The Washington times., 1925-02-10
TANNHAUSER IS
SUPERB ONLY.
. IN SPOTS
Chicago Opera Co. Opens
Washington Engagement
With Magic of Wagner
By .JEsSIE MacBRIDE.

q -
BY JESSIE MacBRIDE.;
"Tannhauser.s' Wagner's great
love music.drama. was the opening
opera. of the Chicago Civic Opera
Company last evening, with a real
triumph for Cyrena Van Gordon,
the beautiful Venus, and Joseph
, Schwarz. in performance that
reached its climax in the big choral
spectacle, the scene Of the. Tourna.
ment of Song.
The large Washington Auditorium
had the gallery and mezzanine
filled, also the forward body of the
floor, though the front boxes held
only a scattered gathering.
ldyl of sacred and profane love,
the opposing factors Of womanhood
in this contrasting appeal were
spleudidly given by Miss Van
Gordon and Rosa Raisa, who was
also q stunning figure dramatically.
But the utterly ineffective Tam
hauser. OF Forrest Lamont, de-
tracted from what would have been
rich vocal ensemble.
First Act Triumphs.
Washington grew rarely enthusi-
astically at the close of the famous
Venusberg scene, the opening act,
demanding recall after recall, with
honors to the beauty and fine
dramatic art and singing Of the.
Venus OF Miss Van Gordon. It is
beautiful voice. dramatic soprano
or contraltc warmth. The scene IT.
self, and the ballet were somewhat
crowded for room to give the
spectacle any illusion of the. abode
or the goddess OF love-
The orchestra and its conductor.
Henry G. Weber, also received
spontaneous appreciation after both
the excellent overture and the
Venusberg music.
Joseph Schwarz as Wolfram. the
faithful knight" was peer of ar.
lists and foremost among the six
mobiles of Thuringia, whose singing
and many episodes were dominant
features of the lovely Wagner
score. He dominated every scene
by the impressive dramatic value
OF his every move. As singer,
Schwarz is the finished artist, his
resonant baritone reaching q culmi-
ia
NOUS Star" song, not the least OF
whose fine art was his perfect
stimulation Of his harp accompanf.
ment.
That is stage art added to the
opera. In type and characterize
ton among the men. the German
Opera Company presented great.
er drama In their DIE Meister-
singer
The Landgrave. uncle Of Eliza
beth, Of Alexander Kipnis was also
significant, being beautifully sung
and disclosing q basso of lucious
mellow voice.
Mime. Raisa Impresses.
The elizabeth of Mime. Raisa.
with her first entrance alive: and
vivid in the .Dich Theure Halle, .
was a gripping figure. Nine.
Raisa's voice is more Italian than
German With her fine dramatic
sense. there was yet lacking that
commanding heroisrn Of Wagner.
that forcefully proclaimed epic
quality and potent German diction
that belongs to these heroines. Nor
had she support in her love scenes
or duets from the tenor.
The PRAYER OF Elizabeth was ex-
ouisite in its picture. She Is great
singing actress. It only missed
that distinctive German thing we
have gotten so far away from ana
that, in opera, consorts with the
gods and goddesses.
To the little Shepherd Of Gladys
Swarthout special praise is due for
her beautiful singing. The PI-
grim's chorus and the fine chorus
of the Tournament were excellent
rich with youthful and vigorous
voices.
Mr.. Lamont. too, gaye his final
repentance scene with. fine eiLect'
m HE earlier inefficiency may nave
been due TO indisposition. The or.
rhestra painted Wagner's emotlonai
music well, though, there was lack
NJ incisfyeness in the attacks tnat
again might rise to greater nerolcs'
Critic Has New Seats:
-rha Times critic had the inesti-
mable privilege of viewing the
opera from seats in the second
group Of prices, where the season
critic tickets are located, not from
a vantage point OF the pest Seats
that are usually designated TO give
the most favorable impression:
1t served IO mani NhC -ORbANNNs
,narer that of the large majority.
For that we are grateful. But
Mrs. Wilson-Greene's economical
scheme is a departure in the
courtesy invariably extended to
writer's throughout the world.
Another point. The great civic
auditorium, Washington had be-
Iieyed. would bring about lower
ing of the rates for the best grand
opera, due to its large seating
A. a matter of fact, the prices
for the best seats are only 81 less
than the unprecedented 80 seats
for the last opera season Of this
company at Polls Theater, with its
only 1000 capacity.
There is still room for civic
ideals in these matters.
The great spectacle OF Imperial
Russia, Boris Godunoff," with
Chaliapin in the title role, is the
opera for tonight. with curtain
promptly at o'clock.
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