The Washington times., 1923-01-14
LEGATION PEOPLE.
SHOW INTEREST i'm
WASHINGTON OPERA
Many Box Parties are
Arranged For
tsRigO1eftO"

NINE. DE GRAEFF, wife OF
the Minister Of the Neither
lands. has been added to the list
of patronesses for the Washing.
ton Opera Company's production
of "Rigoletto" at the President
Theater on January % and jan
uary rs.
The Netherlanders will be par
ticularly interested in this per
Torrance because Louis Doorway,
who sings the role Of the Duke,
was born sand educated in. Hol-
land, and appeared as leading
tenor at the, Royal Opera pre-.
ceding his engagement last sea-
son, to tour England with the
Carl Rosa Company.
He came to New York last
spring after closing q special Sc
ries Of appearances at Covent
Garden. London. His first Amer
lean appearance will be in Wash
ington on January % and rs.
Mr.. Doorway is married to the
double first cousin of Julia Culp,
Hollands great contralto. who is
well known ia America.
Then there is great interest at
the Polish legation over the an
nouncement that Bertha Craw,
ford, Canadian coloratura. who IS
great favorite in Russia and
Poland, has been engaged to sing
the role Of Gilda. Nine. Kwapis
zewslxa, wife Of the counselor Of
the Polish legation, plans to give
reception In honor Of Miss
Crawford on Friday, preceding
her appearance at the President
Theater.
Miss Crawford Is heralded as ~
sensation in Europe and Canada.
and when Mr.. and Mrs. Edouard
Alton heard her in New York
they realized she was real dis
covery and determined to pre-
sent her IN Washington at the
first moment possible. Nine.
Lucia Melius afforded this OPP
portunity through breaking her
contract to appear in Washing
ton.
MRS. ALBION, wife Of the al
rector Of the opera company,
amused the Women's Press Club
on Monday at luncheon by an
nOuncing that the Washington
Opera Company was about to
break into the class Of the large
and famous companies Of the
world, whiclE deem It necessary
to have law suits and scandals.
The Washington company will
try the law suit first, as the case
Of Nine. Melius has been placed
In the hands OF the company's
legal representatives
The company does not feel that
the production will suffer by
Mime. Melius' absence, since such
q splendid artist as Miss Craw-
ford is available to fill her place.
but thinks it incumbent to sue
for damage done through forcing
the. company to produce with one
artist. having previously featured
another.
1t is said from Nine. Melius'
office that she viii appear in
Washington later under other
auspices. This will probably be
in concert as she is not an
nounced with the Chicago com
pany.
Many parties, both in boxes
and in groups of seats. are be-
ing arranged for the opening
night Of "Rigolctto." Mrs. Wal
ter Tuckerman, one of the most
enthusiastic supporters of every
thing that is good. for Washing
ton, will have large group Of
guests.
Mrs. William Howard Taft, wife
of the Chief Justice, has added heI
name to the list of patronesses and
expressed her intention Of attend
ing the performance.
Mrs. Mary Stewart is added to
the list of boxholders. The other
boxhoIders are Senator James
Couzens, Mrs. William J. Board
man, Mrs. Wilfred DuPuy
Mrs. r. r. Gown, Mrs. F. B
Moran, Mrs. Walter Schoelkopf
Mrs. William H. West, Mrs
EIonzo Tyner, Mrs. Charles
Boughton Wood, William Phelps
Emo, Mrs. John Mock and Mrs
Joseph Schwarz, of New York
the wife of the distinguishes
barytcne, who is singing the title
! role.
/ n n