The Washington times., 1926-02-15

blZeGS "CatmGn Is viva
Mary Garden has made history in
opera. in her Carmen portrayal.
Miss Garden belonged to the most
heroic members OF the Chicago
Opera, last week. The priIna
donna was N with q cold and In
bed all week. following her beauti-
full rendition OF Louise Wednes-
day evening, but she-as the Com
pany always knowsis q friend In
need, and she sang her Carmen
wildly, In spite OF this handicap.
Charles 1Earshali's illness had
caused the cancellation Of "Otello. !"
Ruffo, also, was III fand could not
sing the title role In sRigoletto"
last evening. but his absence was
more than brilliantly at0ned for
by Richard BonelIi. who was q
superb Jester both histrionically
and yocally.
But to Carmen.
1.-TWO changes were made In this
cast, as printed. The Michaela
brought Washington debut to
Bernice Fisher Butler, who was
warmly received by her many
tyiends. for she y the daughter-in-
law OF Senator Butler OF Massa.
uine triumph in her own right. The
other change was the substitution
OF Devora Nadworney, contralto,
as Mercedes. in place Of Irene
Pavlosla, a. printed on the pro-
am-though no mention Of either
artist was given the audience in
advance.
Mary Garden and Ansseau Fine
Carmen Is almost actor
proof as an opera, SO great -
its dramatic story, SO compelling
It's rich score.
But in each Carmen is found
4 special quality that Individual
ICES it.
men, Is the least OF her roles
She contributes much that is vital.
particularly In her tempests OF
rage, but neither IN face nor form
Is she the ideal Gypsy.
Few Carmen's are more Attrac.
tive than was this great artist IN
costume and b gorgeous lace man
tilIa. Miss Garden sang effectively.
but there was not the big glow
Of music that belongs TO this
hoyden Of the people OF eolorful
Spain. Her concerted singing, no
tably in duets with Don Jose,
were her most effective parts. The
arias lost something. Her par
lando held. though, her inescapas
BILE charm.
It was the Don jose OF Fer
nand Ansseau that was the tri.
umph OF the opera Almost never
may one find a more compelling
Jose. HI voice was glorious. His
rich tenor passion, his early youth.
fulness, his final tragedy were all
great work His solos OF the Sec
ond act, that closed with the rare
duet, with Carmen, La-bas dams
la montague" were grippingly
beautiful.
Ovation For New "Afichaela
To Bernice Fisher Butler, as
s.Michaela," the ovation accorded
was not alone personal. but reward
for q lovely MichaeIa. Her voice was
beautiful She sang the role SO
sweetly, vet beneath it with so
much more emotion than is gener-
ally found, that one may place
her near the top In this opera
portrait.
The Michaela's aria was perhaps
a bit nervous. AT least its support
was less foroeful But the finished
phrasing, the delightful bits in
duet and in solo. that bespeak a
musical intelligence behind the
voice, were all particularly crafty
ing, and her acting sincerely was
the role.
A d;gnified figure, the Escamillo
of Alexander Kipnis was good but
not great. His Toreador song was
disappointing. Later he rose to
better heights, with full, vibrant
voice and a fine stage presence.
but not the stirring abandon that
really makes the part. Cotreuil, az
Zuniga, was again notable, with
mis- rich and resonant basso.
The two gypsygirl companions
Of Carmen, brought us Alice D'Har-
NANCY, who is always fine and
whose clear soprano voice holds
many concerted scenes UP to the
best grand opera pitch, and Deyora
sNadworney, who came TO us few
years ago as claimant for the Fed
Grated Music Clubs first prize.
Miss Nadworney is quite made for
the Netage. She sang excellently,
and she was always in the picture.
Her voice has a lovely timbre.
And Jose Mojica again filled a
small role with distinction.
The chorus was excellent, the
cigaret girls particularly good, and
the mems voices also good. And Mr..
lPolacco made OF his orchestra the
big, inspiring instrument this COM
polling music demands, also taking
the finer bits. the flies of the over
ture, the opening of act three, for
orchestra, with stage picture ef-
fective in the towering mountain
scene into concert orchestra pro-
portions.
=a,Aa~n, ~-nt-