Evening star., 1925-10-25
WASHINGTON OPERA
PLANS ) CONCERTS
Twilight Series to Be Given
During Regular Season at
Popular Prices.

Carrying out plans announced last
Spring. the National Opera AsSocia-
ton has completed arrangements for
a series IF five concerts to be given by
tho orchestra Of the Washington
Opera CO. during the coming Winter,
assisted by the chorus of the opera
company
In mekIng the plans public last
night. General Director Albion de-
tlared that his intention is to give
programs of the highest quality at as
low a price as posslL'e. and at a time
when the public would find attend
Rnce most convenient. He has de-
Cided, therefore, to make the series q
group OF twilight concerts" at 4:30.
and lasting until $50, on Sunday
afternoons. This hour was chosen in
order that there might be no conflict
With church services, and that it
might be possible to augment the
regular orchestra Of the opera COM
pany TO n total of IS musicians for
this series of concerts.
Jacques Samassoud. conductor of
the Washington Opera Company, will
direct the programs. which will be ar
ranged as series of national CON
certs. The first to be given will be an
all-RusSian program, with RimSky-
horsakoff's "ScheheraZade" as the
symphony. The second will be all
French, the third alderman. the
fourth all-Italiau and the final all
American.
Charge to Be Kept Low.
Henri Sokolov, who has served in
the past as concert master of the or
chestra, has been re-engagcd to fill
this important post.
In connection with the all-American
"A
American composers with works un-
published to present them for possible
production. He believes that the
Washington Opera Company and the
National Opera Association can be
dedicated TO no greater cause than
that Of upbuilding u greater apprecia-
ton of music and a greater opportun-
ity for expression by America II
musicians. In line with this plan,
lie has decided that the admission fees
10 the twilight series of concerts shall
lie kept as low as possible and that
The programs will be conducted on a
nOn-profit basis, only the cost of pro-
ductlon being sought III the charges.
The chorus viii be prepared for
these concerts by Noes Zlatin, the
famous Russian teacher and director
who is now director of the National
Opera School in connection with the
Seeks Unusual Chorus.
Special care is being exercised in
the development of the chorus, 1t
being Mr.. Albion's aim to have every
type of voice represented, thus permit
ting the proper tone development re.
gardless of the class of work being
produced. To this end, he is seeking
coloratura, lyric and dramatic sopra-
nos, meZzo sopranos, first and second
altos, first and second tenors. bari
tones. baSsos cantante and bassos
profundo. Such u group would per.
init of the same shading and versatil-
ity as IS obtained In the symphony
orchestra
The orchestra Is repidly putting the
finishing touches on the la Tosca"
score. This opera with Elda Vettori
the American dramatic soprano, and
n famous baritone will be sung on
November 16 at the Washington
Auditorium. The box office and sub
scription list have been opened and
reservations for single operas or the
entire season of five may be made at
the Jordan Piano Company at Thir-
teenth and G streets.