Evening star., 1926-12-07

l OliCldl w doiiIA6 AOpASSNAeeNSA -"
from diplomatic, congressional and
other social circles, went to the Wash
ingron Auditorium last night to form
brilliant ''first-night audience" for
the opening Of the 1926-7 season OF
the Washington Opera Company
Although the audience filled large
portion of that huge auditorium, as
Charles Henry Butler, one OF the
patrons, said in a short speech at the
end of the second act, the people OF
the city should get behind the nhe
enterprise so sincerely founded ano
sustained by the efforts OF Edouard
Albion. general director, and Mrs. AL
bion and make these opera nights
standing room only" affairs.
The opera chosen for this auspicious
opening was 'Pique Dame." written
by Tschaikowski, the great Russian
composer, at the time he was writing
the famous fifth and sixth sympho-
MES. This was the first time the
opera was sung in this country In
Russian and one Of very few per.
formances ever given it in the United
States. "Pique Dame," however, Is
said to be the most popular opera
with the Russian people Of that rich
repertoire of Russian opera from
which they have to choose. It is a
singularly we'll knit work, with some
moments of lovely solo singing, but
| it is not an "aria opera" in the sense
| that the solo selections can be plucke
from their setting and presented salts
| factorily as concert numbers. 1t Is
an opera of motives for the leading
characters, in the style which has
become best known in the works of
pinho o~d yNo tho hoQIr.
tiful quality of the operas music is
it's complete unity between orchestral
and vocal parts so that the one en-
hances and Eliminates the other.
Nine. Rimsky. .Korsakoff Present.
1t was interesting to locate among
the distinguished audience Madame
Rimsky Korsakoff, niece Of the great
| Tschaikowski, who makes her home
at present in Washington. Deems
Taylor, the American music critic
turned composer, whose opera, "The
Kings Henchman," based on a story
of tenth century England, will be
given it's premiere at the Metropoll-
tan Opera House about the middle
of February, was one Of the most
enthusiastic of those present.
Jacques Samassoud, Russian con-
ductor of the Washington Opera
Company, proved his faith in this
opera of his country In the remark
able brilliance of the effects he OBJ
tanned from his orchestra, which has
had comparatively few rehearsals
en- masse. He emphasized the diff
ferent motives with their most subtle
mood qualities In manner that was
really fascinating, aside from the rest
| of the opera. In the beginning OF
| the second scene, act two, when the
music has the suspense of the hero
| in hiding, waiting for the moment
| to threaten the old countess as its
prime motive, even those in the au.
dience who had heard no note OF
this music previously could feel the
mood that it conveyed.
Ina Bourskaya gave splendid to the
role Of Pique Dame c'The Queen of
Spades"). She had few vocal oppor-
tunities, but her song of disilluston-
ment with life in general and her
own in particular, and her reslgna.
ton to Fate in this act, was one OF
the outstanding dramatic moments OF
the opera. followed as 1t was by her
remarkable handling of the deatn
scene. when Herman. the hero, burst
forth from his hiding place and
threatened her To those who have
not heard Bourskaya previously this
role was no revelation Of the rich,
vibrant voice that she possesses, but
rather of her supreme abilities as
an actress. She always kept in her
part and every moment she was on
the stage not only dominated the
scene. but did it without a single
gesture that was out of character.
Smirnoff Proves Reputation.
Dmitri Smirnoff, the Russian tenor
rotod for his reading
of the role Of this Russian Hamlet OF
1nera-a Young officer infatuated with
love for the fair Lisa (betrothed OF
Yeletsky) and also of so moody aus
nosition that he becomes haunted by
visions and later CANDLES reckless.y
showed good reason for his fame
in the marvellous sincerity OF his Ora
matte work and the way in which eacn
word was fraught with meaning
obvious even to those who had never
seen the opera before. Some or MS
loveliest tones were the planlsslmo
following the recitative Of reading ana
soliloquy< in the first scene OF tne
third act His duet with Lisa in the
first act was full of fire and drama
and also in the third act, when his
tenderness was finally overbaia aced
bv his becoming completely possessed
by the gambling fever.
Rakowska made a wonderful Lisa
Elena. Here is a wonderful voice,
powerful and full Of color, vet most
beautiful Of all in the eXlu1siten 'ss
of her pianissimo work In the scene
at the bridge just before she throws
herself into the water. This IS u
sincere singing actress with person
alitv that easily dominates, yet which
she always keeps strictly IN ner role.
That is a quality true OF all these
Russian artists who worked together
with such amazing cooperation and
good fellowship in last nights per-
formanace. There was no "hogging
of the stage" by any one.
Ivan Steschenko, the basso, friend
of the hero in the opera. won the
hearts Of many ladies with his charm
and won all present with the ease with
which he handled his part. His
famous drinking song in the last act
went off especially well.
Ivan Ivantzoff, the baritone, whom
Washington opera lovers have come
20 know and like so well that they feel
they can claim him for their own,
piled high his local laurels with his
excellent singing and acting CT the
role of Prince Yeletsky. He has never
appeared to better advantage nor
sung better.
WashingtOnians Sing Well.
In smaller parts Dudley Warwick,
Young American baritone from New
York, and Leon Kartavy showed un-
usually good voices and sung their
nes<x-