sl'loo'h
gentleman to beast. .
Too much cannot be said apout
the third leading light in the pro
duction--Crimi. the tenor: as oatara.
little fellow sent harmonious music
TO the far corners OF the house. he
Sang wi" 4 great depth OF 1eeilns
and emotion. There was music In
~ s,,. ..nG soul in his music par
ticutarty n the aria ''E Lucevan ie
Stelle" CThe Stars We're Shlnnin2l'
his farewell to the world. his dreams
of art and his love, for the execution
lie stated "Tosca" did not offer It's
hest opportunity TO Criml. TO MISS
Garden and to Bak!anon. but never
thelesS tney won. The httle tenor
is in Washington for the hrst tlnie.
Washington hopes it will mot be the
last. - -,
There were several aside from the
leaders who We're prominent coGs IN
the great wheel that moTed so sue
cessfuIly-Vittorio Trevisan, the Sa-
cristan of 81. Andrea Della Vale;
Lodovico Olivero, the Spoletta. agent
Of police; Desire Deirere. the Cesare
Angellotti. ar escaped political prlS-
oner, who was unConsciously re
'sponsibIe for the tragedy; Milo Luka,
"A TAILOR: Kathryn Browne, shep-
herd: Sallustio Civai. the gendarme.
and splendid chorus.
The one impressive scene apart
from the general plot came at the end
of the first act. as the clergy entered
the church for the festival TIE
Deum" IN honor of the reported
victory over Napoleon.
Orchestra Scores. TOO.
The scenery was magnificent, solid.
realistic; the entire company were
literally picked out of early nine
teenth century life ard placed in
Polls Theater: every one was at
yhome, there was no restraint and the
general smoothness and realism
which permeated the stage can be
put down as an outstanding feature.
Polacco knew the part TO be played
by the orchestra. He is great con-
ductor. an experienced man. and, al
though he was not called up for a
curtain bow, the audience neverthe-
less, at the beginning of the third act.
took upon itself the duty of giving its
approval to him unsolicited. The
leader accepted his share of the credit
and silently announced TO my men
goes the rest.
Tonight is the end of the season.
"Sniegurotchka" or snow Maiden
by Rimsky korsakoff. is to be sung
in French, and another group of new
faces and voices VIII be placed on the
rostrum of public opinion. Number
ing among these are Edith Mason, the
prima donna, and Irene Pavloska, two
excellent singers cyrena van Cor
night. and Baklanoff of last nights
fame will also be heard.
Mrs Wilson Greene. under whose
local management the opera is being
produced. and the forty-two guaran
tors. who have made possible the ap
pearance here of the Chicago COM
pany, today must feel they have
brought more pleasure to Washing
ton than was anticipated. And it is
said these public spirited persons are
not through. that they are going to
the limit in order that an opera sea-
son can be permanently established in
Washington