The Washington times., 1925-02-14
TOTI DAL MONTE
IS CAROL nlG
UC|A
verdI's Thriller ot Older Opera
Day ExquisItsly Given BY
Chicago Artists
By JESSIE hIacBllIDIE.

Lucia al Iammerinoor last
evening 81 the WaahInRtOn Audi
toriuf1. brought Ioki pal Monte
thundetols ovation Tor thu exqulElle
singing Of her childlilEe lncla
which IS the star q cclora1ura
roles ia Erand operA. But Don
izeftiss tragic OPERA II not nlcne
stage Tor the famous Aextet ana
Lucia made scene It A melody
end and Wash oniane, who hear
80 little opera welcomed it With
real enthusiasm as presented by
the Chicago Civic Opera.
Not poiacc0, but Frank 81 LeEer
conducted the score proVine = vital
and decisive leader.
Lucia belongs 70 the older uaN II
opera the golden day o. italy
supremacy In song, with duets
Q1artete. besides many solos, thnf
are individual gems around which
the blood and thunder raEedy uf
traditional opera Is set 1t II
beautiful E1ueic
New Lucia An Event
Tl1S advent 81 y new Kiuclh u II:
ways an event D1i Monte II 4f
event ii herself ia this her first
opera appearance Ii the National
Capital The Iovelinees ok her
singing IS as efkortIess as 8 bird s.
It's carol is pure beauty never
touch Of mere snowy bfavura cf
the cold c0loratl1ta voice Beaufs
Is 50 intrinsic part of this voice
that its sweet eoftness holds little
of the ensatfonal
Yet there are the most porkect
runs, staccafo tones q perfection
Iimpfd flow 81 triIlH and rculaaos Dill
flowing as the song of the wind,
expression 0f mood NfDln her
FIRST ecstasy of love, there u
blend of happiness III the boWil6
erment of her fate that At last
drives her fo madness, III which
she put the subtle Quality ot
bereft ophelia
Foremost ia the supporting cast
VAS the Edgar of Antonio Cottis
whose tenor voice rises 70 bis drsi
matte climax OF softenS 81 warm
naoonglows of covered voice Il some
rare duets with Lucia. He Is
dramatic artist of fine feeling. though
too Tar III the background, ana MS
voice ii the sextet was lost many
times His final graveyard scene
was erippingly sung
Giacofno Rsmini - Lord Henry
the brother. was = dignikled, noble
and commanding actor. but he sings
roughly more than Ia the bel cniltr
Lurity that Donizefti demands. Agaifl
lose Moiiea, iii the tenor role OF tn
bridegroom, Lord Arthur BucklAw.
WAS an imposing picture whose
voice win be anticipated with pleas.
ire III the leading role of Thain to-
day. Elizabeth Kerr. the contfalto.
was too light In voice to Be effective
III ensembles In her role aA Lucia s
friend. Iazzari and OlivierO conf
pletad the cast.
Orch1stta md Chorus Score.
10 the orchestra much praise IL
cue. ard to the chorus that did nCnle
beautiful soft signing both Ii the
mems ensembles and In the f1ll
chorus. The fated Bride Ok Lam
I1erfaoor remains, IN the Chicago
Opera season, d memory OF q fAlry.
like voice that knows no limitations
in its carolink, the memory Of the
lovely tuneful music, given most
effectively.
Theirs was nothing significant in
the production, as II followed merely
the traditional line Of efAIld opera
of many decades. The lack ok any
perspective ON this stage does. how
ever prove 4 handicap that VIII Al
wavs limit stage effects.
The washington Auditorium could
Greatly Aid the comfort Of lts pa,
irons IL the many side doors on E
street, which are now accessible.
were thrown open Immediately after
4 performances. for the jam ct the
two small entrances is most disturb
inc. It has been opened. it ID true,
before completion. but last evening
tLe' side doors could have been used
sa the mud outside had dried.