Evening star., 1925-09-20
LEPARADIS ATTR ACTIONS
American Opera Academy.
MIcH.NEEDED musical instit,

A MUCH NEEDED musical .institu-
ton will open it's doors to those
who aspire to a career Of grand or
light opera November i. The De Fec
Grand Opera Academy as IT will be
known, will be housed in a theater
structed at Sc Fifth avenue, New
York City.
Mr.. George De Fec Ia known in the
musical world for his untiring ef-
forts to bring opera to the masses
and to give the native singer an op-
portunity to develop his talents on
the American lyric stage. For the
last Is years De Fec. who bronsht
with him to this country a wealth of
experience acquired through his con-
nection with the management Of the
San Carlo Of Naples a nd of the Covent
Garden in London. has given opera
to the people at popular prices and
also brought ont large number of
artists who since then won fame and
recognition. The American grand
opera stage owes TO him the discov-
cry and the first Introduction to the
public OF Richard Bonnelli "a native
American, despite his Italian pseu-
donym} of the Chicago civic Opera
Company who was with Mr.. De Fec
in grand opera four years ago, and
the most promising American opera
singer and sent to Italy at the eX-
pense Of the Car,Iso Memorial Founda
tion. was last year given her first
chance in the leading role Of Aida
during an engagement aof he De Eco
Grand Opera Company at Baltimore.
The proper setting for carrying on
this work Of developing American
talent by giving them practical stage
training. whether in private or public
appearances, necessitates a stage for
permanent use Through the sener-
Gus cooperation Of an art lover. a
theater Is now being built
for this very purpose. From
in the morning till ! in the after
noon on the stage operate forces of
this country will be developed from
the finished product of the vocal
studios. '.z
No singing" will be taught. but
singers will be taught grand and light
opera; the students will be east in
various roles. according to the ma
ture of their voices. and. like those
who are taught swimming by being
thrown into the water. they will he
prepared to appear on the stage by
being cast on the stage from the very
beginning. Every course, whether
languages. dramatics. da ncine. deport-
ment. will he under the control OF
veterans OF the operate stage. expert
enced stage directors. ballet masters.
hailing from Italy. France. Germa ny
and Russia. Every week there will
he 4 private performance for pupils
alone. and once A month a public
opera performa nee with orchestra
The tuition fee has been made so
low ss to allow the American opera.
student to add this academic course
10 his vocal culture education. For
nominal fee the De Fec Ora nd Opera
Academy Will be open to every as
pirant Of grand ~r light opera, with
a right to participate IN the fun
course Of studies and performa
Though no subsidies nor endow-
ments have beer solicited r"r received
by the founders of this sch,c' q GER
tain number Of free scholarsh,. = VIII
be offered to deserving applI. j-'s
whose means will not allow otherwis,
to apply for admission. Many other
courses, such as lectures by leading
music critics and writer's, will be
added to the regular program.
The academy will enlarge the scope
of activities of the De Fec Grand
Opera Company, which for the la st
FIVE years has given successful opera
seasons in Baltimore and all through
Canada. These opera seasons will be
extended to other parts OF the coun.
try and strengthened through the
addition Of new and young forces
formed on the stage of the De Fec
Grand Opera Academy.
Mr.. s. L. Debalta. for many years
connected with musical publicati tions
both in France and in this country.
who has co-operated during the la st
* years in promoting. and orga nizing
musical events, is associated with
Mr.. George De Fec In the founda ton
~ this ocodap,y