Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-02-01
4 Quartet of Stars In
Operas

-FOUR Of the greatest operate art
lists to appear in the United States
in recent years will be starred in the
series of four operas to be presented
in the Washington Auditorium by
the Chicago Civic Opera Company
during the week of February 9. They
are Chaliapin, Mary Garden, Toti Dial
Monte and Rosa Raisa.
Chaliapin and Mary Garden are bet
ter known to Washingtonians than
are Toti Dial Monte and Rosa Raisa,
having appeared here more fire.
quentfy. Tott Dial Monte made a
favorable impression recently on the
occasion of her first and only visit
to Washington to date, when she ap-
peared in recital about two weeks
ago. She Is a charming petite per-
son Of so youthful an appearance that
when she made her debut at La Scala,
in Milan, as Lucia, the great Tos-
canini Is said to have insisted on
supervising her makeup himself.
"Otherwise," he said, "she would ap-
pear to be Lucia's daughter, not Lucia
herself"
Signorina Dal Monies real name Is
Antonietta, and her professional title,
''Toti," is a nickname that was given
to her by her fellow-students when
she was studying the piano in Venice
to give UP a promising career as
pianist because of an injury to her
wrist, but she turned her attention
promptly to the study of singing, and
in 1916 made a successful debut at
La Scala.
The title role of Lucia di Hammer
moor" in which she will appear here,
is said to be her finest role. In her
recital here she presented the mad
scene" from this opera, and was re-
ceived with tremendous favor. She
has won triumphs in South America
as we'll as in this country and in Eu
rope. She has never yet been heard
here In opera.
Rosa Raisa has been heard here
once in 'Aida," when the Chicago
company visited Washington two
years ago. Her Interpretation was
hailed by local critics as little short
Of marvellous. She has had an inter-
esting life story. She was born in
Russia and endured many Of the hard
ships of the war and revolution. Not
long ago she experienced a dramatic
reunion with her aged father. whom
she had given up for dead. Penniless.
he had managed somehow to reach
America, and learning that his daugh-
ter was soon to return from q Eu-
ropean trip he came to the wharf
to meet her. She will sing Eliza
beth in ''Tannhauser." The occasion
should be interesting, not only be-
cause Of Raisa's presence in tho cast,
but because 'Tannhauser," a spec
taoular work, has not been heard here
in years. The date is February 10.
Chaliapin, of course, is well known
now to Westinghouse. His Is a re-
markable personality. He undoubt-
eddy would have been a great dra-
matte star if he were not favored
with his wonderful voice. Boris
Godunoff," one of his most popular
roles, will be sung by him here.
Mary Garden appeared with the
Chicago company two years ago, in
La Tosca." This year she will sing
the title role of "Thais," at the Satur-
day matinee performance, February
IA. Her remarkable voice and per-
sonality have made her one of the
most popular operatio stars Of all
time. She was sponsored in her
career in this country by the great
Hammerstein. who believed. correctly,
that she would be one OF the most
famous operate stars the United
States had ever entertained.