The Washington times., 1925-01-19
ED0UARD ALBION
SETS OPERA
RECORD
Faust" Advance Sale New in
Opera History Here.
AIbion's Life Work.

With the advance sale of seats
making certain that a new attend
ance record will be set for per-
Torrance Of grand opera in WASH
ington, the production Of Faust"
by the Washington Opera Company
Monday night, January 26, is the
latest climax in the career Of
Edouard Albion, founder and gen.
eral director of Washington's own
grand opera company.
Born of his rebellion against the
difficulties that had confronted
American artists and composers for
years and the dearth of opportunity
for the expression of their genius,
the Washington Opera Company
was brought into existence by MIR.
Albion December II, 1918, with a
free performance of the Pirates of
Penzance' for the sheIl-shocked sol
diers of ST. Elizabeth's Hospital.
The first public performance was
a free presentation of the same
light opera by Gilbert and Sullivan,
in the auditorium of the Central
High School, January Is, 1919.
Since then the company has pro-
crossed so rapidly that it is pre-
senting new casts composed of the
greatest opera stars. with a list
Of gaurantors headed by Secretary
of the Treasury Mellon and in
Guiding among it's patronesses and
box holders the most exclusive
Of Washington's society leaders.
AIbion's Artist Career.
no the adventuring spirit and
bulldog tenacity Of his English-IrisL
ancestry cab be traced the determi.
nation and ability which has guided
the Washington Opera COMPANY
through the difficulties and over
the obstacle Of the apathy with
which the National Capital, blase.
and remembering the failures OF
others in the past, at first regarded
the dream Of Mr.. Albion.
Washington's impresario Is the
descendant Of one OF the knights
who came to England in 1866 with
William the Conqueror, bearing the
name De MiQue and a coat OF arms
that told Of deeds in the Crusades
to the Holy Land, which, inciden-
tally, Edouard Albion-in private
life, Harold Meek-still uses on his
private correspondence papers.
Adoption Of the professional name
Edouard Albion followed several
years study in New York, Paris
and Italy and a return to America
and a successful debut in concert
and grand opera here. Mr.. Albion
came to New York when nineteen
years old and after a short period
of study went to Paris, where he
studied under Frank King Clarke
and in London under other teach
ers.
Going to Italy, he was introduces
to Signor V. lombard, teacher Of
Caruso, and one Of the most famous
teachers in Italy, by Edward John
son, the great American tenor, who,
last week, appeared at the morn
ing musicale given by Mrs. Law.
renee Townsend. The meeting of
Albion and Johnson at the musicale
was the second since they left Italy.
Tours With Concert Stars.
His return to America was fol-
lowed by concert tours with Tetraz
zini and Nordica and his grand
opera debut was made with the
Montreal Opera company in one of
the great casts which sang "Lohen-
grim and which included Lee
SIezak. Nine. Marie Rappold, and
Rosa OI1tZka, -CeIcDrdLSu as one Oh
the most famous 'Ortruds."
The disturbance caused by the
outbreak of the European war
caused cancellation Of coast-to-
coast concert tour under the man
aeement of Leslie Smith, son of T.
Arthur Smith, of the r. Arthur
Smith. Inc, concert bureau of
Washington, and when the United
States. Whi"" he had adopted as
his own country, entered the war
Mr.. Albion offered his services to
the War Department and was as
signed to duty with the District
War Camp Community Service, haV
ing charge of~the music department
Of the Washington headquarters
under Harold Keats then at the
head Of the District service.
Before that however, Edouard
Albion, the new baritone star ris-
ing above the horizon, had sung to
standing-roo audience in
concert In the National Theater in
Washington in May 1917. and struck
by the beauty of Washington and
it's significance at the National
Capital he abandoned his concert
plans and decided to make Washing
ton his home. In September, 1917,
he married Miss Marietta Stockard,
who is now nationally known as
Peggy Albion" for her bedtime
stories over Radio. WRC.