Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-13
CHICAGO OPERA CO.
SCORES IN MARTHA
Gay Music GayIy Sung in Ex.
ira Performance Given
Gratis.

A large number of Washington mu-
sic lovers enjoyed the distinction of
witnessing an absolutely free perform
ance of what is generally conceded to
be the most expensive of musical lux
uries-gra nd opera-when the Chicago
Civic Opera Co. esta bliShed a prece-
dent in musical history yesterday aft
ernoon, presenting Flotow's Martha"
as additional compensation to those
who bought tickets for Eerdi's "Otel.
10" Tuesday night and were given Puc-
cini'S La Tosca" TO listen to instead.
The substitution was necessitated by
the illness of Charles Marshall, the
only tenor in the company qualified
to sing the title role of Otello.
No tickets were sold for yesterdays
performance except in cases where
the original "Otello" tickets had been
turned in to the box office. AS a re-
suit the audience and opera company
alike seemed to take its Martha" in
spirit Of care-free light -heartedness.
Even Roberto MoranZoni. conductor,
led his orchestra into a brilliant, -four
lShlng overture and seemed to gallop
gaily through the remainder of the
tuneful score. Moreover, the fact that
Martha" is one of the few operate
works in which no one dies or is spir-
itually crushed. but has fairy-tale
taxation of the audience, for there
were no tense moments Of tragedy:
instead, between the choruses of the
merry villagers and the ale song, so
similar in setting and theme to Regi-
maid De Koven's forest scene in Rob
in Hood a calm but pleasant time
was enjoyed by all.
Edith Mason Pleases.
Edith Mason sang the title role
quite pleasingly, delivering the famous
Last Rose of Summer" both in Eng.
lish and later in Italian. the language
In which the oper;-. as whole, was
sung. She was given more than
ample support by Irene Pavloska,
heard here last year in the leading
role of Rose Marie" experience in
which seems to have given her un-
usual dramatic ease. Miss Pavloska
Cortis, who sang the leading tenor
role in La Tosca" Tuesday night,
was excellent as the moody Lionel
who mourns for his Martha in the
third act and even the first part Of
the fourth with such eloquent sing
ing Of the Rose" theme His aria
M 'appari," was especially fine Vir-
gilio LazZari was we'll cast as the
more sturdy, masterful Plunkett, and
sang and acted his role admirably. The
quartet gave the Good Night" mum.
Der delightfully."-
Nittorio Trevisan proved an accom-
phshed comedian in the role of Sir
Tristan and Gildo Morelato sang the
Sheriff $ resonant musical announce
ments quite satisfactorily. Those in
smaller roles included Maurice Kost-
rolf, Philip Aronson. Jean de Keyser
Anna Correnti, Constance Bitterl, Eliz-
abeth Kerr. Herman Dreben, Inez
Nascimbene and Mary Giullermo.
Two More Operas.
The settings We're very good and
the costuming was attractive. The
women of the chorus in the for.
est scene were picturesque and
sang we'll, but the voices did not seem
to carry the choruses above the or
chestra for those sitting toward the
front. Farther back in the orchestra
and balcony the effect was much bet
ter. An amusing incident that won
spontaneous laughter and even APP
plauSe in the midst of a vocal pas
sage was when the rebellious Martha
knocked Lioners hat neatly in a high
curve to the top of a cupboard shelf
1t was quite evident that the lady
herself was surprised at where the
hat actually landed and could not re-
press chuckle. In fact. all those on
the stage were quite as amused as
the audience
This afternoon Mary Garden ia
singing Carmen" with Fernand Ans
Seau, the French tenor, as Don Jose
and Giorgio Polacco conducting. To-
night, beginning promptly at 8 o'clock
'Rigoletto" will be sung in Italian
with Edith Mason, Charles Hackett
and Richard Bonelh in the leading
roles and Henry G.. Weber conduct
ing. L Z