Evening star., 1924-11-09
CHAL|AP|N TO HEAD
FAUST CAST HERE
Great Basso to Be in Role
of "Mephisto" as Opera
Season Is Launched.

Predicting that , the forthcoming z
operatic season of the Washington
Opera Company VIII be the grestest
in its history, Edouard Albion, gem
eral director of the company. yester-
da announced that Feodor Chaliapin.
one of the greatest baSsos the grand
opera world has known. Will head the
cast of operate stars, who Will sing
the opening production of the season
in the new Washington auditorium
Monday night January 26.
Gounod's Faust" one of the most
popular operas ever written. will be
the first production of the company
this season and the great Russian
basSo will sing the role of MephiSto
Famous as an actor as well as
singer. Chaliapins Interpretation of
his role is looked forward to with
keen anticipation. Although the
opera has been surg in WasninEton
many times. il never has had such d
great artist in the role OF Mephisto.
Engagement IL Announced.
Announcement of Chaliapin's en-
slgement to sing the opening produc-
tion of the season was made imm edi-
ately after the contract for the use
of the new Washington Auditorium
was signed by Mr.. Albion and Robert
torium. in the offices OF the latter.
in the District National Bank Build
ing. Contract No. was given to the
Washington Opera Company.
Declaring he was "elated" to an
nounce Chaliapin'S engagement. Mr.
Albion praised the Russian singer as
a great artist, possessing a vital
personality and a great soul" His
engagement with the Washington
Opera Company he said was a recog-
milton of the artistic excellence of the
past performances OF the National
Capitals company.
Challapin'S engagement with US
Is response to our artistic ideal
and the work We have done and are
planning to make Washington truly
great center of music and art of
which America may be proud. 1t is
this approval of our ideal and wha
We already have done in carrying it
out which makes my pleasure so
great in this announcement" Mr.. AL
bion said
Chnliapin to Aid.
Determination to assist in the up
building of the grand opera company
of the Nations Capital was an
nou1ced by Chaliapin at a dinner
given in his honor recently by Mr..
anu WI <ilDlOi, dlloIS lHe
at which Jacques Samassoud
conductor of the Washington Opera
Company, under the baton of whose
father Chaliapin sang in the Imperial
Russian opera in the days of the
C2arS.
Yours is a great ideal-it is art.
Chaliapin told Mr.. Albion. America
today is where Russia was in 1886,
when the great musical father,
Glinka, founded the national move
ment that made possible my career
and the great careers of so many
OF my countrymen and has meant so
much to our artistic and musical de-
velopment. We are the youngest ma
ton to find ourselves in great artistic
expression and America will be the
next
Il am grateful to America for the
praise, the kindness with which she
received me from my revolution-torn
country. the gold she has given me
and | want to help you in this great
work.
America is awakening and Will
find herself great in a short time, ana
! want to leave with her when l am
gone out of this life something OF
my art. something of this little L
know of the great art which Is our
ideal You must let me help In this
great work.