The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1926-12-04

America with every English singing
actor, and the theatrical relation
ship between the two countries being
even more intimate in that day than
it is in the present, the new things
of London, were seldom absent for
more than a year from the theatres
of New York. So it happened that
The Barber Of Seville" was known
Ia New York quite as soon as it was
in Paris, and i've or six years be-
fore Garcia brought the opera over
in its superb entirety.
The medium of it's original intro
duction in hybrid form was Thomas
Phillips, who brought it forward
at the Park Theater for his benefit
on May II, 1919. Phillips sang the
part of Almaviva, and Miss Leesugg,
who later became the wife of The
comedian Hackett, was the Rosina.
On Nov. Il, 1921, there was another
performance for Mr.. Philips
benefit. and this time Mrs. Holman
took the part Of Rosina.
The record of Italian opera in
America really begins, however,
with the performance of THE Bar
Der of Seville" by the Garcia troupe,
newly arrived from London in a sail
ing ship, at the Park Theater on
Nov. 20, 1895.
Four of the seven characters In
the opera were personified by men,
bers of the Garcia family. Manuel
Garcia, father. was Almaviva; Man
ueI Garcia, son, Figaro; Signora
Garcia was Berta, and Signorina
Garcia, Rosina. The last it was who
soon won renown as Madame Mali
bran.
She was II years old at the time,
but artist enough completely to turn
the heads of her listeners.
1.-THE signorina, said one impress
sionable critic. in reviewing her first
performance. seems to us as being
new creation---a cunning pattern
of excellent nature equally surpris-
ing by the melody of her voice and
by the propriety and grace Of her
acting" an other wrote 0he two
notices are brought together in Ire
lands Record of the New York
Stage'O, "Signorina Garcia's voice is
what is denominated in the italian
fine contra-alto; and her science
and skill in it's management are such
as to enable her to run over every
tone and semitone of three octaves
with an ease and grace that cost ap-
parently no effort.
She does not adopt the fiorid style
of her father, but one which Is less
assuming, and perhaps more proper
in a lady and hardly less effective.
She was the magnet who attracted
all eyes and won all hearts"
At the time this was written, Mali
bran, to call her by the name by
which she is known in musical his
tory, had been on the stage not quite
six months, having effected her pro
fesional debut in London in THE
Barber Of Seville" on June 7, 1925.
The other performers at this first
real production of the opera in Amer
lea were Sgnor Rosich as DR.. Bar
tolo, Signor Angrisani as Don Bas-
lilo, and Signor CreveIi (the young
err, as Fiorello.
The opera was given complete
twenty-three times in, seventy-nine
nights, opening and closing Garcia's
memorable season in New York.
ri HE second meeting of the Stu
dio Club of the Indiana Col
~ lege Of Music and Fine Arts
will be held this month on Tuesday
Dec. Z, at 1880 p. m. instead of
Wednesday.
Mrs. Lenora Coffin. director of the
club program, announces that Mrs
Clyde Titus will be a guest and give
costume recital Of oriental music,
using the instruments of the differ
ent countries. Mrs. Titus is author
lifv on Indian music and foIk ruuefc